Opinion ID: 2589798
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: References to Bryan's Third Birthday

Text: Prior to trial defendant moved in limine to preclude any reference to the fact that Bryan was murdered on his third birthday. The trial court denied the motion, stating that the circumstances of the birthday celebration [were] relevant, the fact it was the child's birthday adds little to the emotional impact of the homicide itself, and [c]oaching witnesses to leave out facts impairs the ability of juries to evaluate their credibility. Defendant here renews his contention that the references to the fact that Bryan was killed on his third birthday were irrelevant to any contested fact and should have been excluded. No error is demonstrated. Evidence regarding Bryan's birthday helped place the testimony of prosecution witnesses in context and assisted the jury in assessing their credibility. For example, Randi Renken indicated she had the opportunity to see the significant sum of money later stolen from April's purse because the two shopped for birthday presents the day before the capital crime. The trial court was reasonably concerned that requiring witnesses to edit their testimony might make that testimony seem halting and less credible. In addition, the trial court was correct that the fact of the birthday added little to the emotional impact of a three-year-old's murder. The trial court was well within its discretion in concluding the probative value of the evidence outweighed its prejudice. In any event, even assuming the trial court erred, defendant could not have been prejudiced, since he said in his police statement, which the jury heard, that he knew August 9 was Bryan's birthday prior to going to the Gilhousen residence that morning. Defendant also contends admission of this evidence prejudiced him at the penalty phase because the prosecutor asked the jury to consider the circumstances of the crime, including the fact that defendant knew it was Bryan's third birthday, and nevertheless went to the Gilhousen residence on August 9, and returned there after unsuccessfully chasing Rodney Almond. Such argument was fair comment on the evidence, and could properly be considered in assessing defendant's moral culpability at sentencing. Indeed, defense counsel also referred to Bryan's birthday in his penalty phase closing argument.