Opinion ID: 472207
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: admission of government evidence

Text: 13 Appellant contends that the government failed to respond to discovery requests seeking disclosure of government evidence against him, and that the district court erred in allowing the government to introduce previously undisclosed evidence at trial. The government contended that it mailed the disputed materials to appellant's counsel in advance of trial, although his counsel claimed not to have received them. The government further made the materials available to defense counsel for inspection on the day before trial and again on the morning of trial. The district court ruled that this opportunity to inspect the documents prior to their introduction at trial obviated any prejudice appellant might otherwise have suffered from the introduction of undisclosed evidence. 14 Decisions on matters of discovery are left to the sound discretion of the trial court, as are matters on the admissibility of evidence at trial. In either case, reversal is mandated only upon a determination that the trial court abused its discretion. Williams v. Mensey, 785 F.2d 631 (8th Cir.1986) citing O'Neal v. Riceland Foods, 684 F.2d 577, 581 (8th Cir.1982) (discovery); United States v. Reed, 724 F.2d 677, 679 (8th Cir.1984) (admissibility of evidence). In this case the district court found that access to the materials prior to the commencement of trial eliminated any chance of prejudice. The district court did not abuse its discretion in reaching this determination.