Opinion ID: 1669169
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Claim of Mistrial Because of Cross-examination

Text: The fifth summarized assignment of error, complaining of the denial of Hankins' first motion for mistrial, arises from the State's cross-examination of Kentsmith, one of the psychiatrists testifying on Hankins' behalf as detailed in part I above. Hankins complains that the State was permitted, over objection, to inquire whether Kentsmith had been aware that approximately a month prior to the subject killings, Hankins, after being unable to visit a hospitalized friend, damaged a vehicle by hitting it with a winch bar. Hankins argues the question served no useful cross-examination purpose but, rather, was used to put before the jury the fact that ... Hankins had previously used the winch bar to strike and cause damage, and therefore he might use the winch bar to strike and cause the deaths of Danae Cook, Kevin Cook and Barbara Cook. Brief for appellant at 43. We begin the analysis of the issues presented by this summarized assignment of error by recalling that a mistrial is generally granted upon the occurrence of a fundamental failure preventing a fair trial in the adversarial process. State v. Pierce, 231 Neb. 966, 439 N.W.2d 435 (1989); State v. Sardeson, 231 Neb. 586, 437 N.W.2d 473 (1989). A mistrial may be warranted where unfairness has been injected into a jury trial and so permeates the proceedings that no amount of admonition to the jury can remove the unfairness to a party and may result from the improper admission of prejudicial evidence. State v. Jones, 232 Neb. 576, 441 N.W.2d 605 (1989); State v. Pierce, supra . The decision to grant a motion for mistrial is within the discretion of the trial court and will be upheld on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Sardeson, supra ; State v. Byrd, 231 Neb. 231, 435 N.W.2d 898 (1989). The record establishes that the information at issue was contained in a police report Kentsmith considered. Under Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-705 (Reissue 1985), an expert can be required to disclose on crossexamination the facts or data underlying his or her opinion. See Gordman Properties Co. v. Board of Equal., 225 Neb. 169, 403 N.W.2d 366 (1987). Thus, an expert may be cross-examined for the purposes of testing and inquiring into the basis for his or her opinion. Such examination is useful to the jury in assessing the probative value of the expert's opinion. As we have previously noted, cross-examination is proper as to anything tending to affect the accuracy, veracity, or credibility of a witness, and anything within the knowledge of a witness tending to rebut evidence given on direct examination is admissible as a matter of right on cross-examination. State v. Sutton, 231 Neb. 30, 434 N.W.2d 689 (1989). Moreover, the scope of cross-examination of a witness rests in the discretion of the trial court, and its ruling will be upheld on appeal unless there is an abuse of discretion. State v. Sutton, supra . The trial judge did not abuse his discretion either in permitting the cross-examination at issue or in denying a mistrial.