Opinion ID: 1855302
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: whether the trial court committed reversible error in denying mr. humphrey's motion to exclude testimony concerning his having possession of a fire-arm several days prior to the murder of mrs. phillips

Text: ¶ 30. Humphrey made a motion in limine to exclude anticipated testimony of Reggie Brooks concerning Humphrey having a pistol in his possession two days prior to the murder, which he allegedly said he was going to use should anything go wrong during the burglary. The basis for the objection was that the testimony would be irrelevant because there was no proof that Humphrey had a gun in his possession on the night of the murder and that the comment was remote from the actual homicide. Humphrey asserts that testimony about a gun two nights prior to the murder would be more prejudicial than probative and should have been excluded based on Rule 403 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence. The judge ruled that the testimony was admissible evidence which goes to the issue of whether there was a prior plan or agreement, and that the 48 hour period was not too remote. ¶ 31. Evidentiary rulings of a trial judge will not be disturbed absent of a showing of a clear abuse of discretion. Shamblin v. State, 601 So.2d 407, 412 (Miss.1992) (collecting authorities). There is nothing in the record to indicate that the circuit judge abused his discretion. The testimony regarding the pistol was relevant to show Humphrey's alleged plan, preparation and intention to burglarize Mrs. Phillips home, and relevant to the issue of the intent or capacity of Humphrey to inflict death should his plans be interfered with. Evidence of this type and for these purposes is admissible. See Smith v. State, 729 So.2d 1191, 1205 (Miss. 1998). The question of the remoteness in time from the witness seeing Humphrey with the gun and the murder of Mrs. Phillips is also subject to the familiar clear abuse of discretion standard of review. Stewart v. State, 226 So.2d 911, 912 (Miss. 1969). The 48 hour time period between the witness seeing Humphrey with the pistol and the murder of Mrs. Phillips is not so excessive as to constitute an abuse of discretion for its inclusion for consideration by the jury.