Opinion ID: 2418580
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Admission of Greg Cureton's testimony

Text: Third, Baker challenges the admission of Greg Cureton's testimony that, following the homicides and while he and the appellant were still at Jones's residence, the appellant told him, It just gets easier every time. Anticipating this testimony, the appellant objected to its introduction on the basis of Rule 403, which permits exclusion of relevant evidence on grounds of prejudice, confusion, or waste of time. Again, we note that although evidence is relevant, it may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, misleading the jury, or considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. Id. The appellant's cellmate, Donnie Dollarhyde, also a witness for the State, testified that the appellant admitted to the homicides, said that he had not lost any sleep over it, that it was a rush, and, consistent with Cureton's testimony, that it just gets easier every time. Significantly, the appellant did not object to Dollarhyde's testimony regarding the statement it just gets easier every time. In support of barring our consideration of this point on appeal, the State cites Stephens v. State, 328 Ark. 81, 89, 941 S.W.2d 411 (1997), for the proposition that when a question previously objected to is repeated, and there is no second objection, the matter is waived on appeal. Moreover, even if the appellant makes a proper objection, he must preserve his argument by renewing that objection if the State subsequently attempts to introduce the same or similar evidence. See Mills v. State, 321 Ark. 621, 623, 906 S.W.2d 674 (1995). Given the subsequent admission of the statement through Dollarhyde, without objection, we hold that this issue was not preserved for our review on appeal, and we affirm the trial court.