Opinion ID: 2258587
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence of Ballistics Testing

Text: The defendant asserts that the trial justice improperly admitted results of ballistics tests (test fires) performed on the firearm seized from Garcia by the Richmond, Va. Police Department. This evidence was admitted during the testimony of Robert A. Hathaway (Hathaway), a firearm and tool marks examiner employed at the Rhode Island State Crime Lab. Hathaway testified that he conducted his own examination and testing of the murder weapon and also described a set of test cartridges done in a laboratory in Richmond, Va. According to Hathaway, the test bullets, he received from the Virginia State Crime lab matched his test bullets, and the Virginia test cartridges matched his test cartridges. Defense counsel objected to this later testimony, arguing that a proper foundation had not been established. Before this Court, defendant argues that the state failed to produce evidence establishing the chain of custody of the evidence, the manner in which the tests were done, and the accuracy of the tests. The defendant's chain of custody argument is without merit. It is settled law that the showing of continuous chain of custody is relevant only to the weight of the evidence, not to its admissibility.  State v. Lynch, 854 A.2d 1022, 1044 (R.I. 2004) (quoting State v. Cohen, 538 A.2d 151, 154 (R.I.1988)). Physical evidence must be shown to be in substantially the same condition as it was when the crime was committed. State v. Bracero, 434 A.2d 286, 290 (R.I.1981). This burden is met when a party demonstrates, that in all reasonable probability, there was no tampering with the evidence. Id. The record discloses that the gun was recovered by Det. Sandy Ledbetter of the Richmond, Va. Police Department Fugitive Task Force. Detective Ledbetter was present at trial and testified that she seized the firearm from defendant and turned it over to Richmond Police Det. Ellen Spain (Det. Spain) for firearms examination and testing. After the firearm was tested in Virginia, Det. Ledbetter personally brought the weapon to Rhode Island. Providence Police Det. Patricia Cornell (Det. Cornell) testified that she and Det. Ledbetter delivered the weapon to Hathaway who performed his own test fires. Detective Ledbetter then took back possession of the gun. Detective Cornell testified that she received the Virginia test fires in a FedEx priority overnight mailing from Det. Spain and, that she was present when Hathaway examined both the gun and the Virginia test fires. There is no suggestion that the Virginia test fires were compromised in any way. Based on the testimony elicited at trial, the state has established a chain of custody for the firearm and the Virginia test fires. There was evidence that the gun was in substantially the same condition when all tests were done and there is no evidence suggesting otherwise. Therefore, we are satisfied that the state properly established a chain of custody for the Virginia test fires. The defendant also argues that a proper evidentiary foundation was not established for the admissibility of the Virginia test fires and that the state failed to produce evidence about the reliability and accuracy of the tests. Hathaway, qualified as an experienced firearms examiner, testified that he examined and tested the weapon involved in this case and concluded that the firearm recovered from defendant in Virginia was the murder weapon. He also proceeded to compare test fires done in Virginia with his own test fires. Although there was no testimony about the reliability or accuracy of the Virginia testing procedure, the evidence of the Virginia test fires was cumulative and of minimal relevance. Evidence that is offered to prove the same point on which other admissible evidence is introduced is considered cumulative evidence. Lynch, 854 A.2d at 1032. When uncontradicted admissible trial evidence clearly establishes that the defendant has committed the crime, the introduction of inadmissible, cumulative evidence is harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. ; State v. Gomes, 764 A.2d 125, 135 (R.I.2001). Here, the state presented evidence of Hathaway's independent test fires of the firearm found on Garcia when she was arrested; this uncontradicted expert testimony established that the cartridges and projectiles found at the scene were fired from defendant's firearm. The defendant did not object to the introduction of this evidence. Because the evidence of the Virginia test fires was of dubious relevance to the state's case and there was uncontradicted testimony that the gun seized from defendant at the time of her arrest was the murder weapon, the admission of evidence of additional testing performed in Virginia was harmless error.