Opinion ID: 2428000
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Admissibility of Knife into Evidence

Text: A knife was found between the front seat and console in the car where the attack occurred. The woman told police officers that the knife used against her was thrown over into the back seat, between the seat. The appellant cites this inconsistency on the knife's location as reason for inadmissibility. In addition, the appellant points to the State Crime Lab's testing of the knife and the fact that the results were inconclusive for blood type. The appellant also considers relevant expert testimony from a state's witness that he could not testify with any degree of medical certainty that the knife found in the car was the knife used to slash the grocery items held by the victim and the victim herself. The appellant's primary argument on this score is that the circuit court abused its discretion in admitting an irrelevant piece of evidence that could not be tied directly to the attack and, further, that the knife unduly prejudiced the jury. We disagree. The knife was found in the car, which was the site of the crime, and the victim was cut by a knife. The instrumentality used to inflict fear is patently relevant to the crimes for which the appellant is charged, all of which include an element of force for perpetration. Whether this was the actual knife used was a matter for the jury to decide, but it was relevant to corroborate the testimony of the victim concerning the stabbings. We have previously held that the admission of a fish stringer found at the home of the accused similar to that used to tie the hands of a murder victim was admissible as circumstantial evidence of guilt. See Miller v. State, 280 Ark. 551, 660 S.W.2d 163 (1983). We hold that under these facts the knife was relevant, and no prejudice resulted to the appellant under our Rules of Evidence. See Ark.R.Evid. 401, 403.