Opinion ID: 1740932
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: was it error to fail to grant a mistrial when the prosecution failed to produce the seized airline ticket?

Text: Prior to trial, the prosecution informed defense counsel that the airline ticket was lost and that they would be unable to produce it at trial. Apparently, the parties agreed to some stipulation about the contents although the record is unclear on this point. At trial prosecution's witness verified finding the ticket but could not detail its contents. Boches testified that he purchased a ticket on Delta Airlines and flew directly to Miami and met Floyd. At Floyd's subsequent trial, Boches testified on behalf of the State and the ticket was introduced at that trial. In a subsequent motion for a new trial, Boches alleged that the failure to produce the ticket at his trial warranted granting him a new trial because the ticket contained exculpatory evidence. This motion was denied by the trial court. Exculpatory evidence in the possession of the prosecution must be turned over to the accused in a criminal proceeding. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). However, every non-disclosure or non-production case cannot be treated as error since the prosecution is under no duty to turn over his entire file to the defense. Scott v. State, 359 So.2d 1355, 1361 (Miss. 1978). To determine whether the non-disclosure or non-production requires reversal, this Court must decide whether the omitted evidence creates a reasonable doubt [as to the accused's guilt] that did not otherwise exist. If the omitted evidence, when considered in light of the entire record creates a reasonable doubt as to his guilt, the evidence must be produced. But if there is no reasonable doubt about the accused's guilt, a new trial is not warranted. Scott v. State, 359 So.2d at 1361, 1362 (quoting United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976). The mere possibility that an item might have helped the defense, or might have affected the outcome of the trial, does not establish materiality in the constitutional sense. Johnston v. State, 376 So.2d 1343, 1346 (Miss. 1978) (citing Agurs and Scott as authority); see also, Scruggs v. State, 412 So.2d 732, 740 (Miss. 1982). We conclude that it was not error to deny Boches' motion for a new trial. It is unclear what if any, exculpatory evidence was contained in the ticket. It simply listed Boches flight and that Boches purchased the ticket under his real name. This information was presented to the jury through Boches own testimony. When viewed in light of the entire record the ticket does not create a reasonable doubt as to Boches' guilt or innocence. If, in fact, the evidence was exculpatory the jury was apprised of that evidence and could have considered it in their determination. This assignment has no merit.