Opinion ID: 2240007
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Scope of Redirect Examination

Text: Following the cross-examination of Sheryl Vargas, the cashier, and over the defendant's objection, the trial court permitted the State on redirect examination to question Vargas concerning a photographic identification she made of the defendant approximately nine or ten hours after the robbery. The defendant concedes that the scope and extent of redirect examination are matters within the sound discretion of the trial court, whose ruling will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. Staggers v. State (1985), Ind., 477 N.E.2d 539. He contends that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing redirect examination here because it was outside the scope of cross-examination. We disagree. Generally, the scope of redirect examination is confined to answering any new matter raised during cross-examination. Once a party raises a subject on cross-examination, it is permissible for the opposing party to pursue that subject on redirect examination. A defendant may not open an issue and have it closed at his convenience. Kalady v. State (1984), Ind., 462 N.E.2d 1299, 1309. On direct examination, Vargas identified the defendant as the man who robbed her. On cross-examination, defense counsel questioned Vargas whether she was able to describe the facial characteristics of the robber for the police shortly after the robbery. On redirect examination, the State sought to question Vargas concerning a photographic identification of the defendant that she made nine to ten hours after the robbery. The trial court overruled the defendant's objection to this line of questioning after concluding that the defendant's cross-examination constituted a challenge to Vargas's identification of the defendant and thus redirect examination concerning Vargas's photographic identification of the defendant was appropriate. In light of the cross-examination conducted by defense counsel, we find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in permitting the State to pursue upon redirect examination the subject of Vargas's identification of the defendant.