Opinion ID: 1822353
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence of Stiles' Gang Affiliation

Text: The state called Suresh Beni as a witness, and Beni testified that Stiles had admitted killing Moorman. On cross-examination, defense counsel attempted to discredit Beni by asking whether Beni was a member of the Gangster Disciples. Beni admitted membership in the gang, and defense counsel then asked whether Beni would testify against a fellow gang member. Defense counsel was attempting to imply that Beni would lie to protect Seepersaud, a fellow gang member and one of Moorman's shooters. On re-direct, the state was permitted to elicit testimony from Beni that Stiles was also a member of the Gangster Disciples. Stiles argues that Beni's statement that Stiles was a gang member unreasonably prejudiced the jury and constitutes reversible error. In State v. Yang, we held that cross-examination regarding a defendant's gang membership was admissible when it was elicited after defendant claimed he lied about the crime because he was afraid of gang retribution. 644 N.W.2d 808, 817 (Minn.2002). We said the defendant's testimony regarding his fear of gangs opened the door and allowed the state's cross-examination and rebuttal regarding [appellant's] gang affiliation. Id. Additionally, we concluded the testimony was more probative than prejudicial because Yang's testimony had painted an incomplete picture of his relationship to gangs. Id. The defense similarly opened the door to testimony regarding Stiles' gang affiliation in this case. Stiles raised the issue of gang affiliation in his opening statement and referred to it throughout the trial, notably through cross-examination of witnesses Scott Turner, Suresh Beni, Anthony Slice, and Charlie Seepersaud. Secondarily, the testimony about Stiles' gang affiliation was more probative than prejudicial, as in Yang, because the state was permitted to rehabilitate its witness and establish that there was no gang conspiracy to frame Stiles. The postconviction court did not abuse its discretion in finding no prejudicial error by the state in eliciting testimony from Beni regarding Stiles' gang affiliation.