Opinion ID: 2076252
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: dr. balster's testimony

Text: Hunt contends that the trial judge erred in allowing the prosecutor to cross-examine Dr. Robert Balster using the transcript of the testimony of Dr. Edward French, who testified for Hunt during the guilt/innocence trial. Both doctors testified about the effects of ingesting PCP to support Hunt's claim that he was substantially impaired as a result of taking the drug. On cross-examination, Dr. Balster acknowledged that he was familiar with Dr. French. The prosecutor then asked Dr. Balster if he agreed with several opinions given by Dr. French at the guilt/innocence trial. The opinions included that PCP affects different people in different ways, and that a person impaired by PCP would probably not have the judgment or ability to improve his driving when he realized that he was being followed by a police car. Dr. Balster agreed with the opinions. The prosecutor then asked, hypothetically, if it would be a demonstration of good judgment for a person to change from bad driving to good driving if followed by a police car. Dr. Balster answered that it would demonstrate good judgment. Hunt argues that the cross-examination elicited expert testimony regarding facts contrary to those adduced at trial, and that Dr. Balster could not be impeached by Dr. French's previous testimony. The allowance of questions on cross-examination of a witness is left to the discretion of the trial judge, and will not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion. See Trimble v. State, 300 Md. 387, 401, 478 A.2d 1143, 1150, cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1230, 105 S.Ct. 1231, 84 L.Ed.2d 368 (1984); Williams v. Graff, 194 Md. 516, 522-23, 71 A.2d 450, 452-53 (1950); DeLilly v. State, 11 Md. App. 676, 681, 276 A.2d 417, 419 (1971). One purpose of cross-examination is to elicit a full explanation of facts testified to on direct examination. By placing the testimony of a witness in its proper setting, the cross-examiner helps the jury to better appraise the testimony. DeLilly at 681, 276 A.2d at 419; Smith v. Illinois, 390 U.S. 129, 132, 88 S.Ct. 748, 750, 19 L.Ed.2d 956, 959 (1968). Clearly that was the prosecutor's intention. On direct examination, Hunt attempted to show how PCP impairs judgment and mental ability as support for his contention that his crime was mitigated by his use of PCP. The prosecutor attempted to place this testimony in its proper setting by showing that a person who commits a violent act while using PCP could possibly commit the same act without using PCP. The prosecutor also elicited on cross-examination that one intoxicated by PCP would likely lack the judgment or ability to drive lawfully, the way that Hunt did, when followed by a police car. [6] Thus, while Dr. Balster testified on direct examination that PCP impairs judgment, he agreed on cross-examination that one using PCP would likely lack the judgment to drive as Hunt drove when followed by Officer Adolfo. Hunt also contends that asking Dr. Balster the hypothetical question about the judgment of a person followed by a police car was contrary to facts adduced at trial. The record shows otherwise. The tape recording of Officer Adolfo's radio transmissions indicated that Hunt was not violating traffic laws. Hunt offered evidence that he had used PCP. The tape indicated that Officer Adolfo followed Hunt for at least five minutes before Hunt stopped. It seems likely that Hunt was aware he was being followed and drove lawfully to avoid suspicion. Thus, the hypothetical was consistent with the facts adduced at trial. Hunt's contention that the trial judge improperly allowed the questions regarding Dr. French's testimony to impeach Dr. Balster is meritless. The prosecutor did not seek to impeach Dr. Balster's testimony; rather, he sought to place it in its proper setting, and to determine whether the witness agreed with the State's position. Dr. Balster admitted that he was unfamiliar with the facts of the case and that he had never met Hunt. The prosecutor merely sought to elicit Dr. Balster's opinions about the general effects of PCP in the context of Hunt's specific behavior when allegedly intoxicated by the drug.