Opinion ID: 196298
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Nigro's Testimony on Redirect Examination

Text: 24 On cross-examination, Michael Murray's counsel attempted to discredit Nigro's testimony by insinuating that Nigro barely knew Murray. 6 On redirect examination, the government asked Nigro how he first met Michael Murray. Michael Murray's counsel objected. At a sidebar conference, the government argued that, on cross-examination, Michael Murray's counsel opened the door to the earlier relationship between Nigro and Murray. The district court ruled that [a]s to scope, I think this is all opened up because of the suggestion that this is absolutely bizarre conduct and because, without this background, the meeting between Nigro and Michael Murray seems to be such an isolated and strange event. When Michael Murray's counsel pressed for a ruling under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b), the district court stated that [the evidence] doesn't have to be admitted as 404(b) but that is an alternative ground for the admission. You have opened this up, it's admitted to him to show that this was not a bizarre picking someone out of a crowd and trying to entice them into drug trafficking. The district court then ruled that the government's line of questioning was permissible, but admitted the resulting testimony only against Michael Murray. Nigro then testified that he was introduced to Michael Murray when Murray began working for Nigro in the marijuana business in 1977 or 1978. According to Nigro, in the following year, Michael Murray and Nigro's three partners took full control of the operation, and Nigro continued to work for them in a more limited capacity. Three more marijuana shipments occurred under this arrangement. 25 At the conclusion of Nigro's testimony, the district court gave the jury the following limiting instruction: 26 THE COURT: And I will tell you that Mr. Michael Murray is not here charged with any of the events which this witness testifies took place back in the late seventies, perhaps the early eighties. That has nothing to do with this case except, if you believe his testimony, it tends to place the conversation about which he testified, the tape that was played, if you believe that, in context. That's the only reason you heard it. Mr. Michael Murray is not charged with anything back then, you're not to consider that, except that to the extent that you, yourself, determine in the manner that I've just described. 27 We review the district court's rulings on the admissibility of evidence only for abuse of discretion. United States v. McCarthy, 961 F.2d 972, 977 (1st Cir.1992). 28 The district court did not abuse its discretion in permitting the government on redirect examination to explore the past business dealings of Nigro and Michael Murray. 7 The scope of redirect examination is discretionary with the trial court and should be reversed only upon a showing of abuse of discretion. United States v. Braidlow, 806 F.2d 781, 782 (8th Cir.1986). A district court may allow testimony on redirect which clarifies an issue which the defense opened up on cross-examination even when this evidence is otherwise inadmissible. United States v. Geer, 923 F.2d 892, 896-97 n. 4 (1st Cir.1991) (citing Braidlow, 806 F.2d at 783). Otherwise, litigants could exploit the rules of evidence to create misleading impressions, secure in the knowledge that the other side was barred from disabusing the jury. On cross-examination, Michael Murray's counsel opened the door to the past relationship between Murray and Nigro by making it seem that Murray did not know Nigro well enough to conduct drug business with him. The district court did not abuse its discretion by allowing redirect testimony to clarify that issue, and exercised abundant caution in instructing the jury on the limited consideration to be given such testimony.