Opinion ID: 2629678
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: specific prior instances of conduct

Text: For his final assertion of error, Abu-Fakher claims the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the prosecutor to improperly attack his character while eliciting his testimony during cross-examination. Abu-Fakher contends that the admission of this evidence resulted in a denial of his fundamental right to a fair trial, requiring a reversal of his conviction. The admissibility of evidence lies within the sound discretion of the trial court.... [I]t is clear that our standard of review regarding a trial court's admission of evidence, subject to exclusionary rules, is abuse of discretion.' State v. Lumley, 266 Kan. 939, 950, 976 P.2d 486 (1999). Abu-Fakher complains that during his cross-examination, the prosecutor attacked his character by questioning him (1) about a restraining order he obtained in Florida against Carol in 1997; (2) about finding Carol on the streets sunburned, dehydrated, and blisters on her feet; and (3) about a petition for divorce which stated he was financially dependent on Carol and required alimony, exclusive use of the home, and payment of insurance, and requested that he be named beneficiary of Carol's life insurance. Abu-Fakher concedes that his trial counsel failed to lodge a contemporaneous objection to the prosecutor's cross-examination. He argues, however, that his character was not at issue and the prosecutor's elicitation of these specific instances of conduct was, thus, impermissible. A verdict or finding shall not be set aside, nor shall the judgment or decision based thereon be reversed, by reason of the erroneous admission of evidence unless there appears of record objection to the evidence timely interposed and so stated as to make clear the specific ground of objection. K.S.A. 60-404. It is well settled that a timely and specific objection to the admission of evidence at trial must be made in order to preserve that issue for appeal. [Citation omitted.] State v. Barksdale, 266 Kan. 498, 511, 973 P.2d 165 (1999). Here, defense counsel's failure to object to the admission of Abu-Fakher's testimony on cross-examination precludes appellate review. See State v. Valdez, 266 Kan. 774, 789, 977 P.2d 242 (1999) (stating that although defendant objected at trial to the admission of a DNA report based on chain of custody, the lack of a trial objection to the admission of the report based on the number and preparation of the swabs precluded this court's review); State v. Cellier, 263 Kan. 54, 64-65, 948 P.2d 616 (1997) (finding that the failure to file a contemporaneous objection to admission of defendant's confession ruled out appellate review). Abu-Fakher has failed to preserve this issue for appeal. Affirmed. LARSON, S.J., assigned. [1]