Opinion ID: 1058311
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 44

Heading: Testimony of Jeffrey Potter

Text: Appellant contends that the testimony of Jeffrey Potter should have been excluded because his conversation with appellant was too far removed in time from the Baskin-Robbins incident to provide meaningful insight into appellant's motive. The testimony was about a conversation Mr. Potter had with appellant wherein the appellant told him robbery would be an easy way to make money. The trial court held a jury-out hearing to determine when the comment was made in relation to the Baskin-Robbins murders. Potter could not recall the date of the conversation but testified that the statement was made a few months before the Baskin-Robbins murders. He also testified that the statement was made in late summer 1996. Further, he could recall that the statement was made during appellant's second term of employment with Shoney's and that appellant made the statement shortly before he was terminated. The court ruled that the statement was not too remote in time and allowed him to testify as to the statement. Potter testified before the jury that appellant made the statement in January 1997, shortly before he was fired. Defense counsel questioned him on the discrepancy in his testimony, and he replied that he had gone home, thought about it, and tried to get everything right. This court cannot find that the court erred in allowing Potter to testify as to the statement made by appellant. This issue is without merit.