Opinion ID: 2637986
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony about Thomas's ownership and use of the .44 caliber revolver was relevant to the issue of Culkin's reasonable apprehension on the morning of July 27, 1997.

Text: Culkin also contends that the circuit court erred by excluding testimony about four instances in which Culkin witnessed Thomas act in a reckless manner with the handgun that Culkin was holding for Thomas on the morning of the stabbing. [18] The circuit court allowed testimony about Thomas's behavior during these episodes, but permitted no reference to the revolver. The court's decision apparently turned on its determination that the revolver was not relevant to the encounter between Culkin and Thomas. On appeal, Culkin argues that his testimony regarding Thomas's dangerous and irrational use of the revolver was critical to substantiate his concern that Thomas might obtain the weapon and also to explain why Culkin removed the weapon from the bedroom following the stabbing. A trial judge's determination of relevancy is reviewed on appeal under the right/wrong standard. In re Water Use Permit Applications, 94 Hawai`i 97, 183, 9 P.3d 409, 495, reconsideration denied, 94 Hawai`i 97, 9 P.3d 409 (2000); State v. Staley, 91 Hawai`i 275, 281, 982 P.2d 904, 910 (1999); State v. Hanapi, 89 Hawai`i 177, 181, 970 P.2d 485, 489, reconsideration denied, 89 Hawai`i 177, 970 P.2d 485 (1999); State v. Richie, 88 Hawai`i 19, 36, 960 P.2d 1227, 1244 (1998); State v. Alston, 75 Haw. 517, 538, 865 P.2d 157, 168 (1994). Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. HRE Rule 401 (1993). The reasonableness of Culkin's apprehension that Thomas might seriously harm him was certainly a fact in issue. See section III.A.1, supra. To demonstrate that his fear was reasonable, Culkin sought to admit evidence of Thomas's prior conduct. The circuit court permitted Culkin to testify, and Culkin did testify, about specific instances of conduct. For example, Culkin testified about an incident in which Thomas locked himself inside Culkin's bathroom for two hours. When Culkin finally gained entrance, he discovered not only drug paraphernalia, but that the windows were shut, the blinds were down, and the room was like a steam bath. Thomas was standing next to the window, peering out, advising Culkin to be quiet because somebody's up on the roof. Certainly the fact that Thomas was also armed with a loaded revolver was significant. Even if Thomas was not armed on the morning of July 27, 1997, Culkin's knowledge of Thomas's past conduct when under the influence of drugs, combined with the risk to life that Thomas posed, was certainly relevant to the reasonableness of Culkin's claimed apprehension on that morning. Accordingly, we hold that the circuit court erred by ruling that Thomas's past use of the handgun was not relevant. [19]