Opinion ID: 1752541
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: issues related to appellant's theory of defense

Text: Appellant asserts that the trial court erred in making various rulings that prohibited him from pursuing the trial strategy that Mr. McDonald, not he, murdered Mrs. McDonald. Appellant presented no evidence that Mr. McDonald committed an act directly connecting him to the crime. Rather, appellant sought to show that Mr. McDonald had a motive and opportunity to murder Mrs. McDonald. The trial court correctly ruled. A criminal defendant may not introduce evidence that another person had an opportunity or motive to commit the crime charged without proof that the other person committed some act directly connecting him with the crime. State v. Schaal, 806 S.W.2d 659, 669 (Mo. banc 1991), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 112 S.Ct. 976, 117 L.Ed.2d 140 (1992); State v. Easley, 662 S.W.2d 248, 251-52 (Mo. banc 1983). Appellant, perhaps anticipating that the ruling of Schaal would apply, argues that the trial court's denial of his request for in camera review of Mrs. McDonald's former attorney's divorce files precluded his making direct connection of Mr. McDonald to the crime. His argument is without merit. The attorney's divorce files may have contained evidence of motive, but it is unreasonable to assume that Mrs. McDonald's attorney's divorce files would contain proof that Mr. McDonald committed an act directly connecting him to Mrs. McDonald's murder. Finally, appellant asserts that the Court should abrogate the rule excluding evidence of another's opportunity or motive. Appellant analogizes to State v. Waller, 816 S.W.2d 212, 214 (Mo. banc 1991), where this Court abrogated the evidentiary rule that prevented defendants who asserted self-defense from introducing evidence of the victims' specific acts of violence having no connection with the defendant. Appellant argues that just as evidence of a victim's prior violent acts directed at someone other than the defendant is relevant to a theory of self-defense, so too is evidence of Mr. McDonald's motive and opportunity to kill Mrs. McDonald relevant to appellant's theory that Mr. McDonald was responsible for the murder. Appellant's analogy fails. The defendant in Waller sought to establish the defense of self-defense. A defendant asserting self-defense must have reasonably believed that he was subject to an imminent attack. Id. at 215. A defendant's perception of the victim is critical; therefore, evidence bearing on a defendant's perception is relevant. Id. Conversely, evidence that another had an opportunity or motive to commit the crime charged is, without more, not relevant to any issue involved. Evidence that one person had an opportunity to commit the crime would not exculpate defendant, who also had the opportunity, and committed the crime. State v. Miller, 368 S.W.2d 353, 360 (Mo.1963) (citing State v. Yandle, 166 Mo. 589, 66 S.W. 532, 534 (1902)). The rationale applies with equal force to evidence of another's motive to commit the crime charged. Criminal defendants offer evidence of another person's opportunity and motive to raise doubts of their guilt by casting suspicion on another. Because of the high tendency of such evidence to confuse and misdirect attention from the issues of the case, courts allow the evidence only where the defendant is able to tie the evidence to proof that the other person committed an act directly connecting him with the crime. Schaal, 806 S.W.2d at 669. Appellant's claims are denied.