Opinion ID: 1919018
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Tate's motion for a mistrial.

Text: ¶ 37. Tate argues that the trial court should have granted his motion for a mistrial on the basis that several defense witnesses were intimidated by Lauderdale County law enforcement officials. ¶ 38. The record indicates that on the second day of trial, defense counsel requested an evidentiary hearing outside the presence of the jury because that two of its witnesses had been physically roughed up and intimidated by law enforcement officials the day before. Defense witnesses Warren Geisler and Frances McLemore testified that they were approached by three officers who intimidated and physically assaulted them. Specifically, they stated that the officers took them into a staircase, threw them against a wall, read them their rights, dragged them down the stairs and across the street to the jail and then placed them in separate interrogation rooms and questioned them about a threat they had allegedly made against state witness Gerald Warren's life. Furthermore, McLemore testified that he had required emergency room attention after this incident because he twisted his leg while being pulled down the stairs. Tate argues that he was entitled to a mistrial because the witnesses felt harassed, frightened, and intimidated about testifying on his behalf. Two of the law enforcement officials testified and denied any physical abuse of the defense witnesses. ¶ 39. The trial court refused to grant a mistrial, stating: I don't see any justification for a mistrial in this case. As I understand it, law enforcement officers received a phone call from a 15-year-old child of the CI who relayed a conversation that he had with his younger sister, 13, that two of these witnesses ... Geisler and McLemore, allegedly made a threat that the CI would be gunned down in the courthouse. And the officers were following up on that investigation by questioning these two gentlemen and searching them to make sure that they were not armed before they were escorted across the street to the Sheriff's Office to be questioned. And upon being questioned, they were thereafter released. I see no justification to grant a mistrial based on that in this case. ¶ 40. Characterizing Tate's argument as frivolous, the State points out that both of these witnesses did testify at trial, and therefore they must not have been too intimidated. The State asserts that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant a mistrial based on the facts presented by these witnesses. We agree. ¶ 41. This Court reviews motions for mistrial under an abuse of discretion standard. The trial court must declare a mistrial when there is an error in the proceedings resulting in substantial and irreparable prejudice to the defendant's case. Gossett v. State, 660 So.2d 1285, 1290-91 (Miss.1995). The trial judge is permitted considerable discretion in determining whether a mistrial is warranted since the judge is best positioned for measuring the prejudicial effect. Id. (citing Roundtree v. State, 568 So.2d 1173, 1178 (Miss.1990)). ¶ 42. The trial judge was in the best position to observe these witnesses and to determine the effect this alleged incident had on the trial. Both witnesses later testified. Tate has not shown how this incident prejudiced or damaged his case.