Opinion ID: 2372331
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence of Sex-Related Material

Text: The petitioner contends that the court erred in ruling upon counsel's use of evidence of sex-related materials. Ernest and Laura Ward testified that the victim wanted to and did see the pornographic films shown at the Pierce home. They testified that there were dirty books in the bathroom. Laura Ward stated that she had taken a dildo to the Pierce home as a joke. Defense counsel testified that he introduced such evidence to show that because of the material with which the victim was acquainted, she was capable of fabricating such a story. As trial strategy, the petitioner must show that counsel's decision to include evidence of the sex-related materials was manifestly unreasonable. True, 457 A.2d at 796 (citing Rondeau, 378 Mass. at 413, 392 N.E.2d at 1004). Under the circumstances, counsel's strategy was not manifestly unreasonable. Such evidence was critical to counsel's defense theory. By showing that she was exposed to sex-related material, the defense theory that the victim fabricated the story became more credible.