Opinion ID: 1887296
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Assignment Two

Text: The second assignment of error is based upon the trial court's sustaining objections to questions asked by the defendant on cross-examination of Officer Allison, a chief prosecution witness. The thrust of the questioning which was curtailed was to develop whether the two state police officers had themselves or through their confidential informers instigated or induced the crime. The purpose was to develop for the jury the defense of entrapment, which justifies an acquittal if proved. See State v. Bates, 301 So.2d 619 (La.1974) and State v. Kelly, 263 La. 545, 268 So.2d 650 (1972). The defendant is charged with having sold marijuana to the two officers. Prior to the transaction, the officers were riding in the neighborhood, together with a confidential informant (later identified in the trial, Tr. 138) and Clophas Jones. They were in search of marijuana. The officers had been introduced to Jones by the confidential informant. The thrust of the State's case is that, without the officers or the informant actually suggesting it themselves, Jones was looking for marijuana for the group. Jones recognized a group of people at a barbecue pit on the parking lot of a nightclub. Jones had the car stop, went over to the group, and returned with a man whom the police officers identified at the trial as the defendant Senegal. Senegal then produced a lid (ounce) of marijuana for each of the officers, which they purchased at $12.00 each, the going rate. Prior to the objected-to questions, Allison was questioned as to the purpose of his riding about with the confidential informant. He denied that the purpose of the informant was to get people to sell marijuana to him, stating that the informant's only mission was to introduce him to people in the neighborhood. He also denied that the informant knew the reason why the undercover policemen wanted to be introduced to people. Then follows the series of questions to which the objection was sustained: Q. [If the informant does not know why he is riding with you,] What is the purposeconfidential informant, what does that mean? That he is someone that says what?    What did you discuss with the people that this informant introduced you to?    Was Mr. Jones an informer?    Was Mr. Jones paid anything? The trial court sustained objections to these questions as being immaterial and irrelevant. Even aside from the denial of latitude permitted on cross-examination, the ruling was erroneous. The questions were designed to elicit information as to whether Jones was a paid state informer and as to whether he or the known informer working for the State had induced or instigated the sale. The information sought was plainly relevant to establish or negate the defense of entrapment. La.R.S. 15:441, 442 (1950). This denial of effective cross-examination as to this defense had the effect of denying the defendant a fair trial on the issue. [2] In cumulation with the error represented by Assignment One, the accused was denied effective cross-examination of a principal state witness against him. As we recently stated, in similarly reversing when effective cross-examination was curtailed due to unduly restrictive rulings, State v. Giordano, 259 La. 155, 249 So.2d 558, 560 (1971): The right of confrontation occupies the status of a paramount and fundamental right indispensable to a fair trial. It is a substantial, substantive and valuable right which assures the accused that he shall have the opportunity to be confronted by the witnesses against him and this includes not only the right to attend the trial and hear the witnesses but also the right to cross-examine them at the trial. It is a constitutional right, not a mere privilege.