Opinion ID: 1481173
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Admissibility of Bag Containing Cocaine

Text: The defendant argues that the trial justice erred when he admitted into evidence a bag containing a white powder (later determined to be cocaine) that the state alleged Kevin Murray purchased from John Grullon on February 18, 2005, and then subsequently turned over to Corporal Deane and Chief Carlone, because the chain of custody was not established. But before we consider whether the trial justice erred, we first must consider if this issue was properly preserved for appellate review. The defendant objected at trial when the state requested that the bag be admitted into evidence. The trial justice conditionally admitted the bag and said that [i]f there is insufficient testimony forthcoming, then counsel can feel free to renew their objection and the Court will hear them at that time. [11] The defendant did not renew his objection to the admission of the bag at any later point during trial. In our opinion, defendant's failure to renew his objection operates as a waiver of any challenge he may have had to the admission of this evidence. Because this issue was waived for purposes of appellate review, we will not consider it. See State v. Diefenderfer, 970 A.2d 12, 30 (R.I.2009).