Opinion ID: 1938373
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the presence of marijuana

Text: The first two issues are based upon an argument that defendant was entitled to a new trial because of prosecutorial misconduct in failing to notify defendant that an ashtray in Hall's apartment contained at least one marijuana cigarette and certain associated paraphernalia. Among the state's exhibits was a photograph that was introduced in order to show a partly empty beer bottle and a half-finished drink on a coffee table in Hall's apartment. As the trial justice suggested, this photograph was intended to buttress the credibility of Hall and Porter, who had testified that before going to bed they had each partially consumed another drink. The photograph had been furnished to counsel for the defense prior to trial. In an in-chambers conference during the trial it was noted, probably by the trial justice, that on the same coffee table as the partly consumed alcoholic beverage there appeared to be a hand-rolled cigarette that bore an unmistakeable likeness to what is commonly referred to as a joint. Also on the coffee table was an empty clear plastic bag and a strainer. The trial justice noted in his decision on the motion for new trial that these items pointed to the fact that the hand-rolled cigarette contained marijuana. The in-chambers conference took place after the cross-examination of both Hall and Porter. Neither counsel had inquired about the marijuana cigarette in their examinations of these witnesses. The defendant's counsel stated that he might recall one or both of the witnesses to verify the apparent presence of a marijuana cigarette on the table. Defense counsel decided not to do so. Rather, in his final argument to the jury, defense counsel pointed out with the aid of a magnifying glass that a marijuana cigarette and other paraphernalia were on the coffee table. The prosecuting attorney in response to this argument pointed out that the presence or absence of marijuana made no difference but also suggested that there was no evidence on the record indicating whether the cigarette contained marijuana and there was no evidence of consumption. The thrust of defendant's claim that he is entitled to a new trial is based upon a fact that came to light after the trial was completed. Prior to the final argument of counsel, the prosecuting attorney had inquired of Hall and Porter concerning the cigarette in the photograph. They told him that the cigarette did contain marijuana, but both denied that they had smoked marijuana on the night in question. The defendant argued that the failure to reveal this information was a violation of the prosecutor's duty to disclose and warrants a new trial under the principles enunciated by this court in State v. Wyche, 518 A.2d 907 (R.I. 1986). In support of defendant's motion for a new trial, both women testified that the cigarette did contain marijuana but denied that they had smoked any on the evening in question. The trial justice, in considering a motion for new trial on this ground, distinguished the Wyche case wherein the prosecution failed to notify the defense of alcohol-test results that indicated that the complaining victim of a sexual assault had a high blood alcohol content that would have affected her credibility on the issue of consent as well as her perception of events on the evening of the alleged sexual assault. The trial justice pointed out that in this case defense counsel was aware of the photograph and also was aware of what it probably contained. He stated that defense counsel could have recalled both of the women to verify that the cigarette contained marijuana. He also pointed out in his colloquy with defense counsel that had counsel not desired to ask the question of these witnesses before the jury, he could have requested to examine the witnesses in the absence of the jury and that such an option would have been open to him. Defense counsel did not choose to exercise such an option. Nevertheless, the trial justice was aware that the prosecutor did not notify defendant of his having verified the presence of marijuana with Hall and Porter before the argument. The trial justice then made the following comments: Did this nondisclosure prejudice the defendant? Was this evidence of high value to the defense in this case? In my firm opinion the answer to these questions must be an emphatic no. In the first place, the defense did bring to the jury's attention the apparent presence of marijuana. Plainly, judging from its verdict, the mere presence of this small amount of marijuana mattered not at all to this jury. Cross-examination of these two women already had disclosed to the jury they had been drinking all night long. They described their condition as feeling good. It was not lost upon this jury, and no jury could have doubted that the two women were fairly well intoxicated when they returned to Laura Hall's apartment. The jury also knew Laura Hall had a prior conviction for marijuana possession. A great deal of impeaching evidence had already been placed before this jury. And, of course, as a result of the photograph, the jury was not unaware of the apparent presence of marijuana in the residence. Mr. Mann made sure in his summation that the jury did not overlook it. Disclosure to the defense by the prosecutor of that which the defense was already aware, and which the defendant could have further explored, indeed at one point indicated during the trial he might want to do that, would have benefited the defendant not at all. In any event, the jury was not shielded from this material which was depicted in Exhibit 6, anyway. Both of these women were subjected to searching, and at a point, scathing cross-examination. That cross-examination severely tested their credibility. Had the defendant wanted to further inquire about the marijuana, he could have. He chose not to do so. There's no question in my mind that that which the defendant now complains of by way of the prosecutor's nondisclosure would not have made any difference whatsoever in this jury's verdict. There is no way that the result would have been different. Not by the most elastic stretch of the most fertile imagination would this information have impacted on the verdict in this case. To the extent it was error by the prosecutor not to have disclosed his verification of what the defendant already knew, it was harmless error beyond all doubt. The type of nondisclosure here is in no way, and does not in any way approach that which was condemned in Wyche. Also, unlike Wyche, our case includes other evidence of guilt beyond just testimony of the complainants. Parenthetically, had their testimony  even were it to have included the presence of marijuana in the apartment  their testimony was, in my view, most credible. After our analysis of the record, we agree with the trial justice that the presence of marijuana in the quantity observed would have made no difference in the outcome of the case. This case does not implicate the doctrine of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and its progeny since in effect the evidence had been disclosed by the photograph and witnesses were available to the defense who would have verified the information if desired. In effect, the evidence was not exculpatory and the prosecutor could not be faulted for having regarded it as insignificant. Even the police officers who had noted the small quantity of marijuana at the scene of the incident considered it too small a sample to test. The trial justice was correct in his determination that this issue was without significance. The disclosure by the prosecution of his verification of the presence of marijuana would not have added substantially to the information that defense counsel already had and which he could himself have verified by recalling one or both of the witnesses. Consequently we are of the opinion that the trial justice did not err in denying defendant's motion for a new trial.