Opinion ID: 1577692
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 22

Heading: Rebuttal Testimony by Detective Cales

Text: In 2002, following Appellant's first trial, Norma Sloas contacted the Attorney General's Office and related a conversation she had with Minnie Burton in 1996. According to Sloas, Burton stopped by her house while she was sitting on the front porch. Burton told her that she had killed Bess Horton. Burton also warned Sloas not to repeat the confession to anyone. At trial, Sloas testified to the same facts. However, she added that Burton was accompanied by her cousin, Kim Mayle, who left before Burton made the supposed confession. At trial, the Commonwealth called Detective Cales, who had interviewed Sloas after her call to the Attorney General's Office, in an attempt to rebut Sloas' testimony. Apparently, the Commonwealth was under the impression that Sloas did not mention Mayle's presence when she was initially interviewed by Detective Cales. However, Detective Cales testified that he could not remember whether Sloas mentioned Mayle or not. The trial court enjoys broad discretion in its determination of the admissibility of rebuttal evidence. See RCr 9.24; Chestnut v. Commonwealth, 250 S.W.3d 288 (Ky.2008). Here, the trial court acted well within its discretion in permitting the Commonwealth to rebut Sloas' claim that Burton had confessed. In any event, considering Detective Cales' inability to remember his conversation with Sloas, it is difficult to conceive any prejudice to Appellant. There was no error.