Opinion ID: 1903773
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the trial court improperly restricted cross examination.

Text: ¶ 22. McDowell's next issue refers to a hodgepodge of incidents during the trial in which the trial court sustained the State's numerous objections to McDowell's cross-examination of State witness as being argumentative, speculative or repetitive. [2] McDowell argues that, collectively, these objections (all of which were sustained) improperly restricted his right of cross-examination as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. ¶ 23. This Court has held that [t]he scope of cross-examination is wide, but that scope is `coextensive with the limits of relevancy measured by the issues.' Ellis v. State, 661 So.2d 177, 184 (Miss.1995)quoting Black v. State, 506 So.2d 264, 267 (Miss.1987). The Comment to Rule 611 identifies three principles underlying the orderly presentation of evidence: (1) effectiveness in determining the issues, (2) avoidance of needless waste of time, and (3) protection of the witness from harassment and embarrassment. M.R.E. 611 cmt. Limitations placed on cross-examination by the trial court are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Ellis, 661 So.2d at 184. ¶ 24. Having reviewed the trial transcript in its entirety, we conclude that McDowell's right to cross-examination was in no way limited. In each instance referred to by McDowell, the trial court sustained objections to specific questions on grounds that they were speculative or argumentative or had already been asked and answered. At no point was McDowell actually barred from exploring any topic on cross-examination. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in sustaining any of the State's objections which McDowell now raises as reversible error.