Opinion ID: 2625134
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Rebuttal Testimony of Tony Wisdom

Text: The district judge twice rejected the State's proffer of Wisdom's testimony that defendant had a long-held irrational belief that Martin was trying to kill him. Relying on State v. Mason, 208 Kan. 39, Syl. ¶ 1, 490 P.2d 418 (1971), the district court ruled that the defense-of-another theory made the nature and character of the victim admissible by general reputation testimony. In contrast, evidence of the defendant's character would not be admissible unless defendant put his character in issue. See K.S.A. 60-447(b); State v. Stokes, 215 Kan. 5, 6-7, 523 P.2d 364 (1974). During defendant's testimony, defendant discussed the victim's reputation and character, as well as specific instances of conduct he had witnessed. He suggested that Martin was wild, unpredictable, and dangerous. In response to the specific question of what was going through his mind when he acted or reacted on the night of the crime, defendant said, Martin. You just have to know who he is; It was him. It's who he was and that is why I reacted. On cross-examination, the prosecutor then asked defendant whether it was true that he believed Martin had been trying to kill him for years; defendant strenuously denied holding that belief. The district court then permitted the State to call Wisdom in rebuttal. Defendant argues on appeal that Wisdom's rebuttal testimony was inadmissible character evidence, because defendant had not put his character in issue. He characterizes Wisdom's testimony as portraying him as a drug-addled, delusional lunatic. In a criminal case, evidence of the accused's character, if offered by the prosecution to prove guilt, may be admitted only after the accused has introduced evidence of his or her good character. K.S.A. 60-447(b). Generally, when a person's character or a trait of his or her character is in issue, it may be proved by testimony in the form of opinion, evidence of reputation, or evidence of specific instances of the person's conduct. K.S.A. 60-446. However, when a character trait is relevant to prove conduct on a specified occasion, the trait may not be proved by specific instances of conduct other than prior convictions. K.S.A. 60-447(a). A defendant on trial for murder, after laying a proper foundation by evidence tending to show that he or she acted in self-defense or, as here, defense of another, may introduce evidence of the turbulent and quarrelsome character of the deceased. See State v. Walters, 284 Kan. 1, 10, 159 P.3d 174 (2007); State v. Lumley, 266 Kan. 939, Syl. ¶ 9, 976 P.2d 486 (1999). Defendant did so here. He did not introduce evidence of his own good character; he did not offer testimony that he was a law-abiding citizen or that he was peaceful and nonviolent. Defendant is correct that he did not put his own character in issue in this case. However, defendant's argument on this issue is unavailing because Wisdom's rebuttal testimony did not constitute character evidence. Rather, it related information about events Wisdom had seen and heard. The testimony contradicted defendant's assertion that he had never said or believed Martin was after him and was proper rebuttal. The district court, properly exercising its discretion, determined that the Wisdom testimony should be excluded from the State's case in chief, because, although relevant and admissible, it was more prejudicial than probative. See K.S.A. 60-445. But this calculus could be revisited and a different decision reached after defendant testified. A district judge has broad discretion in determining the use and extent of relevant evidence in rebuttal, and such a ruling will not be ground for reversal absent abuse of that discretion that unduly prejudices the defendant. Generally, admission of rebuttal evidence intended to contradict facts put into evidence during the defense case is not error. State v. Blue, 221 Kan. 185, 188, 558 P.2d 136 (1976) (rebuttal evidence admissible under K.S.A. 60-420 to attack defendant's credibility; evidence competent to show testimony of defendant, defense witness false). We see no abuse of discretion in admission of Wisdom's rebuttal testimony here.