Opinion ID: 2459991
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Late Endorsement of John Galvan

Text: Hutchison's third and final preserved point on appeal is that the trial court abused its discretion and committed reversible error when it allowed the state to endorse John Galvan as a witness for the penalty phase on the first day of trial, October 4, 1996. Galvan testified that several months prior to the murders, Hutchison stabbed Galvan while he was sleeping. Hutchison claims that an endorsement on the first day of trial rendered him unable to adequately investigate and obtain rebuttal evidence to Galvan's claim in time for the penalty phase proceeding that occurred on October 10th. Specifically, Hutchison avers that had he been able to investigate, he might have been able to uncover additional statements made by Galvan or others that refuted Galvan's testimony, as well as medical information revealing the true nature and extent of Galvan's injury and whether Galvan's injury was medically consistent with a stabbing. A trial court has broad discretion in permitting the late endorsement of additional witnesses. State v. Greathouse, 627 S.W.2d 592, 595 (Mo.1982). Abuse of discretion may only be found when the endorsement causes fundamental unfairness. State v. Sweet, 796 S.W.2d 607, 617 n. 4 (Mo. banc 1990), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 932, 111 S.Ct. 1339, 113 L.Ed.2d 270 (1991). Four factors are generally used to determine whether a trial court abused its discretion in allowing the state to endorse a witness shortly before trial: (1) whether the accused waived the objection; (2) whether the state intended surprise or acted deceptively or in bad faith, intending to damage the accused; (3) whether the accused was surprised and suffered any disadvantage; and (4) whether the type of testimony given might readily have been contemplated. Id. at 613. Hutchison concedes that the state did not intend surprise or deceit in endorsing Galvan on the first day of trial. Hutchison was assisted by copies of Galvan's medical records, which were supplied by the state eleven minutes after prosecutors received the records on October 8th. These records provided Hutchison with information about the nature and extent of Galvan's wounds. The trial court also gave Hutchison an opportunity to interview Galvan, after Galvan's appearance at a hearing that was held on October 8th to determine whether the court would allow Galvan to testify. This interview provided Hutchison with an opportunity to elicit additional statements from Galvan refuting Galvan's anticipated testimony and to conduct other necessary discovery. The prosecutors also told counsel for Hutchison that they were investigating Galvan as a potential witness some number of days before he was endorsed as a penalty phase witness. It is noteworthy that Hutchison did not seek a continuance from the trial court asking for more time to complete his investigation. Failure to seek a continuance leads to the inference that the late endorsement was not damaging to the complaining party. See State v. Farris, 243 S.W.2d 983, 987 (Mo.1951). The factors listed above do not support a finding that the state's late endorsement caused Hutchison fundamental unfairness. The level of aggravating circumstances in this case overcomes any reasonable probability that the outcome of the sentencing phase would have been any different had Galvan's testimony been kept out. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing the state to endorse John Galvan on October 4th. This point is denied.