Opinion ID: 1112237
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: officer taguma's prior bad acts.

Text: Estrada asserts that the Anakalea and Ogawa Reports as well as the testimony of Junette, Higa, Kamakawiwaole, plus Maryanne were highly relevant so should not have been excluded. State counters that the proffered evidence was 1) irrelevant; or 2) cumulative since defense witnesses Glasgow, Inouye, and Dr. Halford had already testified as to Officer Taguma's violent and abusive nature. [6] We have already ruled that Junette's testimony plus the Anakalea and Ogawa Reports are relevant so should have been admitted. The jury, as sole judge of witness credibility and the weight of the evidence, must determine the veracity of Junette's allegations as they relate to Estrada's self-defense claims. State v. Riveira, 59 Haw. 148, 577 P.2d 793 (1978). Higa's and Kamakawiwaole's testimony, though, were not relevant. Officer Taguma's supposed attitude problem, without any specific instances of violence, aggression, or abuse of official powers, did not relate to Estrada's self-defense claims. See HRE Rule 404(b). Maryanne's testimony, however, clearly is relevant by showing Officer Taguma, as a Maui County liquor control officer, was physically aggressive, sexually harassed her, assaulted her, and abused the powers of his office for personal gain. See State v. Lui, 61 Haw. 328, 603 P.2d 151 (1979). Accordingly, her testimony should have been admitted as consistent with Glasgow's and Inouye's accounts of Officer Taguma's misconduct. See State v. Basque, 66 Haw. 510, 666 P.2d 599 (1983).