Opinion ID: 1479721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: General Error

Text: The following two issues were, at least in part, properly preserved for review by adequate objection at trial. Because the trial court had a fair opportunity to consider, evaluate and rule upon such questions, State v. Kennison, 135 Vt. 238, 240, 373 A.2d 556, 558 (1977), they will be reviewed for general error.
During the testimony of defendant's father, certain controversial testimony was elicited. First, the father testified that he had no knowledge of Reginald's murder until he was told by Bonnie Janoski, another witness, that she thought defendant had killed Reginald. Second, he testified that his brother Richard told him the same. Third, during the same direct examination and in an unresponsive answer to a carefully worded question, he blurted out that his brother Richard told him that defendant had confessed to Richard. Only the first statement was properly objected to. Defendant contends that all of these statements were inadmissible hearsay, that both Janoski and Richard Mecier told defendant's father defendant had confessed to them. We believe defendant has overstated his argument. The father's first two statements contained nothing to the effect that defendant had actually confessed to Janoski and Richard Mecieronly the third contained this information. The first statement was allowed by the court because it was nonhearsay, not being admitted for the truth of Janoski's belief. The testimony was admitted to show the father's state of mind or motivation for forty or fifty visits that he made later to the scene of the crime. The testimony explained his subsequent actions and was not offered for its truth. McCormick's Handbook of the Law of Evidence § 249, at 589-90 (E. Cleary 2d ed. 1972). The second statement would also fall under the same rule. Defendant also contends that these first two statements were only admitted for a limited purpose and that the jury was not sufficiently instructed as to that fact. The offer of proof made by the prosecution clearly stated that the testimony was not offered for its truth but only to show what was in Mr. Mecier's mind when he took action later on. The court responded: We will take the answer for that limited purpose only. Although it might have been better practice for the court to have instructed the jury more fully, defense counsel requested no such limiting instruction. In the absence of such a request, we will not find reversible error. The father's third statement was, in fact, improper hearsay. Hearsay implications against an accused are not admissible and should be excluded because they are based upon statements by persons who are not under oath and not subject to cross-examination. State v. Ovitt, 126 Vt. 320, 326, 229 A.2d 237, 241 (1967). Richard Mecier, from whom defendant's admission allegedly came, was not called as a witness at trial and, therefore, could not be confronted. However, since no objection was registered at the time the testimony was given, defendant seeks again to invoke the plain error standard. Although this unresponsive answer was hearsay, its admission was not plain error. There was substantial other evidence garnered against the defendant: eyewitness accounts as well as numerous other admissions that were properly admitted. The admission of this testimony was cumulative and was not so prejudicial as to warrant reversal under the plain error standard.
Two and one-half months after denial of post-trial motions and sentencing, defendant filed a second Motion for New Trial based upon newly discovered evidence. Three witnesses, who had not testified at trial, came forward to state that Mark Brown had told them he killed Reginald. Although the motion for new trial contained other issues as well, defendant's only argument on appeal from the denial of the motion concerns the testimony of these witnesses. Defendant argues that the standard established in State v. Jackson, 126 Vt. 250, 252, 254-55, 227 A.2d 280, 282, 283-84 (1967), has been met and that a new trial should have been granted. A motion for a new trial, V.R.Cr.P. 33, is a matter for the discretion of the trial court and, absent a showing of abuse or the withholding of discretion, its decision will not be reversed. State v. LeBeau, 144 Vt. 315, 319, 476 A.2d 128, 130 (1984); State v. Dezaine, 141 Vt. 335, 338, 449 A.2d 913, 914 (1982). If the basis for the motion is newly discovered evidence, (1) it must be material and have been discovered since the trial, (2) it must be truly new and not merely undiscovered because of lack of diligence, (3) it must be of such character that it will give reasonable assurance that it will work a different result upon a retrial, and (4) it must not be merely cumulative or only of impeaching effect. State v. Jackson, supra . This standard was recently reaffirmed. State v. Dezaine, supra, 141 Vt. at 338, 449 A.2d at 914; see also State v. Berard, 134 Vt. 220, 222, 356 A.2d 514, 515-16 (1976). This test is a stringent one. State v. Dezaine, supra, 141 Vt. at 338, 449 A.2d at 914-15. The trial court denied the motion because the new testimony was cumulative to that of Morris Jones and Pasquale Patori and was only impeaching testimony. The testimony of the new witnesses is evidence of the same kind and upon the same point; it is merely cumulative. Finally, we cannot say that this evidence, if presented, would probably change the result if a new trial is granted. Id. at 338, 449 A.2d at 914. There was considerable evidence engendered against defendant, including the testimony of eyewitnesses, corroboration of that testimony by others, numerous admissions by defendant and a great deal of circumstantial evidence. There was no abuse of discretion in the denial of defendant's motion.