Opinion ID: 2405656
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Prior bad acts of the victim

Text: Appellant also argues that proffered evidence of the victim's character, by testimony of specific instances of her prior violent conduct toward him, was erroneously excluded. Our review is limited to the proffered cross-examination testimony of state's witness, Sheriff Winters, that he heard appellant tell another law enforcement officer that the victim had pulled a gun on him during their previous arguments and, once, had gotten mad and almost shot off his ear. Ark. R.Evid. 103; Stewart v. State, 316 Ark. 153, 870 S.W.2d 752 (1994). Appellant asserts the excluded testimony was relevant to his defense of accident. Because appellant's defense was accident, rather than self-defense, the trial court excluded testimony of the victim's prior bad acts. Appellant argues that the proffered testimony was admissible as evidence of a pertinent trait of the victim's character, in light of his defense of accident, pursuant to Ark. R.Evid. 404(a), and as evidence of other acts by the victim that were relevant to proof of his intent on the day of the shooting, pursuant to Ark.R.Evid. 404(b). We need not address this argument on its merits. Even assuming Sheriff Winters's excluded evidence was admissible under Rule 404, it was not admissible under Ark.R.Evid. 405, which governs methods of proving character. Rule 405 generally limits proof of character to reputation or opinion testimony. However, pursuant to Rule 405(a), a character witness may testify on cross-examination as to relevant specific instances of conduct. Wilburn v. State, 289 Ark. 224, 711 S.W.2d 760 (1986). The abstract, however, reveals no evidence from Sheriff Winters, on direct examination, regarding the victim's character. Hence, the proffered evidence was not admissible under Rule 405(a) as it was beyond the scope of cross-examination. Ark. R.Evid. 611. Rule 405(b) also permits proof of character by specific instances of conduct in cases in which character or a trait of character is an essential element of a charge, claim or defense. Such a character trait must be an operative fact which under substantive law determines the rights and liabilities of the parties. McClellan v. State, 264 Ark. 223, 226, 570 S.W.2d 278, 280 (1978). Appellant does not satisfy this standard because the victim's violent character was not an essential element of the murder charge or of his defense of accident. As the trial court correctly ruled, had appellant's defense been self-defense, the result might have been otherwise. Thompson v. State, 306 Ark. 193, 813 S.W.2d 249 (1991). Appellant sought to use the proffered testimony circumstantially rather than as a direct substantive issue, and, therefore, it was not admissible under Rule 405(b). McClellan, 264 Ark. 223, 570 S.W.2d 278.