Opinion ID: 1194955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Abuse of DiscretionThe Sister's Testimony

Text: Karen Comeau testified about a sack of Dias' belongings that she did not think Dias should have had. Dias' counsel objected for irrelevance, approaching the bench for an off-the-record discussion. The prosecutor continued with her line of questioning. The record does not reveal whether the judge sustained or overruled the objection. However, he must have overruled it for the questioning to have continued. Karen described the contents of the bag: Dias' knives. Karen told Deborah that she did not think Dias should have the knives, and Deborah agreed. The sack was taken to the barn. At that point, Dias' counsel objected again for irrelevance, and the objection was sustained. The admission or exclusion of evidence, subject to exclusionary rules, is within the trial court's discretion. Discretion is abused only when judicial action is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, or when no reasonable person would adopt the trial court's view. State v. Baacke, 261 Kan. 422, Syl. ¶ 1, 932 P.2d 396 (1997). Dias asserts that he was denied a fair trial because the admission of the testimony concerning his knives was an improper character attack. He contends that his statutory rights under K.S.A. 60-447 have been violated. Because possession of a switchblade knife is a violation of K.S.A. 21-4201(a)(1), Dias argues this testimony is prior crimes evidence, improper under K.S.A. 60-455. Dias reasons that he did not put his character in issue. Karen's testimony about Dias' knives was irrelevant but brief, and the district court sustained the objection as the testimony continued. It did not affect the outcome of the trial, given the overwhelming evidence and Dias' admitted use of the knife and carving fork during the crime. We find no abuse of discretion.