Opinion ID: 1201386
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: calling foote to testify

Text: The defense sought to call Foote to the stand so that he would have to claim the privilege against self-incrimination in front of the jury. It wanted the jury to infer Foote's guilt from the exercise of this privilege. The trial judge denied the request. We find no abuse of discretion. State v. Corrales, 138 Ariz. 583, 588, 676 P.2d 615, 620 (1983). A person who can legitimately refuse to answer questions on the stand may be excused from being called as a witness without violating defendant's Sixth Amendment right to compulsory process. State v. McDaniel, 136 Ariz. 188, 194, 665 P.2d 70, 76 (1983). Here the record supports the trial judge's finding that Foote would have invoked the Fifth Amendment if called to testify. The jury would not have been permitted to infer Foote's guilt from his silence. Id. Thus, no material and favorable evidence was lost when the trial judge denied Henry's request to put Foote on the stand. Id. at 195, 665 P.2d at 77.