Opinion ID: 2103224
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Impeachment of Eyvonne Garris

Text: Appellant argues that the trial court erred in allowing the government to impeach its witness, Eyvonne Garris, without first demonstrating surprise or affirmative damage to its case. He also contends that the trial court's limiting instruction following the impeachment of this witness was inadequate. We conclude that even assuming that the foundation for the impeachment was inadequate, there is no basis for reversal because this witness adopted the prior statements as her testimony at trial. See Jones v. United States, 579 A.2d 250, 253 (D.C.1990); Stewart, supra, 490 A.2d at 625. In any event, the impeachment was harmless under the circumstances. See Waldron v. United States, 613 A.2d 370, 374 (D.C.1992). We examine briefly the context in which the impeachment evidence was elicited. Ms. Garris was in the apartment when appellant returned after the shooting, and she was present that summer when appellant admitted the shooting. In an effort to show a basis for impeaching Ms. Garris, the government proffered that she stated prior to trial that she had heard appellant admit killing Williams. At trial Ms. Garris initially testified that she could not distinguish the voice of the person who made the statement among those present on either of two occasions when appellant was among them. However, Ms. Garris later admitted in testimony that she heard appellant say he shot the decedent. [2] Thus, she adopted the critical evidence with which the government sought to impeach her. When a witness adopts the prior inconsistent statement, the prior statement may be used as substantive evidence. Jones, supra, 579 A.2d at 253; Stewart, supra, 490 A.2d at 625. Even assuming a proper foundation was lacking, neither the absence of a proper foundation for the impeachment nor the omission of a cautionary instruction is reversible error where, as here, the witness adopts the impeaching evidence. See Jones, 579 A.2d at 253-54. Moreover, once the witness affirmatively testified that she overheard appellant say he shot the decedent, any error in admitting the impeachment evidence, which was to the same effect, was rendered harmless. See Waldron, supra, 613 A.2d at 374.