Opinion ID: 2633362
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Limitation of Cross-Examination of the Victim

Text: [¶ 30] Schmidt contends that the district court erroneously limited defense counsel's ability to cross-examine and, hence, to confront the victim (complaining witness). The defense sought to inquire of the victim whether victim's Mother had ever related to her a story that something similar had happened to her. The thrust of this questioning was to establish a basis for the victim's fabrication of her story, i.e., that the things she said had happened did not happen to her, but to her Mother (or were otherwise suggested by her Mother's experience). The Mother was not called as a witness. In addition, the victim was merely asked if she had talked to her Mother and she answered, Yes. Defense counsel then asked, And your mother had a problem when she was little? The question was, at best, unfocused as to any particular problem, and the trial court appropriately sustained an objection based on the question being beyond the scope of direct. Defense counsel also asked if the victim knew anybody else that this happened to. Again, the question is very unfocused as to what this exactly meant and, in addition, the question called for hearsay that might have included W.R.E. 404(b) evidence. The trial court correctly sustained the State's objection to that question. Schmidt posits this issue in the context of a violation of the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and art. 1, § 10 of the Wyoming Constitution. Here, he had a full and complete opportunity to confront the victim. If he failed to fully avail himself of that opportunity through inartful and objectionable questioning, then that is a matter relating to the admission of evidence, not the Confrontation Clause. Moreover, the witness the defense really wanted to confront was the victim's Mother, and she was available to the defense by way of subpoena. Finally, there is nothing in this record by way of an offer of proof that suggests that this line of questioning would have produced any admissible evidence for the defense in any event. In summary, we do not perceive that the trial court erroneously limited the defense in its opportunity to cross-examine or to confront the victim.