Opinion ID: 2600749
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Violence Against Former Wives

Text: At the hearing on the State's motion to admit prior bad acts pursuant to K.S.A. 60-455, the prosecutor pointed out that the evidence at trial would show that the victim died of strangulation, probably by someone's hands, prior to the start of the fire. There was bruising to the back or the side of the skull, which was consistent with a person placing his or her hands around the victim's neck and slamming her head against a wall. The prosecutor noted that at the time of the murder, the victim and the defendant were separated, and the defendant was having an affair with another woman. The prosecutor compared the facts of the defendant's abuse of Jenell and his prior wives, then argued the defendant's prior acts of violence against his former wives were relevant to prove identity of the killer and his intent, plan, and absence of mistake or accident. The judge noted that although the prior abuse did not result in convictions, it was relevant to the State's allegations, the wives were available to testify and would be subject to cross-examination, and the jury would be able to weigh the evidence appropriately. Then, noting the similarity between the prior bad acts and the allegations against Boorigie, the judge overruled the defense objections and granted the prosecutor's motion to admit the evidence pursuant to K.S.A. 60-455. Carol Banning testified that she was married to Boorigie from 1979 to 1985. During most of the marriage, she lived in the rural residence where the fire and murder of Jenell occurred. During her marriage to Boorigie, the defendant was abusive to her on numerous occasions. When he was angry with her, defendant would grab her around the neck and throw her across the room or up against the wall. He would often pick her up by the neck and tell her that she was not going to talk to anyone about his business. This type of abuse occurred at least twice a month. She noted that Boorigie's abuse of her seemed to get worse when the defendant was having extramarital affairs. The defendant would threaten Banning that she would never see the children again or that he would make sure that she would not talk anymore. Jane Robles testified that she was married to Boorigie from 1985 to 1994. During that time, she and Boorigie lived in the same rural residence as did Banning and Jenell. During the marriage, Boorigie and Robles often quarreled. When Boorigie became angry, he would lift Robles by the neck and throw her. Robles related specific occasions when Boorigie had attacked her. On one occasion, the defendant had previously reported to an insurance company that his farm implement, a 36-foot disk, had been stolen. Robles later found out that the disk was actually on a farm in Oklahoma. During an argument, Robles threatened to tell the insurance company where the disk was located. Boorigie became incensed and tore the telephone from the wall. He then attacked her, tore off the nightgown she was wearing, and burned it. On another occasion in 1992, Boorigie placed a hot iron on the carpeted floor after he became enraged with Robles. The iron left a burned spot on the rug. Boorigie then threatened to burn the house with Robles and her children in it. It is important to note that it is not necessary under K.S.A. 60-455 that prior offenses be identical in nature to the offense for which the defendant is on trial; it is sufficient if the offenses are similar. Lane, 262 Kan. at 390. The similarities between the prior abusive acts and the facts of this case are striking. As such, the evidence was relevant under K.S.A. 60-455 to prove a disputed, material fact at trial. We find that the probative value of the evidence outweighed its potential prejudice; therefore, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in admitting the evidence.