Opinion ID: 1476693
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the Testimony Was Permissible

Text: Williams argues that the second Craig requirement was not met because H.T. demonstrated no fear of testifying in his presence. As evidence to support this contention, Williams directs our attention to the first day of H.T.'s testimony, when she pointed to him and waved and smiled at him when she entered the courtroom. The record shows, however, that once the prosecutor began to question H.T. about appellant's conduct toward her, H.T. would not respond. Shortly afterward, during a recess in the proceedings, H.T. broke down and cried in the witness room. Ms. Staunch testified that H.T. told her she refused to answer because she was so scared of Williams. The prosecutor relayed that H.T. would testify if the Defendant was not present. She can say the words. She just doesn't want to say it in front of [Williams]. Staunch also testified that the courtroom ... is stressful, but the presence of the Defendant makes the environment unmanageable. Staunch noted that H.T. experienced Williams' presence as a threat to her. Although the trial judge failed to make specific factual findings as to the three requirements, the record amply supports an implicit determination by the trial judge that H.T. feared Williams, so that an attempt to take her testimony by way of closed circuit television was warranted. We note that this matter had been briefed for the trial court. It is apparent on the record that the trial judge wished to proceed with a limited voir dire with H.T. in the jury room in order to determine whether testifying in that manner was even feasible for the child. Once the court realized it was not, it decided to accommodate the prosecutor's strategy to proceed by impeaching H.T., the validity of which we discuss below. Thus, Williams fails to show that the trial court abused its prerogative to govern the conduct of the trial by proceeding with testimony taken via closed circuit television. The judge did note that [t]he testimony I thought was pretty clear that testifying in the presence of the Defendant was traumatic and did add to her difficulty. Thus, the second Craig requirement is satisfied.