Opinion ID: 2559122
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Transcript and Videotaped Recording of Second Police Interview

Text: Finally, we consider the defendant's argument that the trial court erroneously admitted the transcript and videotaped recording of his second police interview. Prior to trial, the defendant moved to exclude the interview in its entirety. The trial court ruled it would admit evidence of the interview, but that the portion in which the defendant asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege would be redacted. The defendant argues that this was error under New Hampshire Rule of Evidence 403. We disagree. Rule 403 states: Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. We review the trial court's determination in balancing prejudice and probative worth for an unsustainable exercise of discretion. Sawtell, 152 N.H. at 181, 872 A.2d 1013. To demonstrate that the trial court's decision is not sustainable, the defendant must show that it was clearly untenable or unreasonable to the prejudice of his case. State v. Santiago, 159 N.H. 753, 757, 992 A.2d 543 (2010). The defendant posits three arguments based on Rule 403 considerations: (1) the evidence was minimally probative and highly prejudicial; (2) it was needlessly cumulative of other evidence presented at trial; and (3) it could have misled or confused the jury. We address each argument in turn. The defendant contends that the redacted interview ended abruptly, which could have led the jury to infer that he asserted his right to remain silent. He further argues that most of the interview contains no inculpatory evidence, and amounts to little more than casual conversation. Thus, he concludes that the prejudicial effect of the evidence substantially outweighs its probative value. We disagree. In ruling on the motion to exclude, the trial court determined that because the defendant's demeanor visibly changed when the conversation turned to the murders, and because the interview appeared to reveal the defendant lying to the police about what they would find on a search of his property, the probative value of the evidence was not substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect. The trial court explained: The state correctly asserts that a defendant's conduct after a homicide, including his attempts to conceal the killings as well as any statements he makes, are facts that the jury will be instructed to consider in determining whether the defendant committed first degree murder.... The state must establish intent as an element of first-degree murder. As such, insight into the defendant's mind through his statements and demeanor with police is an important link in the state's case. The jury is also entitled to hear evidence supporting the state's claim that the defendant lied to police during this interview. This purported action relates directly to credibility and consciousness of guilt. Therefore, the statements are highly probative. The trial court concluded that, [w]hile the statements may be prejudicial, they do not rise to the level of unfair prejudice because they contain nothing that would cause the jury to decide the case on improper grounds. We agree. As noted above, a forensic team searched the defendant's property soon after the murders and found the victims' bodies, as well as bullet holes and blood stains throughout the defendant's home. During the course of the second interview, the police informed the defendant that a forensic team had searched his property. The police then asked the defendant, What do you think we found? The defendant replied, I don't know, but that's just what you said you were going to tell me. In light of the defendant's admitted presence at his property on the day of the interview, where visible blood stains, bullet holes and the victims' bodies were discovered, a jury could find this statement to be dishonest and therefore probative of his guilt. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not err in finding the second interview highly probative. See State v. Evans, 150 N.H. 416, 420, 839 A.2d 8 (2003) (It is reasonable to infer consciousness of guilt from a defendant's false exculpatory statement.). As to prejudice, we conclude the trial court did not err in concluding that admission of the redacted interview was minimally prejudicial to the defendant's case. Although there may have been some potential for speculation on the part of the jury as to why the interview ended abruptly, including speculation that the defendant invoked his privilege against self-incrimination, we find no error in the trial court's determination that the prejudice did not substantially outweigh the highly probative value of the evidence. The defendant also argues that this evidence was needlessly cumulative of other evidence presented at trial. Specifically, he argues that police testimony and the admission of the videotaped recording of the first police interview were sufficient to evidence his demeanor as it pertained to a consciousness of guilt. We disagree. We have concluded that the second interview was highly probative of the defendant's consciousness of guilt based on the specific details of that interview. Because the defendant does not argue that a similar conversation occurred during his first interview with police, we do not conclude that evidence of the second police interview is cumulative of the evidence from the first police interview. The defendant's final argument regarding this evidence is that admission of his statements was unduly confusing to the jury. In support of this argument, the defendant cites State v. Philbrook, 138 N.H. 601, 603, 644 A.2d 66 (1994), for the proposition that when evidence of flight creates an improper impression, it is error to admit it under Rule 403. We find Philbrook to be inapplicable here. Philbrook concerned admission of the defendant's statement that he fled after speaking with his attorney. We held that admission of the statement was an unsustainable exercise of discretion because the jury might infer, based on the attorney's statements, that the defendant's own attorney believed him to be guilty. Here, the evidence consists of the defendant's own statements, which the jury was entitled to consider as to consciousness of guilt. See Evans, 150 N.H. at 420, 839 A.2d 8. Affirmed.