Opinion ID: 1590948
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Right to Confrontation of the Witness

Text: For his last point for reversal, Appellant argues that he was denied his right to confront the witness about her prior inconsistent statements because they were admitted through the testimony of another witness. He argues that it was not possible to ask the officer about Kim's powers of observation and perception at the time, as well as the physical circumstances that may have affected her statements about the fight. We find no merit to this argument, as Appellant was afforded a full opportunity to ask Kim about the circumstances surrounding the fight and her prior statements to Dean. The Confrontation Clause, found in both the United States and Arkansas Constitutions, is intended to permit a defendant to confront the witnesses against him and to provide him with the opportunity to cross-examine those witnesses. See Smith v. State, 340 Ark. 116, 8 S.W.3d 534 (2000); Huddleston v. State, 339 Ark. 266, 5 S.W.3d 46 (1999). Appellant was not denied his right to confront Kim at trial, nor was he denied the right to fully cross-examine her regarding her prior inconsistent statements. As evidenced by her direct testimony, set out above, the prosecutor asked Kim about the individual statements that she had made to the police. Appellant was then allowed to cross-examine her about those statements. The record reveals that defense counsel cross-examined Kim on how close she stood to the fight, the effect of her fight with her husband, and the fact that the trial took place over a year and a half after the fight. Had he chosen to do so, he undoubtedly would have been allowed to ask her about the lighting that night, the type of knife that she allegedly saw Appellant use, the effect of her pregnancy on her ability to remember and recall the event, and any other issue that he now claims may have touched upon her ability to recall. There is no indication from the record that the trial court in any way attempted to limit Appellant's cross-examination of Kim. The record also reflects that Appellant was given a full opportunity to cross-examine Dean about the circumstances of his interview of Kim. Appellant certainly could have called Kim as his own witness if he had any further questions stemming from Dean's testimony of her statements. We thus conclude that Appellant was not denied the right to confront the witnesses against him.