Opinion ID: 567665
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Admission of Letters Written by the Government's Witness

Text: 34 Defendant argues that the district court erred in allowing the government on redirect examination to offer into evidence the two letters from which defense counsel cross-examined Christian, defendant's cellmate. Defendant contends that the letters were irrelevant and self-serving. We disagree. 35 The government called Christian as a witness in its case-in-chief. Christian testified that defendant made certain admissions to him in jail concerning defendant's participation in the marijuana operation and in setting up the booby-trapped shotgun. On cross-examination, counsel for defendant impeached Christian with several prior convictions and by reading portions of two letters which Christian had written to the prosecution concerning his willingness to cooperate and his reasons for cooperating. 36 Defense counsel made extensive use of the letters on cross-examination, emphasizing that Christian would do anything he could do to assist the government. The implication was that Christian would possibly even lie to assist the government if it would help him in return. The statement which defense counsel read to the jury, when read in context, however, does not portray the same impression as when the statement is read alone. For example, the quotation cited by counsel for defendant, I'll do anything I can to assist you.... I've got to make a change, has different implications when read in context. The statement in its entirety reads as follows: 37 In all, I do want you to know that I am truly sorry for what I did--the mere thought of losing my wife over all this has made me think in different ways--I will do anything I can to assist you or those authorities in Atlanta. I have got to make a change--my life is going nowhere down the road I am presently on.... 38