Opinion ID: 2631813
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Relevancy, Impeachment.

Text: `The determination of relevancy is a matter of logic and experience, not a matter of law. [Citations omitted.]' State v. Gardner, 264 Kan. 95, 104, 955 P.2d 1199 (1998). To establish relevancy to the fact of the crimes charged, this court has stated there must be some natural or logical connection between [the witness'] testimony and the inference or result [the witness'] testimoney is designed to establish. State v. Donesay, 265 Kan. 60, 85, 959 P.2d 862 (1998). Here, the evidence showing that Leitner participated in Wicca bears no relevance to the crimes charged against her. The record contains no hint or innuendo that her abstract beliefs had any connection to Leitner killing Michael. Further, the State's assertions that it sought to use this evidence to put Michael's actions into context or to impeach Leitner's testimony about the indiscriminate nature of Michael's abuse are ludicrous. To believe these assertions, one must first believe that a justification exists for beating one's spouse. The State fails to present a valid justification for its argument that Leitner's testimony describing Michael's physical abuse opened the door to collateral evidence of Leitner's association with Wicca.