Opinion ID: 157009
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cynthia Brosemer's statements

Text: 46 On February 14, 1984, Mr. Newsted, along with Doug Kaye and Cynthia Brosemer, robbed the Playhouse Bar in Cedar City, Utah. Ms. Brosemer turned herself in three days later, received immunity, and provided three statements to Cedar City police officer Roy Houchen and others concerning the crime. Details of her statements will be provided as relevant, but the essence of her statements as they relate to Mr. Newsted was that he participated in the robbery, he fired two non-fatal shots into the arm or shoulder of one of the victims, and that Doug Kaye executed the three victims by shooting them in the back of the head while Mr. Newsted and Ms. Brosemer looked on. 47 At the sentencing phase of Mr. Newsted's trial for the Buckley murder, the state called only Officer Houchen and Ms. Brosemer as witnesses. The state's apparent plan was to use evidence of the Utah murders to establish the aggravating circumstance that there was a probability that Mr. Newsted would commit acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society. Mr. Newsted's counsel objected, citing the Oklahoma rule providing that the state may not introduce evidence at a sentencing hearing unless it has given the defense adequate notice. The court permitted the witnesses to testify over defense counsel's objection. 48 Mr. Newsted argues that Ms. Brosemer's testimony during the penalty phase varied from her prior three statements, and permitted the inference that Mr. Newsted actually killed people in Utah. He further claims that the unavailability of her prior statements made it impossible to impeach her during the penalty phase. Thus, he argues the state's failure to disclose Ms. Brosemer's statements to him both severely hampered his ability to effectively cross-examine her during the penalty phase and gave the jury an inaccurate picture of Mr. Newsted's involvement in the Utah murders and thus an inaccurate impression of his future dangerousness. 49 The district court concluded that, although the statements were Brady statements and were not turned over to Mr. Newsted, 8 had the Brosemer statements been disclosed to the defense, there is not a reasonable probability that the result of the sentencing phase would have been different. Order at 19, R. Vol. III at Tab 36. After carefully reviewing the Brosemer statements and her testimony at the sentencing phase of Mr. Newsted's trial, we affirm. We agree with the state and the district court that, while Ms. Brosemer's trial testimony was not identical to her prior statements, it was substantially the same, and adequately and accurately conveyed to the jury Mr. Newsted's involvement in the Utah murders. 9 50