Opinion ID: 2547520
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Prior acts relating to Melinda

Text: As previously noted, the prior acts of violence committed by Driver against his former wife, Melinda, included a 1995 conviction for first-degree assault and wanton endangerment for beating her with a rifle and baseball bat, and also that in 1995, Driver broke into Melinda's residence and attacked her and her son, and threatened to burn down their trailer. Because prior acts of violence or threats of violence against persons other than the victim in the case on trial have significantly less probative value than similar prior acts and threats against the same victim, as a general rule specific threats directed against third parties are inadmissible. Sherroan, 142 S.W.3d at 18. [A] threat to kill or injure someone which is specifically directed at some individual other than the deceased is inadmissible, as it shows only a special malice resulting from a transaction with which the deceased had no connection. Jones v. Commonwealth, 560 S.W.2d 810, 812 (Ky.1977). See also Burden v. Commonwealth, 296 Ky. 553, 178 S.W.2d 1, 3 (1944); Fugate v. Commonwealth, 202 Ky. 509, 260 S.W. 338, 340-41 (1924). An exception has been recognized when the threat against the third person is so close in time to the charged offense as to be considered a part of the same transaction. Chatt v. Commonwealth, 268 Ky. 141, 103 S.W.2d 952, 954-955 (1937) (threat against third party less than a minute before the killing); Smith v. Commonwealth, 92 S.W. 610, 610 (Ky. 1906) (threat against third party five minutes before the killing). The prior bad acts committed by Driver against Melinda occurred twelve years prior to the violent acts alleged in this case. Thus, pursuant to both the general rule relating to the admission of prior bad acts against third-parties, and the general principles of remoteness described in Barnes, it is clear that the admission of Driver's prior acts of violence against his former wife was error.