Opinion ID: 1744864
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: assignment numbers thirteen, fourteen, and seventeen

Text: By these assignments of error the defendants contend that the trial court erred when it overruled defense objections to allegedly irrelevant testimony. These assignments focus upon the examination of two witnesses, Helen Armstead X Kahey, one of the adult women of the household, and Monica Meadows, the natural child of the defendants. Helen Armstead X Kahey was asked by the prosecutor whether one of the wives of the household was favored over the others. The defense objection to relevancy was overruled. Ms. Armstead responded that the defendant Sheral, Vivian's lawful wife, was favored. Later, she was asked whether one of the children of the house was favored over the others. After the defendants' objection to relevancy was overruled, she replied that the defendants' child, Monica Meadows, was the favored child. She testified further that Arthur, the decedent, had been accused of attempting to have sex with Monica. Later during the trial Monica was asked whether anyone in the household would have given Arthur food if the defendant Vivian had forbade them. After argument by defense counsel, the trial judge permitted the state's attorney to ask Monica whether she would have so disobeyed Vivian. Monica replied that she would not have given Arthur food in disobedience of Vivian's instructions. All evidence which is relevant to a material fact issue, necessary to be known to explain a relevant fact, or which supports an inference raised by such a fact is admissible, La.R.S. 15:435, 441, except as otherwise provided by the constitution of the United States or this state, by law or by rule of this court. State v. Ludwig, 423 So.2d 1073 (La.1982); Cf. Fed.R.Evid. 402. Our law defines relevant evidence as that tending to show the commission of the offense and the intent, or tending to negative the commission of the offense and the intent. La.R.S. 15:441. Relevancy of evidence is determined by the purpose for which it is offered. La.R.S. 15:442. Cf. Fed.R.Evid. 401. Generally, an appellate court places great weight upon a trial court's ruling on the relevancy of evidence, and should not reverse this ruling unless a clear misuse of discretion has occurred. State v. Walker, 394 So.2d 1181 (La.1981). Applying these precepts to the instant case we conclude that the trial court did not err in allowing the introduction of the contested testimony. The state's theory was that the defendants, along with a third adult member of the household who was tried separately, acted over a period of time in concert in the harsh treatment of Arthur which resulted in his death. The testimony of the witness Armstead that Vivian's lawful wife Sheral was favored by him tends to support the conclusion that they acted together, especially in light of the other evidence which clearly indicates that they ran the kitchen together and made the decision to deprive Arthur of food. The testimony that Monica, the defendants' child, was favored by the defendants is relevant because it tends to show that their motive for harming Arthur was in retribution for his sexual advances toward their child. Likewise, it tends to refute defendants' claims that Arthur's death was an accidental result of moral or religious discipline. Monica's testimony that she would not have fed Arthur against Vivian's orders showed Vivian's influence and control in the house. This evidence was relevant because it tended to prove her complicity in Arthur's starvation. Accordingly, these assignments of error are without merit.