Opinion ID: 2111189
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: PostTrial Motions and Sentencing.

Text: Following entry of judgment, Castor filed a timely motion for new trial in case No. S-98-510, which was subsequently amended. The grounds for a new trial asserted by Castor included misconduct by the prosecuting attorney, consisting of his alleged failure to disclose certain exculpatory information to the defense in response to discovery requests and orders entered prior to trial. This information included an incident report prepared by the Kearney Police Department on December 23, 1996, 13 days after the discovery of Brown's body. The report summarizes an interview of Bruce Peterson conducted by Kearney police officers during the investigation of the Brown homicide. Peterson resided in rural Buffalo County, Nebraska, approximately 5 miles from where Browns body was discovered. The report, written by Officer Young, states: Investigator Jensen and I interviewed Peterson at the Law Enforcement Center. He said that he lives on Evergreen Road in Buffalo County and that on either 11/29/96 or 11/30/96, between 5:00-6:00 p.m., he and his son were outside walking and heard three gun shots in a row. He said the shots were crystal clear and seemed to come from a north easterly direction. He did not think it sounded like a shotgun but was more like some kind of handgun. He thought this was odd as they were fired in rapid succession and it was getting dark outside. Castor's counsel filed an affidavit stating that he was not made aware of this report or its substance until February 18, 1998, more than 2 months after Castor's trial, despite the fact that prior to trial, he advised the prosecutor that Bux would testify that in his opinion, Brown was killed at the spot where his body was found. Castor's allegations of prosecutorial misconduct were also based in part upon a claim that the prosecutor withheld information concerning an interview conducted by Kearney police officers with Julie Berlin on December 17, 1996, 7 days after Brown's body was discovered. According to a report bearing that date, Kearney police contacted several of Brown's neighbors, including Berlin, to determine if they had any information about Brown's disappearance or death. In his report, the investigating officer wrote that Berlin reported last seeing Brown on the day before Thanksgiving, and on that same day, she saw a turquoise, newer model, van, a newer plum Bonneville and a primered vehicle and believed all three vehicles to have been visitors to the Brown residence. Castor's counsel represented to the district court that he first became aware of Berlin's statement when he reviewed police reports contained in the presentence investigation. The district court overruled Castor's motion for new trial and sentenced her to life imprisonment on the murder charge; 5 to 10 years' imprisonment on each of two forgery counts; 18 months' to 3 years' imprisonment on two other forgery counts; 10 to 20 years' imprisonment for using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony; 5 to 15 years' imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm; and 1 years imprisonment on the charge of unauthorized use of a financial transaction device. Castor then perfected this appeal.