Opinion ID: 449054
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of Pizarro's Post-Trial Statement

Text: 17 After the conclusion of the evidence in appellant's first trial, and during the jury's deliberations, Pizarro approached Special Agent Trifon Magrames, who was leaving the courtroom carrying the government's exhibits. Pizarro asked Magrames, Hey man, can I have my dope back? Magrames replied, No, and Pizarro began to laugh. Magrames testified to this conversation over Pizarro's objection below. Pizarro now argues that the trial court erred in determining that the probative value of this testimony outweighed its prejudicial effect. 18 It is beyond cavil that the trial court's determinations under Fed.R.Evid. 403 will not be overturned unless there has been a showing of abuse of discretion. See, e.g., United States v. Falco, 727 F.2d 659, 665 (7th Cir.1984); United States v. Serlin, 707 F.2d 953, 959 (7th Cir.1983). Appellant's argument is that his statement was only an attempt at gallows humor, and that its admission was undoubtedly prejudicial in a drug case where prejudice is almost presumptive against the defendant. App. Brief at 17. We do not believe, as does appellant, that cases involving allegations of narcotics violations are sui generis, and that a district court judge must put his thumb on the scale in favor of a finding of prejudicial effect in such cases. Nor do we believe that the jury was incapable of assessing the weight to be given appellant's statement, especially in light of the fact that appellant argued that the statement was only a joke. We find no abuse of discretion.