Opinion ID: 1790205
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Denial of Funds with which to Hire an Expert

Text: Appellant next claims that the trial court committed reversible error by denying defense counsel's motion for funds with which to hire a crime scene investigation expert. KRS 31.110(1)(b) provides that needy defendants charged with serious crimes are entitled to necessary services and facilities of representation including investigation and other preparation and the court shall waive the cost of such services. The services to be provided are those that are reasonably necessary. Hicks v. Commonwealth, 670 S.W.2d 837, 838 (Ky.1984). The applicable standard of review of a denial of funds under KRS 31.110 is abuse of discretion, and the reviewing court must limit its analysis to those reasons presented to the trial court. Dillingham v. Commonwealth, 995 S.W.2d 377, 381 (Ky.1999). The basis of defense counsel's motion for funds pursuant to KRS 31.110 was that the investigation into Perkins' death was insufficient and was not conducted pursuant to commonly accepted standards. Defense counsel pointed to numerous procedures and tests that the investigating authorities failed to undertake: Perkins' core temperature was not taken to determine the specific time of death, no effort was made to determine the owners of several weapons found in Perkins' home, and that neither fingerprints nor blood samples were taken from Perkins' home. In other words, defense counsel sought funds with which to hire an expert who would testify as to what should have been done by the investigating authorities in this case. The trial court denied the motion for funds, concluding that the stated goal of defense counsel's request  to attack the sufficiency of the investigation procedures  could be reached through cross-examination, and was not specific enough to justify an expenditure of funds. Funds will not be provided pursuant to KRS 31.110 so that defense counsel may conduct a fishing expedition. McCracken County Fiscal Court v. Graves, 885 S.W.2d 307, 314 (Ky.1994). Rather, defense counsel must provide specific information that he or she expects the expert to provide at trial, and the request should be denied where defense counsel is only able to express the need for an expert in general terms. Simmons v. Commonwealth, 746 S.W.2d 393, 396 (Ky.1988). A general request is precisely the type made by Appellant in the present matter. Despite repeated requests by the trial court, defense counsel was unable to provide any specific reasons why an expert was needed, or any specific information an expert would be able to provide. Rather, defense counsel sought funds for an expert who would undermine the sufficiency of the investigation. We agree with the trial court that this purpose could be, and in fact was, reached by cross-examination of the investigating officers into what procedures were and were not taken in the investigation. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defense counsel's request for funds pursuant to KRS 31.110.