Opinion ID: 1668434
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court erred in refusing admission of certain evidence relating to walker's character and reputation for violence.

Text: Latham argues that his defense was shackled because the trial court excluded certain evidence concerning Walker's character and reputation for violence. Latham claims this character evidence was necessary to prove self defense and to attack Walker's credibility. Latham proposes a long list of items he stood ready to show to prove to the jury that Walker was a violent person. In fact, the trial court allowed Latham to introduce evidence relating to all of those items, except two. The only two matters the trial court prevented Latham from inquiring about were: (1) that Walker was on parole at the time of the altercation; and, (2) a specific prior act done by Walker while intoxicated. Latham wanted the jury to hear that Walker was on parole and was not supposed to be drinking. Latham claimed he wanted this evidence to establish Walker's motive for initially lying to the police about how he was wounded. The trial court allowed Latham to attack Walker's credibility by showing the jury (through testimony from Walker and the police officers) that Walker initially lied to the police. However, the trial court ruled that Walker's motive for lying was not relevant to the issues in the case. See State v. Woodfork, 454 N.W.2d 332 (S.D.1990) (victim's motive for theft of condoms was irrelevant in rape case). We agree that Walker's motive for lying was not relevant. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to allow Latham to elicit testimony that Walker was on parole at the time of the incident. State v. Bartlett, 411 N.W.2d 411, 414 (S.D.1987). Latham wanted to show that Walker was violent when he became intoxicated. The general rule is that evidence of a person's character is not admissible to show that he acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion. SDCL 19-12-4. State v. Helling, 391 N.W.2d 648 (S.D.1986). However, SDCL 19-12-4(2) allows that an accused may offer evidence of a pertinent trait of character of the victim in order to prove that he acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion. Generally, this pertinent trait of character is proven by testimony as to the victim's reputation. SDCL 19-12-6. See State v. Muetze, 368 N.W.2d 575 (S.D.1985). Thus, Latham was allowed to testify that Walker was violent when intoxicated. Davida Donelan, a former girlfriend of Walker, was allowed to testify that Walker had a reputation for violence when he was drunk. Latham wanted Dorinda to testify about a specific incident where Walker threatened to kick in her door. The trial court, relying on State v. Padgett, 291 N.W.2d 796 (S.D.1980), ruled that evidence of specific acts of violence was not admissible. Latham was claiming self defense. In order for him to prevail, the jury had to believe that he acted in response to a reasonable fear that Walker was going to harm him. See State v. Burtzlaff, 493 N.W.2d 1 (S.D.1992). SDCL 19-12-7 provides: In cases in which character or a trait of character of a person is an essential element of a charge, claim, or defense, proof may also be made of specific instances of his conduct. Under SDCL 19-12-7, specific instances of conduct relating to Walker's violent nature when intoxicated were admissible to establish the reasonableness of Latham's fear. [2] To the extent that Padgett is in conflict with SDCL 19-12-7, we hold that SDCL 19-12-7 is controlling. Latham was entitled to present appropriate evidence relating to specific instances of conduct in support of his claim of self defense. Latham needed to show that his fear of Walker was reasonable. However, only specific instances of conduct known to Latham at the time of the incident in question were relevant. State v. Dokken, 385 N.W.2d 493, 501 (S.D.1986). Although the trial court erred in ruling that Latham could not present specific instances of Walker's conduct, Latham has not put forth any such evidence which would have been admissible. The record does not show that Latham was aware of the specific incident between Donelan and Walker. Latham was allowed to introduce other significant evidence about Walker's violent character. The jury was not persuaded by Latham's argument. We believe that based on the evidence in this record, testimony about one specific act of violence would not have changed the jury's decision. State v. Schuster, 502 N.W.2d 565 (S.D.1993). Although the trial court erred, the error was harmless. SDCL 23A-44-14. State v. Davi, 504 N.W.2d 844 (S.D.1993).