Opinion ID: 4519639
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Information relevant to arguments

Text: {¶ 38} During the course of discovery, the state provided the deputy coroner’s written autopsy report. The report detailed Dr. Scala-Barnett’s findings, which included her determinations as to the appearance and weight of the contents in Brandi’s stomach, but did not include her opinion as to the time of death based on those stomach contents. This report was turned over to defense counsel more than a year before the trial began in September 2015. {¶ 39} In addition, during the course of discovery, the state produced numerous photographs of Brandi’s body. One photograph was a close-up of Brandi’s face, which showed a distinct rectangular abrasion below her chin. Another photograph depicted that same area of Brandi’s face covered with a sheet of flexible plastic wrap with a buckle of a glove laid against the abrasion to permit a visual comparison of the size and shape of the abrasion and the buckle on the 11 SUPREME COURT OF OHIO glove. The state also produced a detective’s report regarding his comparison of the chin abrasion with the glove buckle. However, the coroner’s report did not mention the test-fit that was conducted or Dr. Scala-Barnett’s opinion on this topic. {¶ 40} Dr. Scala-Barnett met with defense counsel 19 days before trial and, based on the findings contained in the autopsy report, shared her opinion as to Brandi’s time of death and her opinion that the shape of the abrasion under Brandi’s chin was consistent with the shape of the buckle on a glove that had been collected from Boaston. Defense counsel then “suggested” that the state supply a supplemental report, but the state chose not to provide one. {¶ 41} At trial, defense counsel moved to exclude any opinion testimony by the deputy coroner as to the time of death and glove-buckle comparisons because Dr. Scala-Barnett failed to provide a written report summarizing these opinions at least 21 days prior to trial, as required by Crim.R. 16(K), or alternatively, she failed to supplement her report with an addendum following defense counsel’s meeting with her. The trial court overruled counsel’s objections and permitted the opinion testimony, noting that defense counsel had the autopsy report well in advance of trial and had “chose[n]” to meet with Dr. Scala-Barnett 19 days before the trial began. The court of appeals upheld the trial court’s judgment based on the trial court’s broad discretion in regulating the admission of evidence and on waiver. 2017-Ohio-8770, 100 N.E.3d 1002, ¶ 49. We accepted the discretionary appeal.