Opinion ID: 1452817
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: questions asked of character witnesses

Text: During the trial the defendant called several character witnesses. One of these witnesses, Jerry Cadena, had served with Baker in the United States Navy. He testified that Baker's reputation as a peaceable and law abiding person was good. On cross-examination he was asked the following two questions: Q Did you know that, in September of 1958, he and two others stole an automobile and drove to New York City where they were arrested? Q Did you know that, in the fall, of 1967, while stationed in Memphis, Tennessee, he dated Bonnie Johnston, telling her ... that he was a divorced man and that, when Bonnie Johnston discovered that Baker was married, she broke off relations with him; and that, subsequently, she had to phone for the police because of threats made by Baker against her and her new boyfriend? [5] On the issue of permissible questions for character witnesses, this court has said character witnesses may be cross-examined as to their knowledge of particular acts of misconduct on the part of the person whose conduct is in issue, providing the primary purpose is to discredit the testimony of the character witness. State v. Anderson, 46 Wn.2d 864, 285 P.2d 879 (1955). In applying this standard, wide latitude has been given to the trial judge. See, e.g., State v. Anderson, supra , wherein a question concerning the defendant's immoral conduct with a woman relative was permitted in a robbery trial. However, in this case we need not decide whether the questions would have been proper. The questions were disallowed by the trial judge and the jury was instructed to disregard them. We have held this to be sufficient to cure any error involved in asking the questions. State v. McMullen, 142 Wash. 7, 252 P. 108 (1927).