Opinion ID: 2053003
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: He tried to use it on me.

Text: Defendant now argues that this testimony prejudiced him since it was inadmissible evidence concerning past crimes. However, we have often held that the scope and extent of cross-examination are largely within the trial court's discretion. Smith v. State, (1979) Ind., 388 N.E.2d 484. The scope of permissible cross-examination extends to all phases of the subject matter covered in direct examination and may include any matter which tends to elucidate, modify, explain, contradict, or rebut testimony given in chief by the witness. Wofford v. State, (1979) Ind., 394 N.E.2d 100; Pearish v. State, (1976) 264 Ind. 339, 344 N.E.2d 296. We find no abuse of discretion in this case, since the use of the knife had been brought up during the direct examination of the witness and the objected to question was proper to contradict or rebut an inference established by the direct questioning.