Opinion ID: 778709
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence Regarding DTF's Propensity for Bruising or Scarring

Text: 12 The court reviews the district court's decision to admit or refuse evidence for abuse of discretion. United States v. O'Dell, 204 F.3d 829, 833 (8th Cir.2000) (citation omitted). DTF testified that she had scars on her wrists from an unrelated incident. To show lack of force during the alleged assault, defense counsel asked DTF how she had obtained the scars. Defense counsel hoped to show her propensity to injury by eliciting that she had sustained scars from having worn handcuffs, and that there were no physical signs of trauma resulting from her having been grabbed at the wrists during the sexual assault. The government objected under Federal Rule of Evidence 403, arguing that the probative value of DTF's response would have been outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. The court determined that the cause of the scars was irrelevant. The jury was already aware through witness testimony that DTF had scars on her wrists, and that there were no bruises or signs of injury on her wrists resulting from the assault. We agree that the evidence was not relevant, and that Chipps was not unfairly prejudiced by the court's ruling. 13 For the reasons cited above, we affirm.