Opinion ID: 1268888
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: ex-wife's testimony

Text: During the guilt or innocence phase of trial, the state called Haselden's ex-wife, Robin Lucas. The two had married shortly after the birth of their daughter, Felicia, when Lucas was eighteen years old, and Haselden was twenty-four. Lucas testified that they did not have a stable marriage. Joshua was born in December 1996. The solicitor asked Lucas whether Haselden was working when Joshua was born, and Lucas replied that he worked all the time. The solicitor continued, If he wasn't working, what was he doing? to which she replied, over defense counsel's objection of irrelevancy, that he was fishing or golfing with his friends or at his mothers. She further testified that Haselden did not spend much time with her or Joshua. Haselden argues his ex-wife's testimony concerning his golfing and fishing habits constituted an improper attack on his character. We disagree. Initially, Haselden did not object to this testimony on the grounds that it was improper character evidence below. He objected only on the basis of relevancy. Accordingly, this issue is not preserved for review. State v. Byrum, 326 S.C. 107, 485 S.E.2d 360 (1997) (defendant may not argue one ground below and another on appeal). In any event, Haselden has not demonstrated reversible error. Character evidence is not admissible to prove the accused possesses a criminal character or has a propensity to commit the crime with which he is charged. Rule 404(a), SCRE, states the general rule that [e]vidence of a person's character or a trait of character is not admissible for the purpose of proving action in conformity therewith on a particular occasion. State v. Brown, 344 S.C. 70, 543 S.E.2d 552 (2001). Evidence Haselden had a tendency to golf, fish, or go to his mother's house is simply not evidence which would tend to prove he had a tendency toward abusing and murdering his two-year old son. Brown, supra (whatever negative connotation appellant's gambling may have had, it did not imply any propensity on his part to commit the violent crime with which he was charged, such that any error in its admission was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt). In any event, even assuming this evidence was objectionable, this Court has held that where there is other properly admitted evidence of conduct demonstrating the particular character trait in question, there is no reversible error. State v. Cheeseboro, 346 S.C. 526, 552 S.E.2d 300 (2001). Whether an error in the admission of evidence is harmless generally depends upon its materiality in relation to the case as a whole. State v. Reeves, 301 S.C. 191, 391 S.E.2d 241 (1990). The erroneous admission of character evidence is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt if its impact is minimal in the context of the entire record. State v. Forney, 321 S.C. 353, 468 S.E.2d 641 (1996). Here, Haselden's girlfriend Tindall was questioned as to how she began dating Haselden. She explained that she began as a babysitter for the children. The solicitor asked where Haselden would be when she was babysitting, to which she responded, he would either be playing golf or working. Further, Haselden admitted on cross-examination that he played a lot of golf. State v. Schumpert, 312 S.C. 502, 435 S.E.2d 859 (1993) (any error in admission of evidence cumulative to other unobjected-to evidence is harmless); State v. Johnson, 298 S.C. 496, 499, 381 S.E.2d 732, 733 (1989) (admission of improper evidence is harmless where it is merely cumulative to other evidence). We find any error in admission of this evidence was clearly harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.