Opinion ID: 1831783
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Possible Bias of State Witness Lillian Torres

Text: Lugo's ex-wife, Lillian Torres, was presented as a witness by the State. Her testimony primarily concerned her role in the transfer of a home owned by Marc Schiller. As part of the extortion involved with Schiller, Lugo compelled Schiller to sign a document effecting the transfer of a condominium he owned in the Miami area. The ultimate transferee was Lillian Torres. [55] Lugo claims that reversible error occurred when, on cross-examination of Torres, his counsel was prohibited from asking Torres whether her lawyer accompanied her when she was subpoenaed for questioning at the state attorney's office with regard to her knowledge of the events in which her ex-husband had been involved. This issue warrants little discussion. The record clearly shows that Lugo's counsel was allowed to inquire as to any biases toward the State that Torres may have had. The cross-examination did not yield any evidence of any deals between the State and Torres, nor did Lugo present any compelling evidence of a deal during his trial. We agree with the trial judge that the relevant and permissible inquiry concerned Torres's possible bias toward the State, not whether her lawyer accompanied her during questioning. Lugo's reliance on Jean-Mary v. State, 678 So.2d 928 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996), is misplaced. In Lugo's case, unlike the circumstances in Jean-Mary, the witness under cross-examination had not been arrested and charged with a crime which would warrant further inquiry by defense counsel. Therefore, Jean-Mary is inapposite. No relief is warranted.