Opinion ID: 1652376
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: Testimony of Ms. Abercrombie

Text: Morrow contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it allowed Roamel Abercrombie's mother to testify to the circumstances surrounding her son's murder. Ms. Abercromibie testified that just prior to the murder she gave her son a dollar so that he could walk to the store to buy some orange juice. She also testified that after her son was shot she was at his side almost immediately and that he did not have either a gun or drugs on him. She insisted that her son never sold or used drugs. The court permitted the testimony of Ms. Abercrombie to rebut Morrow's characterization of Abercrombie's murder as a drug deal gone sour. The court, however, expressly prohibited the state from using Ms. Abercrombie as a victim impact witness. Nonetheless, Morrow argues that her testimony was impermissible victim impact testimony. The trial court has discretion during the penalty phase of trial to admit whatever evidence it deems helpful to the jury in assessing punishment, including evidence regarding the character of the defendant. The importance of the death penalty decision entitles the sentencer to any evidence that may assist it in making that decision. State v. Kreutzer, 928 S.W.2d 854, 874 (Mo. banc 1996), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 117 S.Ct. 752, 136 L.Ed.2d 689 (1997) (citations omitted). There is no question that the Abercrombie murder was evidence of Morrow's character. The fact that Morrow slandered Abrercrombie by saying that he murdered him while in the middle of a drug deal was also evidence of Morrow's character. It is within the trial court's discretion to determine that evidence of the circumstances surrounding the murder could have been helpful to the jury in assessing punishment. Id. at 874. Ms. Abercrombie did not testify as a victim impact witness. Her testimony focused solely on what happened the day of the murder and whether her son was a drug dealer. She did not testify as to the impact her son's death has had on her life, nor did she testify to the character of her son, other than to say he did not deal drugs. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing this testimony. Point denied.