Opinion ID: 2128994
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: issues

Text: Prior to the examination of witness Carney, it had been agreed by the prosecuting attorney and the defense, with the approval of the court, that the examination of such witness would be conducted without reference to the robbery that was being carried out at the time the defendant fired the shot previously mentioned. Apparently, this was done in order that the jury not be informed of prior criminal involvement of the defendant which was not a part of the crime charged. Thereafter, State's witness, Sharon Bermingham, was called to testify concerning an admission made to her by the defendant, and the following colloquy transpired: Q And did Billie Keith Carmon say anything to you or to your husband after he woke you up? A Yes. Q What did he tell you and your husband or your husband? A He said that he just killed a man and we didn't believe him and  Q Did he say anything else? A Yes, he said he robbed a gas station and he dumped the body in Wolf Lake River he said. Q Did he tell you the person he killed? A No. Q Did he tell you he dumped the body in Wolf Lake? A Yes. Q How long did you  was Billie Keith Carmon at your home that morning? A I'd say perhaps approximately maybe an hour and a half. Q Was any of these other people present when he made these statements of killing someone and robbing, stealing from the gas station and dumping the body in Wolf Lake? A Yes. Q Who were the people that were present? A Barbara Wings my husband and Robert Caskey and Walter Bermingham. Q Now, Barbara Wings is she also have the name of Barbara Caskey that you know of? A Yes. Q Do you know where she is at today? A No. Q Walter Carmon did you say? A Bermingham. Q Walter Bermingham do you know where he is at today? A No. Q Jimmie Bermingham do you know where he is today? A Yes. Q Would you tell me where he is at? A No. Q Do you know where Robert Caskey is today? A Yes. Q Would you tell me where he is at? A In prison I am not sure which prison. Q You don't know? A No. Q Mrs. Bermingham after Billie Keith Carmon had told you that he killed somebody and dumped the body in Wolf Lake, he robbed the filling station did he say where he who he robbed? A No. Q Didn't mention any filling station? A He said robbed a place that is all I heard him say. Q Did you see him with a gun at that time? A No. Q You didn't see a gun? A No. BY MR. STANTON: I would ask your Honor that the jury be excused. BY THE COURT: Jurors will be excused. Whereupon, the defendant moved for a mistrial by reason of the references to the defendant's involvement in the robbery. The trial judge overruled this motion but thoroughly admonished the jury to disregard all testimony regarding the robbery. An admonishment presumptively cures error in the admission of evidence, unless the contrary is shown. Hubbard v. State, (1974) 262 Ind. 176, 313 N.E.2d 346; Martin v. State, (1974) 261 Ind. 492, 306 N.E.2d 93; Davis v. State, (1971) 257 Ind. 46, 271 N.E.2d 893. No such showing was made in this case. The trial judge has great discretion in determining whether or not to grant a motion for a mistrial, and reversal will result only from clear error in his ruling. White v. State, (1971) 257 Ind. 64, 272 N.E.2d 312. There was no such error in this case. We find no reversible error, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. GIVAN, C.J., and ARTERBURN, DeBRULER and HUNTER, JJ., concur.