Opinion ID: 433837
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Overdose Testimony

Text: 26 Ray alleges the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of witness Betty Epps' overdose. Ray's reliance on United States v. Green, 548 F.2d 1261 (6th Cir.1977), and United States v. Anderson, 584 F.2d 849 (6th Cir.1978), for the proposition that overdose testimony is inadmissible is misplaced. Those cases dealt with abstract testimony on drug effects in the absence of a specific overdose relevant to the facts of the case. Here, witness Epps' overdose was the event which precipitated the arrests which collapsed Ray's distribution chain. It was specifically relevant to a charged crime. Relevant evidence is not rendered inadmissible merely because it is prejudicial. United States v. Booth, 669 F.2d 1231, 1240 (9th Cir.1981). The district court properly weighed the prejudicial and probative effects of the testimony. There was no abuse of discretion.