Opinion ID: 2551693
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Kahle's Testimony

Text: Kahle drove White, Galloway, and another man, John Mumford, to Kansas City in Kahle's recreational vehicle (RV) early in the morning on May 31, 1997. The men were drinking vodka and smoking cigars. In Kansas City, they stopped at a house. Galloway went in the house and returned with a handful of white paper or something. Kahle drove towards Lawrence. Just outside Lawrence, the men decided to return to Kansas City. Galloway entered the house and again returned with rock or something. The men returned to Lawrence and let Mumford out at a local park. At the stop, Galloway saw that Kahle had a Derringer. Galloway asked to see the gun. Kahle gave the gun to Galloway. After leaving Mumford at the park, the men drove to White's girlfriend's apartment. White went inside the apartment while Kahle and Galloway remained in the RV. When White returned, the men drove to Big Springs, Missouri, to look at a car that Kahle was selling. After seeing the car, White offered to buy Kahle and Galloway lunch. They stopped at a Hardee's Restaurant in Lawrence. White went inside to purchase sandwiches. While White was inside Hardee's, Galloway asked Kahle about the money White was carrying. Kahle told Galloway that White had five[s], tens, twenties, and ... a bunch of change. When White returned to the RV with the food, the men returned to Big Springs so White could purchase Kahle's car. Along the way, White and Galloway argued as to which of them would purchase Kahle's car. Kahle stopped the RV outside Lawrence so the men could relieve themselves along the side of the road. While they were outside the RV, the argument as to who would buy the car continued. There were two gunshots. Galloway returned to the RV, placed a black wallet, some papers, and money on the seat, and said, `Let's get the hell out of here.' Kahle drove Galloway toward Kansas City on the Kansas Turnpike. He observed Galloway put a wallet and papers into a Hardee's sack, roll down the window, and throw the sack toward the Kansas River. Kahle and Galloway did not discuss what had happened. After Galloway and Kahle arrived in Kansas City, Kahle was stopped by the Kansas City police for a traffic violation. Kahle gave the officers permission to search the RV. During the search, Kahle was placed in the patrol car. After searching the RV, the police questioned Kahle regarding the items found. Kahle did not mention his suspicions about White's demise to the officer. Kahle and Galloway were released. On the return trip to Lawrence, Galloway stated that if asked, Kahle was to say that they had been in Kansas City drinking and fishing. Kahle dropped off Galloway in Lawrence. Later that day Kahle again met Galloway. Galloway asked if Kahle had been questioned by the police. Galloway told Kahle that if he was questioned, he should tell the police that they left White at Hardee's and had not seen him since. The next time Kahle met Galloway was in mid-June when sheriff's detectives requested that Kahle wear a wire and attempt to get Galloway to say something about the whereabouts of the gun he used to shoot White. In the recorded conversation which resulted from Kahle wearing the police wire, Galloway instructed Kahle regarding ways to keep his story consistent with Galloway's story. On the tape, Galloway repeatedly reviewed the events surrounding White's death. Galloway warned, `If I go down, you go down. You go down, I go down.... I don't need no murder charge.' Kahle did not protest Galloway's implication that Kahle was involved in the murder. The version of events Galloway reviewed with Kahle is consistent with Galloway's trial testimony. Galloway also encouraged Kahle on the tape to remove any hamburger trash from the RV because the hamburger could tie them to White's murder. The taperecording was played for the jury. The jury was also given a transcript of the conversation.