Opinion ID: 363787
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Grounds for Mistrial

Text: 79 Johnson and McCoy both contend that the trial court erred in denying their motions for a mistrial. Both motions arose out of the testimony of Ossenberg, which implicated Johnson and McCoy in the conspiracy. Ossenberg admitted that on previous occasions he had stated that neither were involved in the drug dealings. Ossenberg gave two reasons for his previous misrepresentation of their involvement in the drug transactions: (1) O'Brien had told Ossenberg that McCoy had threatened harm to O'Brien and Ossenberg if McCoy were implicated, and (2) in a prior prosecution Ossenberg's attorney had advised Ossenberg, in the presence of Johnson's current counsel, not to implicate Johnson or McCoy. The appellants' major contention is that the prejudicial effect of this testimony so greatly outweighed its probative value that its presentation at trial created grounds for a mistrial. 80 The trial court is in the best position to determine whether an incident merits a mistrial. United States v. Nace, 561 F.2d 763, 768 (9th Cir. 1977). We have examined the record thoroughly and have considered the prejudicial effect of the testimony, the remedial effect of curative instructions given to the jury, and the opportunity available to the appellants themselves to minimize the prejudice engendered by the testimony. We conclude that Ossenberg's statements did not so pervade the trial with prejudice so as to constitute an unfair trial. Id. at 769. The denial of the motions for a mistrial was not error.