Opinion ID: 2543392
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: endorse an additional witness

Text: Bloom contends that the trial court erred in endorsing and allowing Michael VanStratton to testify in place of Mary Koch and in allowing the State to violate the pretrial order setting a deadline for the filing of motions. The prosecution is required to endorse the names of all known witnesses upon the complaint, information, and indictment at the time of filing and may be permitted to endorse additional witnesses at the time prescribed by court rule or otherwise. K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 22-3201(g). K.S.A. 2001 Supp. 22-3201(g) has been construed as conferring broad discretionary power upon the trial court to allow late endorsement of witnesses. State v. Green, 252 Kan. 548, 553, 847 P.2d 1208 (1993) (formerly K.S.A. 22-3201[6]). With regard to the late endorsement of State's witnesses, the question is whether the defendant's rights have been prejudiced. State v. Coleman, 253 Kan. 335, 349, 856 P.2d 121 (1993). Factors in making this determination include whether the defendant was surprised and whether the testimony was critical. 253 Kan. at 349 (citing State v. Bright, 229 Kan. 184, 192, 623 P.2d 917 [1981]). Absent abuse of discretion, endorsement of additional witnesses will not serve as basis for reversal. Green, 252 Kan. at 554; State v. Costa, 228 Kan. 308, 315, 613 P.2d 1359 (1980). On June 20, 1999, 6 days prior to trial, the State requested a continuance because a key witness, Mary Koch, would be out of state at the time. The motion was denied. The following day, the State filed a motion to endorse VanStratton as an additional witness. At the pretrial conference on June 14, 2000, the district judge had set June 19, 2000, as the deadline for filing additional motions. Just prior to trial, Bloom requested the trial court deny the State's late motion to endorse VanStratton. The prosecutor asserted that VanStratton was for all essential purposes a substitute witness and that he would testify to essentially the same thing as Koch would have testified. Bloom objected to the substitution of witnesses, contending that he had spent time preparing for Koch's testimony by looking into prior cases in which she had testified, that VanStratton did not prepare the blood spatter analysis report, and that under these circumstances he would suffer prejudice. The prosecutor informed the court that VanStratton had participated in preparing the report and had reviewed the final report. The court allowed the State to endorse the witness and reserved final ruling on his ability to testify. When called to testify, VanStratton testified that he personally reviewed items in the case, that he had participated in preparing the blood spatter analysis report with Mary Koch, the author of the report, and that he had signed off on the report. At this point defense counsel was permitted to voir dire the witness. During voir dire, VanStratton indicated that some of report was his and some was Koch's. After voir dire, defense counsel noted his previous objection. The trial court allowed VanStratton to testify to the specific conclusions that were reached based upon the blood spatter. After hearing VanStratton's testimony, the trial court admitted the blood spatter analysis report over defense counsel's objection. The trial court has the authority to modify a pretrial order if necessary to prevent manifest injustice. Coleman, 253 Kan. at 347. In this case, there is no evidence the State exercised bad faith in moving to endorse VanStratton just a few days before trial. In fact, the State had first asked for a continuance after discovering Koch would be unavailable. Koch was a key witness for the State because her testimony would be that the shooter's position was in the living room and that the victim was neither sitting nor standing in a full upright position at the time she was shot. This testimony contradicted what Bloom had stated during his police interview. The purpose of the endorsement requirement is to prevent surprise to the defendant and provide the defendant an opportunity to interview and examine the witnesses in advance of trial. Green, 252 Kan. at 553. In this case there is no evidence of prejudice suffered by Bloom as a result of the late endorsement. Bloom had 4 or 5 days prior to trial in which either to request a continuance or interview and examine the witness the State sought to endorse. We find no unfair surprise or prejudice in allowing the State to endorse this witness. Affirmed.