Opinion ID: 1848945
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Adequacy of record

Text: Defendant also contends that because The transcript of the trial is replete with errors both in form and substance, he is denied a meaningful review of the trial. We do not find this argument persuasive when directed to the question whether there should be a reversal in the interest of justice. The test used is whether from the record there appears to have been a miscarriage of justice to the degree that convinces us that the defendant ought not to have been found guilty and that a new trial properly conducted would probably result in an acquittal. Lock v. State (1966), 31 Wis. 2d 110, 118, 142 N. W. 2d 183. Defendant does not assert that the condition of the record contributed to an error in the jury's verdict. It obviously had nothing to do with it. Moreover, defendant on this review has pointed out to the court where the record shows evidence of alleged error. We have had no difficulty following his argument. Clearly, this record, the transcript, and the reporting therein are something less than a model for appellate practice. The record and transcript are improperly numbered, and it is clear that on occasion statements attributed by the reporter to the prosecutor were in fact made by defense counsel. The rules of this court, however, make the appellant or plaintiff in error responsible for a proper filing of the record and transcript. Sec. (Rule) 251.29, Stats. The procedure for amending the record (if necessary) and for approval is outlined in sec. 274.117. The responsibility of seeing to it that only an accurate and complete transcript and record is approved is upon the appellant. In the instant case the confusion in the transcript, e.g., was the jury in the box when the judge rendered his findings following the Goodchild hearing, could easily have been obviated by stipulation of the parties prior to the trial judge's approval or by a hearing on the objections to the transcript before the trial judge. The errors upon which defendant now relies for a new trial could best have been rectified upon the initiative of defendant's counsel. Apparently, the first objection to the record was made in this court and not in the trial court, where errors might have been corrected. While the failure to provide a completely proper record has resulted in additional, and unnecessary, work for this court, the parties do not seriously dispute what happened at trial. Under those circumstances, we do not see that the cause of justice would be served by ordering a new trial. Reference is also made to the inherently incredible testimony of one Van Ark. This contention is based upon the fact that he testified that the defendant on the morning of May 30th was wearing a light-colored jacket, while the police testified that, at the time of arrest some forty-one hours later, he was wearing a dark jacket. Obviously the testimony is not incredible as a matter of law. It was proper for the jury to determine the weight to be given to the testimony even though some testimony might be at variance or in dispute. By the Court. Judgment and order affirmed.