Opinion ID: 2585956
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: admission of 911 call

Text: Next, Reed contends the trial court erred by admitting into evidence, over defense counsel's objection, a taped recording of the 911 call. Reed argues the audiotape was cumulative to the testimony of the dispatcher and that the prejudicial impact of the recording substantially outweighed the probative value. These contentions have no merit. Unless otherwise provided by statute, constitutional prohibition, or court decision, all relevant evidence is admissible at trial. See K.S.A. 60-407(f); State v. Goodson, 281 Kan. 913, Syl. ¶ 6, 135 P.3d 1116 (2006). Reed does not dispute the relevance of the 911 recording. Rather, he argues the evidence should not have been admitted because it was cumulative and unduly prejudicial. Both of these objections arise from the trial court's inherent powers to exclude evidence which is cumulative and to exclude evidence when the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by its potential prejudicial effect. State v. Lee, 266 Kan. 804, 813, 977 P.2d 263 (1999); State v. Davis, 213 Kan. 54, 57, 515 P.2d 802 (1973). The exercise of these inherent powers lies within the discretion of the trial court; therefore, an appellate court's review is subject to the broad abuse of discretion standard. State v. Torres, 280 Kan. 309, 327, 121 P.3d 429 (2005); Lee, 266 Kan. at 814-15, 977 P.2d 263. Under this standard of review, the trial court's determination will not be reversed unless it `is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable. If reasonable persons could differ as to the propriety of the action taken by the trial court, then it cannot be said that the trial court abused its discretion.' State v. Holmes, 278 Kan. 603, 623, 102 P.3d 406 (2004). In objecting to the admission of the audiotape at trial, Reed's counsel noted that, before the State moved to admit the audiotape, the 911 dispatcher testified regarding the content of the 911 call and described the horrendous screams and other sounds she heard. Defense counsel asserted that in light of the dispatcher's testimony regarding the contents of the recording there was no reason to play the recording to the jury. Additionally, defense counsel argued that playing the recording offered no value other than to inflame the emotions and compassion of the jury. The State argued that the tape was the best evidence of exactly what happened on the night of the occurrence and that it was merely an accurate and contemporary reconstruction of an intense event. Although the trial court did not make a finding regarding the weighing of the probative and prejudicial value of the audiotape, the trial court noted that the recording offered a reconstruction of the event and found it significant in light of the defense theory that Reed acted in the heat of passion. The trial court found the audiotape was admissible, indicating that the tape was the best evidence to show the sequence of events and to disprove the heat of passion defense. On appeal, Reed argues the admission of the audiotape is analogous to the admission of gruesome photographs and cites State v. Deal, 271 Kan. 483, 493, 23 P.3d 840 (2001), where this court stated: While the admission of gruesome photographs is rarely held to be an abuse of discretion, this court has done so in cases where the probative value was slight and the prejudicial effect great (other grounds for a mistrial were present). State v. Harris, 259 Kan. 689, 710, 915 P.2d 758 (1996). An abuse of discretion may be reached if the admitted photographs were unduly repetitious and cumulative or their introduction was solely for the purpose of prejudice. [Citation omitted.] Reed acknowledges that this court has traditionally upheld the admission of 911 audiotapes. In State v. Meeks, 277 Kan. 609, 88 P.3d 789 (2004), the defendant argued it was error to play the entire recording of a 911 call made by a witness during the shooting. Defense counsel objected to the portion of the tape in which crying could be heard, arguing, inter alia, it was cumulative and unduly prejudicial. 277 Kan. at 618-19, 88 P.3d 789. The district court held the recording was not unfairly prejudicial to the defendant and, further, probably conveyed better than any testimony what was going on at the scene. 277 Kan. at 619, 88 P.3d 789. On appeal, this court agreed with the district court and observed that the tape corroborated the testimony of several witnesses, particularly testimony regarding the victim's condition after the shooting. This court held the defendant failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that the district court abused its discretion by admitting the 911 recording. 277 Kan. at 620, 88 P.3d 789. In State v. Abu-Fakher, 274 Kan. 584, 56 P.3d 166 (2002), the district court admitted an audiotape made by the defendant that recorded the events occurring before, during, and after the moment he shot his wife. The defendant sought to exclude the portion of the tape containing his wife's dying moans and gasps. This court recognized that the recording captured a shocking, gruesome event but concluded that the audiotape's probative value was strong. This court further observed that the recording corroborated the testimony of the defendant and a witness and captured the demeanor of the parties involved, including the changes in the demeanor of the defendant and his wife before, during, and after the shooting. In upholding the district court's admission of the audiotape, this court held the recording was the most probative and comprehensive evidence of the actual commission of the crime, the sequence in which events occurred, and their duration. 274 Kan. at 598, 56 P.3d 166; see also State v. Williams, 235 Kan. 485, 681 P.2d 660 (1984) (upholding admission of 911 tape that recorded conversations, screams, and other noises heard by dispatcher during victim's rape). Similar to the situation in Meeks and Abu-Fakher, the 911 recording in this case corroborated the testimony of the dispatcher, the testimony of the officer to whom Reed offered confessions, and the testimony of R.R. The audiotape also captured Reed's demeanor at the time of the events, documented events and the duration of the incident, and was highly probative with respect to the essential element of premeditation. Reed fails to show that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the recording of Shirley's 911 call into evidence. It cannot be concluded that no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial court. See State v. Bey, 270 Kan. 544, 546, 17 P.3d 322 (2001).