Opinion ID: 1669169
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 21

Heading: Claimed Withholding of Information

Text: This 11th and final summarized assignment of error arises from the Douglas County attorney's posttrial interview with an Omaha radio station, wherein he stated: [O]bviously we had some evidence that we held back even from the media and waited and used it in that trial and I think we used it very effectively.... That declaration prompted Hankins to move for a mistrial or, for the second time, a new trial. Hankins argues that the Douglas County attorney's statement that the prosecution withheld information even from the media indicates that information and material contemplated by the order for mutual and reciprocal discovery was withheld from him. Indeed, Hankins' attorney testified at the hearing held on his motion that three documents had been withheld from him: the records concerning Hankins' incarceration before trial relied upon by one of the State's psychiatrists, the charts of various injuries suffered by the three victims, and a fingerprint report indicating that five unidentified fingerprints were found at the crime scene and one on Hankins' automobile. Notwithstanding his interview statement, the Douglas County attorney testified that his office withheld no information from the defense, and the State adduced other evidence that the documents Hankins' attorney said were not supplied to him had in fact been provided to the defense. The granting or refusal of a motion for new trial, like the granting or refusal of a mistrial, is left to the discretion of the trial court, and in the absence of an abuse of that discretion, the determination will not be disturbed on appeal. State v. Andersen, 232 Neb. 187, 440 N.W.2d 203 (1989). There being evidence to support the trial judge's ruling, it cannot be said he abused his discretion in refusing to grant a new trial or declare a mistrial because of the prosecution's claimed failure to disclose material evidence.