Opinion ID: 2197709
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Limiting Instruction Addressing the Defendant's Prior Crimes

Text: Massey's final claim of error is that the trial court erred in failing to give a limiting instruction regarding his prior convictions (two weapon offense convictions and a conviction for criminal impersonation). It is undisputed that Massey's trial counsel requested and proffered such a limiting instruction to the trial judge, who refused to give it. The record discloses, however, that the trial judge did give: (i) during the opening remarks to the jury, a curative instruction regarding Massey's probation status, and (ii) after all the evidence was presented, a limiting instruction regarding the use by the jury of the evidence concerning his prior convictions. Neither party makes any reference to those instructions. The record further indicates that Massey's trial counsel proposed an instruction for the credibility of the defendant, that [was] marked as a Court Exhibit. Thus, it appears that the claim is not that the trial court failed to give a limiting instruction regarding Massey's prior crimes (as Massey argues in his briefs), but rather that the limiting instruction was not given in the particular form Massey requested. Unfortunately, because Massey does not disclose what the content of the proffered instruction was, or why the instructions actually given were defective, there is nothing before us to review. Therefore, Massey's last claim must be rejected.