Court Opinion

ID: 9688445
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 17:47:32.591546+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:38.624497
License: Public Domain

Kelly, J.
(dissenting). I do not think that the trial judge was incorrect when he stated that defendant would be able to establish his defense even if he did not testify. On the state of the record at the time of that statement, the trial judge had every reason to believe that the defendant was going to present an alibi defense to the particular events that occurred on June 15, 1984. It was only later when he took the stand and testified that his lapse of memory as to the events of that date became evident.
I would affirm, finding the error in admitting evidence of the 1979 armed robbery conviction harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant testified and told his story and evidence of his three other prior felony convictions was excluded.