Court Opinion

ID: 9666143
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:06:28.94631+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:11.230943
License: Public Domain

STUMBO, Justice,
dissenting.
Respectfully, I must dissent. The majority opinion finds that the trial court erred in admitting a number of exhibits because they were not properly authenticated, that there was a violation of RCr 7 .26 and of RCr 5.16(3) and that while a mistrial could have been declared, same was waived by the defense. In summary, the majority opinion holds that the trial was rife with error, none of it reversible. Perhaps that is so, but in my view, when the errors are considered together, it is clear that Appellant was denied a fundamentally fair trial. The jury saw exhibits that may not truly have been representative of the crime scene, heard testimony from witnesses that could not be cross-examined and the defendant had a defense counsel who was faced with a change in defense strategy only days before trial. We seldom reverse cases on the basis of cumulative error but this is one in which we should. I would grant Appellant a new trial.