Court Opinion

ID: 9793603
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:50:26.207908+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:14.173597
License: Public Domain

McFarland, J.,
dissenting: I agree that the trial court should have admitted the Terry Simpson statement. However, I would not reverse for the failure to do so. The record reveals that the witness recalled giving the statement and signing it. He did not remember anything in the statement and stated that reading it would not refresh his memory. The crime occurred almost a year prior to the giving of the statement and the trial. Therefore, we are not talking about a “fresh” statement as opposed to “stale” trial testimony.
Defense counsel thoroughly established through testimony of others that the witness gave the statement, read the statement, and swore to it. In addition he established each discrepancy through such other testimony. The statement was one defense counsel had taken and he had full access to and knowledge of everyone involved with its taking. In addition, defense counsel fully argued the inconsistencies in closing argument. The impeaching effect, under these circumstances, was greater than if the witness had been permitted to explain the inconsistencies. In my opinion, no prejudicial error is shown. I would affirm.