Court Opinion

ID: 9748477
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 16:02:49.183765+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:35.755084
License: Public Domain

CUNNINGHAM, J.,
concurring:
I continue to subscribe to the belief that for this Court to reverse a criminal conviction on palpable error, the threshold of palpable error must be very high. It should be so egregious that it jumps off the page. When considered in the context of the trial in this ease, it jumps off the page and cries out for relief. That is why I concur in the excellent opinion of the majority.
Anyone familiar with the trials of serious sex cases, such as this one, knows that they are tense and highly emotionally charged affairs. They become more so when the victims are, as in this case, children. As recognized down through the ages, the charge of rape or comparable wrong doing is easily made and difficult to defend. That is why, until recent times, corroboration was required for allegations by a single witness.
The sexual assault upon a child is a horrible crime. The charge itself almost carries inherent prejudice. There is tremendous societal pressure for juries to convict. Unfortunately, in many cases— such as this one — it comes down to the victim’s word against the defendant’s. Whether a guilty person goes unpunished for a dastardly crime or an innocent person goes to the penitentiary for the rest of his life comes down to credibility.
The only physical evidence in this case was highly questionable and somewhat mysterious. A physical exam of the victim at Kosair Children’s Hospital immediately after her initial allegations revealed no evidence of abuse. However, after being away from Appellant and living with her biological father for two months, the victim was examined at the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center by Dr. Patrick Hayden. At that time, Dr. Hayden found evidence of sexual abuse. This evidence of “late discovery” becomes suspect when coupled with the testimony of the victim’s brother who said he was put up to making false allegations against Appellant by their biological father. The victim’s brother also stated that their biological father had pornographic movies and sex toys in the home.
It was against this back drop that the Commonwealth called Detective Slack and Dr. Hayden to testify, not just as to their findings, but also concerning detailed statements made to them by the alleged victim. Through two pages of opinion, the majority recites the leading questions whereby the Commonwealth’s Attorney testifies as much as the witness. It is a full regurgitation of the victim’s testimony told through the Commonwealth’s Attorney and state detective. Add to this the testimony of Dr. Hayden, a member of a profession which wears the mantle of respect and authority in most every community. He testified at length about the hearsay statements made to him by the victim. Unquestionably, the testimony of these two witnesses was error. In light of the fact that this case was primarily a “he said-she said” trial, the echoing of the claims of the victim through their respective positions was highly prejudicial and amounts to manifest injustice.
No objection was made at trial to the highly prejudicial testimony. Trial defense counsel may well have had legitimate reasons for this inaction. However, the defense lawyer is not the only lawyer in the courtroom who has an obligation to follow the rules of evidence and pursue the ends of justice. When I was a Commonwealth’s Attorney, I always took pride in the words of this Court in the case of Niemeyer v. Commonwealth, 533 S.W.2d *252218, 222 (Ky.1976): “One of the finest offices the public can give to a member of the legal profession in this state is that of Commonwealth’s Attorney. Its very status becomes a mantle of power and respect to the wearer. Though few are apt to wear it lightly, some forget, or apparently never learn, to wear it humbly. No one except for the judge himself is under a stricter obligation to see that every defendant receives a fair trial, a trial in accordance with the law, which means the law as laid down by the duly constituted authorities, and not as the prosecuting attorney may think it ought to be.”
These are the words of a former Commonwealth’s Attorney and Chief Justice of this Court, the distinguished John Pal-more. They are germane to this case in one real sense. Well-intended as he may have been, the prosecutor should have known better. Hopefully, this case will be instructive to all. I regret that this case must be reversed. But I must concur fully with the majority.
ABRAMSON and SCOTT, JJ., join.