Court Opinion

ID: 9659082
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:31:46.626836+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:03.797986
License: Public Domain

KALITOWSKI, Judge,
concurring in part, dissenting in part.
I agree the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Spreigl evidence. However, I conclude the trial court’s decision to allow questions concerning the sincerity of the complainant was not reversible error when viewed in the context of the testimony of the witnesses.
The intent of the prosecution in asking questions about sincerity was to elicit information concerning the perception of the witnesses regarding the physical and emotional condition of the complainant at the *838time she reported the alleged assault. See State v. Coleman, 426 N.W.2d 889, 892 (Minn.App.1988) (question as to victim’s “affect” did not call for opinion as to truthfulness), pet. for rev. denied (Minn. Aug. 11, 1988). Thus, although the form of the questions was arguably improper I believe the evidentiary rulings of the trial court were within its broad discretion, State v. Kelly, 436 N.W.2d 807, 813 (Minn.1989), and, if erroneous, constituted harmless error. State v. Campa, 390 N.W.2d 333, 335 (Minn.App.1986), pet. for rev. denied (Minn. Aug. 27, 1986).