Court Opinion

ID: 9777914
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 20:27:56.238398+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:02.517583
License: Public Domain

WINTERSHEIMER, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion because Barnett’s claims do not amount to reversible error. I believe the trial judge had the best opportunity to consider and evaluate the allegations of error and correctly decided each question.
Barnett contends that he was unfairly surprised by the testimony of a serologist because the expert’s testimony went beyond the information contained in a laboratory report previously provided by the prosecution. I do not believe there was any violation of RCr 7.24 simply because the expert offered an opinion or explana*125tion based on his training. No tests or experiments were conducted in connection with this particular case in order to reach his conclusions. No discovery was withheld because no tests were involved. James v. Commonwealth, Ky., 482 S.W.2d 92 (1972). All the serologist did was explain that the victim’s blood could have been diluted by washing.
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the testimony of witness Pierce. Although there may have been a technical violation of RCr 7.26, it was not so great as to prejudice Barnett or to require reversal. There is no showing that the prosecution was aware of the existence of the police letter.
It was not reversible error to allow testimony of a romantic relationship between the accused and another witness from 1972 until November, 1983. The testimony was introduced only to establish a motive for killing the wife. The admission of this testimony was a judgment call within the proper ambit of the trial judge.
The trial judge did not commit reversible error by allowing testimony from the victim’s son-in-law and her former attorney relating to marital problems. Obviously the victim is unavailable for testimony. The statements were not admitted for their testimonial use, but for their relevant circumstantial use. The statements were not offered to prove the victim would leave her husband if he took another vacation or that the husband transferred marital assets. The statements tended to show that the accused feared the loss of money and property accumulated during the marriage and that a separation would reduce his economic position. They were not admitted for the truth of the matter asserted, but for their indirect value of establishing a motive for the murder and were therefore not barred by the hearsay rule. 6 Wigmore, Evidence § 1788 (Chadbourn rev. 1976). I believe the trial judge was correct in his conduct of this aspect of the trial, and I would affirm the conviction.