Court Opinion

ID: 9790488
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:53:52.939736+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:29.889480
License: Public Domain

DURHAM, Justice
(dissenting):
The majority correctly concludes that it was error to preclude defendant from testifying about a matter relevant to his defense. Unlike the majority, however, I believe that the testimony was critical. The trial transcript reveals that this was a close case. The State’s witnesses gave confused and conflicting testimony about defendant’s involvement, and evidence regarding motive was noticeably absent. The excluded testimony was strongly corroborative of defendant’s explanation of events. I cannot agree that on such facts it is likely that a conviction would have resulted absent the erroneous exclusion of exculpatory evidence. I would reverse and remand for a new trial.