Court Opinion

ID: 9648432
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 14:20:26.756895+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:00.704351
License: Public Domain

MORGAN, Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent.
This court has long followed the so-called orthodox rule that prior extrajudicial statements are admissible for purposes of impeaching a witness, but that they are not to be accorded such probative value as to be accepted as substantive evidence. I see no compelling reason to abandon such a rule, but would continue to follow the same for the reasons exhaustively considered by this court in State v. Kinne, Mo., 372 S.W.2d 62.
Regardless of whether or not the rule is changed for any reason, I would affirm the conviction in this case.
Defense counsel, in his closing argument, sought to create what could be classified as “substantive” evidence for the defense, i. e., that the state had been a party to developing false and untrue evidence by the making of the video tape statement of witness Hackett. The witness had been in jail from December 12, 1969, to October 8, *5391970. Defense counsel argued: “. he gave a video tape. Yes, sir. In the presence of certain prosecutors and so forth, it was testified to. And, of course, I am sure, just coincidentally, on October 8, 1970. Mr. Hackett went free on a little witness bond. [The video tape was made on October 8, 1970.] Isn’t that an odd situation ? But he made his peace with the Prosecutor’s Office . . . .” To me, the closing argument by the state was in proper response thereto.
In addition, if it be assumed that the state’s argument, as quoted in the majority opinion, was not invited but was in direct violation of the rule, it should not be considered as reversible error in view of the other evidence specifically establishing defendant as a participant in the crime. Briefly, such evidence showed a fingerprint of defendant on the inside of the escape car; his type blood inside the car, which was relevant to Patrolman Stein-meyer’s testimony that, after running out of bullets, he had hit defendant on the head in an effort to prevent defendant driving away from the scene; the cut on defendant’s head when he was arrested the next day; and, the positive identification by said patrolman, to-wit: “Q All right. Do you see the man in the courtroom today that you chased from the back of the service station, that is, from that back door area, to the ’62 BuickP A Yes, I do. Q Would you point him out to the Court and the jury? A Sitting right there (indicating). (MR. SETTICH) Your Honor, please, may the record indicate that he is pointing to the defendant, James Granber-ry? THE COURT: It may. Q (By Mr. Settich) Is there any question in your mind about that, Officer? A None whatsoever.”