Court Opinion

ID: 9796328
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 03:55:41.402768+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:50:02.305885
License: Public Domain

Luckert, J.,
concurring in part and dissenting in part: I respectfully disagree with the majority’s conclusion that tibe erroneous admission of Dr. Nelson’s expert testimony requires the reversal of Carapezza’s convictions. In all other respects, I agree with the majority opinion, including the conclusion that the profiling testimony of the expert witness was inadmissible.
The majority, in concluding Carapezza’s convictions should be reversed, opined that Carapezza’s substantial rights were violated by the admission of Dr. Nelson’s testimony. See K.S.A. 60-261 (harmless error rule; no error in admission of evidence is ground for disturbing judgment “unless refusal to take such action appears to the court inconsistent with substantial justice”). This opinion was largely based upon the majority’s perception that the evidence against Carapezza was relatively weak.
In reaching this conclusion, the majority noted that there was no physical evidence linking Carapezza to the crime scene. While this is true, there was physical evidence linking her to the course of conduct of stealing money from the victim. Just 4 days before the murder, Carapezza cashed forged checks. This course of conduct corroborated codefendant Mollie Paico’s version of the facts. Additionally, Paico’s testimony implicated Carapezza, and two of *1009Carapezza’s cellmates testified she had confessed her guilt. In my view, this evidence is sufficient for a jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Carapezza was guilty.
In addition, the majority noted that Dr. Nelson’s testimony regarding crack cocaine was prejudicial. Yet, the record is replete with evidence regarding drugs and drug use, much of it admitted without objection. Given the pervasive theme of drugs throughout the trial, it seems very questionable that the expert testimony was so prejudicial as to violate substantial rights. In fact, Carapezza’s own arguments suggest she does not perceive that Dr. Nelson’s testimony added to information otherwise available to the jury. Rather, she argues Dr. Nelson’s testimony should have been excluded because his opinion was unnecessary to aid the juiy’s understanding of crack cocaine. In other words, while Dr. Nelson’s testimony added scientific insight into why crack impacts users, much of his testimony related to matters within the common knowledge of a juror.
I agree with Carapezza’s argument that Dr. Nelson’s expert testimony added little to the understanding of the case. And, while his testimony made little difference, the evidence against Carapezza, while not overwhelming, was strong. Therefore, I would conclude that the admission of his testimony did not deny Carapezza substantial justice. The standard of K.S.A. 60-261, stating that a new trial shall not be granted on the basis of the erroneous admission of evidence unless the error affects the substantial rights of the parties, is not met.
McFarland, C.J., and Nuss, J., join in the foregoing concurring and dissenting opinion.