Court Opinion

ID: 9634839
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 13:25:51.375937+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:11.141948
License: Public Domain

*480HUTCHINSON, Justice,
concurring.
I join the majority opinion, but write in response to Mr. Justice Larsen’s and Mr. Justice McDermott’s dissenting opinions. The majority correctly holds that the similarities between the two crimes in this case are not sufficient to admit evidence of the earlier crime for the purpose of showing appellant’s identity as the perpetrator of this homicide. In admitting evidence of a prior crime because it is so near in method to the crime charged as to show that both were committed by the accused, there must be unique common characteristics between the two crimes. As Dean McCormick has stated, “The pattern and characteristics of the crimes must be so unusual and distinctive as to be like a signature____ In addition, the courts tend to apply stricter standards when the desired inference pertains to identity as opposed to state of mind.” McCORMICK ON EVIDENCE § 190 at 560-563 (E. Cleary, 3d ed. 1984). As the majority points out, there is nothing uniquely similar about these two crimes. None of the similarities are so “unusual and distinctive as to be like a signature.” I further agree with the majority that where there are insufficient similarities to analogize the commission of the two crimes to appellant’s “signature,” there is no need to examine the dissimilarities between the two crimes. In exercising his discretion on whether to admit evidence of prior crimes under a modus operandi standard, a trial judge should not consider dissimilarities between the crimes, or lack thereof, until he is satisfied there are sufficient unique similarities.
Mr. Justice Larsen and Mr. Justice McDermott place significance on the fact that appellant could be independently linked to both crimes. However, appellant’s possession of a ring, television, and radio stolen from Ms. Steckle’s home furnishes no common factor to tie him to the burglary and assault of Ms. Sawyer. While this independent evidence would be relevant in showing sufficient evidence to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the sufficiency of the evidence is not an issue presently before us.