Court Opinion

ID: 9648433
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 14:20:26.777237+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:31.600565
License: Public Domain

BARDGETT, Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent and concur in the dissenting opinion of Morgan, J. Having reviewed the transcript of the trial, I conclude that the closing argument of the state was legitimate retaliatory argument and did not even constitute non-prejudicial error. Its function was to destroy the credibility of Hackett’s direct testimony that appellant was not present at the scene of the crime by the use of the impeaching evidence used during the examination of Hackett by the state. This was a legitimate use of the impeaching evidence and the conviction should be affirmed.
I agree with the views expressed by Seiler, J., and disagree with the views expressed by Finch, C. J., with respect to the rule of evidence discussed in their opinions in this case.
The evidence used by the state to impeach Hackett consisted of prior inconsistent statements. Some were oral, one was preserved on video tape, and another was preserved in a deposition taken by another defendant in a companion case. These were available for the purpose of impeaching Hackett but could not be used, and in my opinion were not used, as substantive evidence of the guilt of appellant.
The only way the state can preserve testimony of a witness, not a party, for use as substantive evidence at trial (other than testimony given in an earlier trial of the same case) is by taking the deposition of the witness to preserve testimony in accordance with Art. I, § 18(b), Mo.Const. 1945. This constitutional provision was first adopted in 1945 for the specific purpose of providing the method whereby the state could preserve substantive evidence for use at trial and at the same time preserve the confrontation and cross-examination rights of a defendant which are provided for in Art. I, § 18(a), Mo.Const.1945. The proposed change, in my opinion, conflicts with Art. I, §§ 18(a) and 18(b), Mo. Const. 1945.
I would affirm the conviction.