Peter Griffith v. State of Indiana , 2015 Ind. LEXIS 464 ( 2015 )

Jun 02 2015, 11:25 am
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
John T. Wilson Gregory F. Zoeller
Anderson, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
George P. Sherman
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
In the
Indiana Supreme Court
No. 48S02-1501-CR-10
PETER GRIFFITH,
Appellant (Defendant below),
v.
STATE OF INDIANA,
Appellee (Plaintiff below).
Appeal from the Madison Circuit Court, No. 48C03-1111-FC-2033
The Honorable Thomas Newman Jr., Judge
On Petition to Transfer from the Indiana Court of Appeals, No. 48A02-1310-CR-909
June 2, 2015
David, Justice.
Peter Griffith was convicted of Class C felony battery. This conviction arose out of a
physical altercation that occurred between Griffith and his son-in-law, Darren Wiles (Darren).
During that altercation, Griffith stabbed Darren in the back one time with a knife. The
eyewitnesses agreed that Griffith attacked Darren, and Darren had not provoked the attack. After
the State presented its case at trial, Griffith expressed his intent to call two witnesses. The defense
asserted that this proposed testimony would be admitted for the purpose of impeaching Darren’s
testimony that he had not been the aggressor and had not hit Griffith with a two by four. The trial
court allowed the two witnesses to testify outside the presence of the jury. Both testified that after
the altercation occurred Darren had told each witness individually that he had hit Griffith with a
two by four before Griffith stabbed him. The State objected to the admission of that testimony as
hearsay and on the grounds that it could not be admitted for impeachment without Darren first
having the opportunity to explain or deny the alleged statements. While it is unclear whether the
trial court specifically ruled on the offered testimony or the State’s objection, the defense never
attempted to call either witness after the jury returned and the trial resumed.
At the time of Griffith’s trial, Indiana Rule of Evidence 613(b) provided in pertinent part
that “[e]xtrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by a witness is not admissible unless
the witness is afforded an opportunity to explain or deny the same and the opposite party is
afforded an opportunity to interrogate the witness thereon, or the interests of justice otherwise
require.” Ind. Evid. Rule 613(b) (2012).1 We accept transfer in this case to address the application
of Rule 613(b). Considering that Indiana Evidence Rule 613(b) uses the same language as Federal
Evidence Rule 613(b),2 we embrace the interpretation of Rule 613(b) as utilized by multiple
federal jurisdictions. Under that interpretation, Rule 613(b) does not compel a specific sequence
1
Indiana Rule of Evidence 613(b) now provides that “[e]xtrinsic evidence of a witness’s prior inconsistent
statement is admissible only if the witness is given an opportunity to explain or deny the statement and an
adverse party is given an opportunity to examine the witness about it, or if justice so requires.” Ind. Evid.
Rule 613(b) (effective Jan. 1, 2014). The slight difference in language does not impact this Court’s analysis
of the application of Rule 613(b).
2
Federal Evidence Rule 613(b) provides in pertinent part, “[e]xtrinsic evidence of a witness’s prior
inconsistent statement is admissible only if the witness is given an opportunity to explain or deny the
statement and an adverse party is given an opportunity to examine the witness about it, or if justice so
requires.”
2
for the admission of extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement. Rather, it is within the
trial court’s discretion to admit extrinsic evidence to impeach a prior inconsistent statement before
or after the witness is given the opportunity to explain or deny the alleged statement. However,
the preferred method is still to confront the witness with the alleged statement before seeking to
admit extrinsic evidence impeaching that statement. Regardless of the sequence in which extrinsic
evidence is admitted, the witness must be given the opportunity to admit or deny the prior
statement. Here, we conclude that the trial court properly exercised its discretion in excluding
Griffith’s proposed extrinsic evidence and affirm Griffith’s conviction and sentence.
Facts and Procedural History
Peter Griffith lived at Lot 6 of the Irondale mobile home park in Anderson, Indiana.
Griffith’s daughter, Summer Wiles (Summer), and son-in-law, Darren Wiles (Darren), also lived
in Irondale at Lot 17. Living with Summer and Darren was Summer’s mother, Loretta, Darren’s
mother, and Darren and Summer’s two young children. On the night of October 18, 2011, tensions
were running high at Lot 17, and a dispute broke out between Loretta and Darren’s mother. Darren
and Summer were escorting Loretta out of the trailer when they saw Griffith outside, stumbling
toward Lot 17 and yelling. Summer specifically recalled Griffith repeatedly yelling, “You hurt
my baby girl.” (Tr. at 262.) Griffith admitted to having had several drinks that night, and based
upon Griffith’s demeanor, witnesses believed that he was drunk.
As the defendant came closer to Lot 17, Darren told Griffith to go home and that he did not
want to fight him. Despite this, Griffith continued to approach Darren, and a struggle quickly
ensued between the two men. At some point, either right before or during this altercation, Griffith
pulled a knife. As the fight continued, Darren fell to the ground, and Griffith stabbed him in the
back. Darren then picked up a wooden stake and was swinging it to keep Griffith back. Shortly
thereafter, the fight broke up, and Loretta quickly helped Griffith leave the scene. Darren then
realized the extent of his injury and that he was bleeding profusely.
3
Multiple patrolmen from the Anderson police department arrived at the scene to investigate
a reported stabbing. Officer Donavon Baysinger found Darren at Lot 17 with his shirt off and with
blood streaming down his side. Paramedics were called, and Darren was taken to St. Vincent’s
Regional Hospital for treatment. At some point, Griffith was also taken to St. Vincent’s for his
injuries, and police were able to interview him at the hospital. Griffith told police that Darren had
hit him with a two by four. Police also canvased the area where the altercation occurred,
interviewed potential witnesses, and investigated the scene. Although a two by four was never
recovered, police did collect four smaller wooden stakes in the yard of Lot 17. A knife was also
collected from Griffith. No blood or blood spatter evidence was recovered, likely due to the rain
that began late that night.
Griffith was ultimately charged with one count of Class C felony battery by means of a
deadly weapon.3 At trial, the only testifying eyewitnesses were a neighbor and Summer, and both
testified that Griffith was the initial aggressor. However, Griffith claimed that Darren initiated the
argument by threatening Griffith’s son and that Darren had picked up a two by four and come after
him. Griffith claims that he was hit twice before he started swinging his knife.
After the State rested its case, the defense sought to admit testimony from Catrina Kennett
and Tim Brinson. Because Darren testified that he never hit Griffith with a piece of wood, the
defense sought to impeach Darren’s testimony with testimony from Kennett and Brinson that
Darren had told both of them that he had hit Griffith with a two by four. The parties disputed
whether Griffith could call the two witnesses to impeach Darren’s testimony when the defense
never cross-examined Darren about his conversations with either witness. The State relied upon
Indiana Evidence Rule 607 and precedent from this Court to contest that the defense could not
3
Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1(a)(3) (2008).
4
recall Darren as its own witness just to impeach his testimony with otherwise inadmissible
evidence. 4 The defense argued that under Rule 613(b), extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent
statement can be used as long as the declarant is given the opportunity to explain or deny that
statement at some point, and Darren did not need to be cross-examined on his specific
conversations prior to the defense submitting the impeaching testimony. The record is unclear
whether the trial court explicitly ruled that Griffith could not call the witnesses, but at one point
the trial court stated that if Griffith called Darren and laid a proper foundation, then Darren could
be impeached.
Defense counsel was permitted to call both witnesses outside of the presence of the jury.
Brinson and Kennett testified that after the incident occurred Darren told both of them on separate
occasions that he had hit Griffith multiple times with a two by four before Griffith stabbed him.
Once the jury returned, the defense never attempted to call either witness or Darren. The defense
called Griffith and then rested its case.
The jury found Griffith guilty as charged. Griffith was sentenced to four years executed in
the Department of Correction. Griffith appealed, arguing that he was denied a meaningful
opportunity to present a complete defense. Specifically, Griffith contended that the trial court
erred in preventing him from presenting testimony of two witnesses that were critical to his claim
4
Rule 607 previously provided that “[t]he credibility of a witness may be attacked by any party, including
the party calling the witness.” Ind. Evid. Rule 607 (2012). The rule now provides that “[a]ny party,
including the party that called the witness, may attack the witness’s credibility.” Ind. Evid. Rule 607
(effective Jan. 1, 2014). However, “a party is forbidden from placing a witness on the stand when the
party’s sole purpose in doing so is to present otherwise inadmissible evidence cloaked as impeachment.”
Appleton v. State, 740 N.E.2d 122, 125 (Ind. 2001) (internal citation and string citation omitted).
5
of self-defense. Griffith argued in the alternative that if his conviction was not reversed, his
sentence should be revised under Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B).
The majority of the Court of Appeals determined that the proposed testimony of Brinson
and Kennett would be inadmissible hearsay, and did not fall within a hearsay exception under
Indiana Evidence Rule 803. Griffith v. State, 18 N.E.3d 625, 630 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). Next, the
court noted that the “colloquy between the court and Griffith’s counsel does not reveal that the
court categorically foreclosed the possibility of Griffith calling Darren as a witness . . . .” Id. Yet,
the court went on to determine that under Indiana Evidence Rule 613(b), “it would have been
improper for the court to admit extrinsic evidence from Brinson and Kennett of Darren’s alleged
prior inconsistent statements without Darren having been given the opportunity to explain or deny
the inconsistent statements.” Id. (string citation omitted). The court held that the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in excluding the proposed testimony and Griffith was not denied the
opportunity to impeach Darren’s testimony or present a self-defense claim. Id. at 631. The court
also held that Griffith’s sentence was not inappropriate given the nature of the offense and his
character. Id. at 632. Thus, Griffith’s conviction and sentence were affirmed. Id.
Judge Barnes dissented from the majority’s interpretation of Rule 613(b) and from its
holding regarding whether the trial court abused its discretion in excluding the witnesses’
testimonies. Id. at 633-34. Judge Barnes looked to federal and Indiana precedent and concluded
that a party may be impeached with extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement, even if
that party was not cross-examined on those statements. Id. Judge Barnes concluded that the trial
court misapplied the law, that the trial court’s exclusion of the witnesses’ testimonies was an abuse
of discretion, and the error was not harmless. Id. at 634-35. Thus, Griffith’s conviction should be
reversed. Id. at 635.
This Court accepted transfer, thereby vacating the Court of Appeals opinion. Griffith v.
Sate, 23 N.E.3d 17 (table); Ind. Appellate Rule 58(A).
6
Standard of Review
The admission and exclusion of evidences rests within the sound discretion of the trial
court, and we review the exclusion of evidence only for an abuse of discretion. Wilson v. State,
765 N.E.2d 1265, 1272 (Ind. 2002) (citations omitted). Even if a trial court errs in its evidentiary
ruling, “we will not overturn the conviction if the error is harmless.” Appleton v. State, 740 N.E.2d
122, 124 (Ind. 2001) (citing Ind. Trial Rule 61; Cooley v. State, 682 N.E.2d 1277, 1282 (Ind.
1997)). An error is harmless if “the probable impact of the evidence upon the jury is sufficiently
minor so as not to affect a party’s substantial rights.” Appleton, 740 N.E.2d at 124 (citing Fleener
v. State, 656 N.E.2d 1140, 1141-42 (Ind. 1995)).
In addition, a federal court’s interpretation of the Federal Rules of Evidence is not binding
upon this Court. Doe v. Shults-Lewis Child and Family Serv., Inc., 718 N.E.2d 738, 751 (Ind.
1999) (citation omitted). However, due to the similarity between the Indiana Rules of Evidence
and the Federal Rules of Evidence, “federal case law interpreting the Federal Rules of Evidence
may be of some utility . . . .” Id.
Discussion
I. Indiana Evidence Rule 613(b)
At the time of Griffith’s trial, Indiana Evidence Rule 613(b) provided in pertinent part,
“[e]xtrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by a witness is not admissible unless the
witness is afforded an opportunity to explain or deny the same and the opposite party is afforded
an opportunity to interrogate the witness thereon, or the interests of justice otherwise require.”
Ind. Evid. Rule 613(b) (2012). This Court has affirmed a trial court ruling which excluded
extrinsic evidence of a witness’s prior inconsistent statement where the defense did not take the
opportunity to cross-examine the witness about the alleged prior statement before seeking to
7
introduce extrinsic evidence of that statement. See Hilton v. State, 648 N.E.2d 361, 362 (Ind.
1995) (disapproved on other grounds by State v. Wilson, 863 N.E.2d 407, 409-10 (Ind. 2005)).
However, this Court has never explicitly addressed whether Rule 613(b) requires a particular
sequence for extrinsic evidence to be introduced in relation to giving the witness an opportunity to
explain or deny the alleged prior statement. We take this opportunity to clarify our holding in
Hilton and to embrace the federal approach to the admission of extrinsic evidence of a prior
inconsistent statement under Rule 613(b).
In Hilton, the defendant was charged with murder, and the trial court excluded the
testimony of a third person, whom Hilton claimed would have testified to overhearing a
conversation in which another person took responsibility for the murder. 648 N.E.2d at 362. When
Hilton had the opportunity to cross-examine the individual who allegedly took responsibility for
the murder, Hilton did not ask about the prior statement. Id. The Court looked to Rule 613(b) and
explained that because Hilton did not cross-examine the individual about the prior inconsistent
statement, there was “no statement[] about the alleged conversation that might be inconsistent”
with Hilton’s witness’s recollection. Id. Additionally, Hilton failed to submit an adequate offer
of proof. Id. Because Hilton failed to do both of these things, the Court held that the trial court
had not erred in excluding the extrinsic evidence proposed by Hilton. Id. Although the trial court
was affirmed, the Court did not address the full scope of when Rule 613(b) permits the admission
of extrinsic evidence. Due to this, our holding in Hilton is not determinative of the present issue.
Now, the Court has been presented with the opportunity to specifically address when
extrinsic evidence may be admitted under Rule 613(b). We do not overrule the conclusion reached
in Hilton affirming the trial court’s exclusion of extrinsic evidence. However, we do seek to clarify
that Hilton does not stand for the proposition that extrinsic evidence may never be admitted under
Rule 613(b) before the witness is given an opportunity to explain or deny a prior inconsistent
statement. Rather, we are inclined to follow the federal interpretation of Federal Evidence Rule
613(b), which affords greater flexibility to trial courts in the admission of evidence. This Court
8
similarly prefers an interpretation which would provide Indiana trial courts with flexibility in
admitting extrinsic evidence.
In U.S. v. Della Rose, the Seventh Circuit acknowledged that “Rule 613(b) conditions the
admissibility of a prior inconsistent statement on the witness being afforded the opportunity to
explain or deny the statement.” 403 F.3d 891, 903 (7th Cir. 2005). However, the opportunity to
explain or deny the prior statement does not mean that the witness “must be given that opportunity
before extrinsic evidence of the statement is admitted.” Id. In Della Rose, the court clearly set out
that the failure to cross-examine a witness about a prior statement did not prevent the defense from
eliciting testimony about that prior statement from its own impeaching witness. Id. (string citation
omitted).
Other federal circuits have also interpreted Rule 613(b) in this way. See U.S. v. Schnapp,
322 F.3d 564, 571 (8th Cir. 2003) (“The rule, on its face, does not require that the witness be cross-
examined about the alleged prior inconsistent statement before that statement may be presented as
impeachment evidence”); U.S. v. Young, 86 F.3d 944, 949 (9th Cir. 1996) (explaining that the
court “expressly recognized that the foundational prerequisites of Rule 613(b) require only that the
witness be permitted-at some point- to explain or deny the prior inconsistent statement”) (citation
omitted) (emphasis added); and Wammock v. Celotex Corp., 793 F.2d 1518, 1521-22 (11th Cir.
1986) (explaining, “[t]raditionally, prior inconsistent statements of a witness could not be proved
by extrinsic evidence unless and until the witness was first confronted with the impeaching
statement. Rule 613(b) modifies this approach, however, by merely requiring that the witness be
provided an opportunity to explain the statement at some point in the proceedings” and “no
particular sequence or timing” is required).
Since Hilton, the Indiana Court of Appeals has also addressed at what point extrinsic
evidence of a prior inconsistent statement may be admitted for impeachment purposes under Rule
613(b). See Orr v. State, 968 N.E.2d 858, 862 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). In Orr, the Court of Appeals
acknowledged that Hilton upheld the trial court’s exclusion of extrinsic evidence of a prior
9
inconsistent statement when the witness was not first cross-examined about the statement and
given an opportunity to explain or deny that statement. Id. at 864 n.4. However, the court in Orr
did not interpret Hilton to address the sequence upon which extrinsic evidence could be introduced
under Rule 613(b). Id. Rather, Hilton was viewed only as upholding the judicial discretion
afforded to trial courts under Rule 613(b) in admitting extrinsic evidence. As stated above, we
agree that Hilton was not intended to set out a steadfast rule limiting the trial court’s discretion
under Rule 613(b). Thus, when faced with the question of whether Rule 613(b) required a specific
sequence for the admission of extrinsic evidence, the Court of Appeals in Orr was free to look to
other relevant precedent in reaching its decision.
In Orr, a shooting occurred and two people were killed. 968 N.E.2d at 860. A witness to
the shooting testified at trial that she had only heard gunshots, but had not seen a gun or the
altercation. Id. However, this was inconsistent with what the witness had told another individual
the night of the shooting. Id. An offer of proof was made outside the presence of the jury regarding
the proposed testimony of the prior inconsistent statement. Id. The trial court allowed the
individual to testify before the jury regarding what the witness had said the night of the shooting.
Id. at 862. The defendant challenged this ruling, arguing that the witness was not first confronted
with the alleged statement and given the opportunity to explain or deny the statement. Id.
The Court of Appeals addressed this issue by first pointing out two specific phrases within
Rule 613(b). Id. First, a witness is not required to actually explain or deny the prior inconsistent
statement, but only must be “afforded an opportunity” to do so. Id. Second, the court is permitted
to do what the “interests of justice otherwise require.” Id. Although a witness should be given the
opportunity to explain or deny the alleged statement, “the rule does not specify the timing of that
opportunity.” Id. The court embraced the federal approach and determined that the opportunity
to explain or deny the prior statement does not mean that the witness “must be given that
opportunity before extrinsic evidence of the statement is admitted.” Id. (quoting Della Rose, 403
F.3d at 903). Moreover, trial courts are afforded wide discretion in permitting or excluding
extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by determining that “the interests of justice
10
otherwise require.” Id. at 864. A variety of factors may influence the trial court’s decision to
allow or exclude such evidence. Id. at 865. The court in Orr determined that the trial court had
not erred in admitting the extrinsic evidence. Id.
Consistent with the Federal approach and with our own Court of Appeals, we hold that
under Indiana Evidence Rule 613(b), the requirement that a witness be given an opportunity to
explain or deny a prior inconsistent statement may be afforded to that witness at any point during
the proceedings. However, Rule 613(b) “does not supplant the traditional method of confronting
a witness with his inconsistent statement prior to its introduction into evidence as the preferred
method of proceeding.” Wammock, 793 F.2d at 1522. This approach avoids the risk that a witness
may become unavailable as the trial proceeds and consequently could not be recalled to explain or
deny the prior statement. In addition, we recognize that the preferred approach may make it easier
for a jury to understand the context of the intended impeachment.
Despite this preferred method, trial courts are still given broad discretion in excluding or
admitting extrinsic evidence under Rule 613(b). We encourage trial courts to consider a variety
of relevant factors in making the determination to admit or exclude extrinsic evidence, such as the
availability of the witness, the potential prejudice that may arise from recalling a witness only for
impeachment purposes, the significance afforded to the credibility of the witness who is being
impeached, and any other factors that are relevant to the interests of justice.5
5
To the extent that a trial court does exercise its discretion to admit extrinsic evidence outside of the
preferred sequence, we advise that trial courts remain mindful that if the witness is later unavailable to
explain or deny that prior statement, the court must be prepared to provide a remedy. A suitable remedy
may be granting a motion to strike the testimony of the impeaching witness and giving an appropriate
instruction to the jury. On the other hand, if the opposing party simply fails to recall the witness without
any showing of unavailability, such a remedy may not be warranted. Likewise, when the opposing party
fails to show the witness’s unavailability, that party should also not get the windfall of being able to appeal
11
We next analyze whether the trial court in the current case abused its discretion under Rule
613(b) by excluding the testimony of Brinson and Kennett prior to giving Darren the opportunity
to explain or deny the alleged prior inconsistent statement.6
II. Exclusion of Griffith’s Proposed Extrinsic Evidence
Griffith argues that the testimonies of Brinson and Kennett should have been admitted
because their testimonies were crucial to his self-defense claim. Both witnesses were called
outside the presence of the jury and testified that Darren had told each of them on different
occasions that he had hit Griffith with a two by four before he was stabbed. Griffith does not assert
that this testimony fits within a hearsay exception but only argues that it should have been admitted
for impeachment purposes under Rule 613(b).
We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding this testimony.
First, it was never established on the record whether Darren was still available to be recalled as a
witness to either explain or deny the alleged prior statements. Second, although Griffith attempts
to emphasize the importance of attacking Darren’s credibility, the significance of Darren’s
credibility is decreased due to two other eyewitnesses who corroborated Darren’s testimony that
Griffith was the initial aggressor. Summer, the defendant’s own daughter, and a neighbor both
testified that Griffith attacked Darren without provocation. Thus, this was not a case where the
on the grounds that extrinsic evidence was admitted without the witness being given an opportunity to
explain or deny that statement. We remain confident that our trial court judges, along with the assistance
of engaged trial counsel, are fully capable of navigating the nuances that each case may present.
6
For the purpose of this analysis, we assume that the trial court completely foreclosed the defendant’s
opportunity to introduce the extrinsic evidence of Brinson and Kennett’s testimonies. However, as noted
by the Court of Appeals and from what is apparent in the record, it is unclear whether a final ruling was
ever made on this issue. Griffith never attempted to call these witnesses or Darren after the jury returned.
12
jury was faced with only the victim’s word against the defendant’s. Lastly, Griffith provided no
explanation for why Darren was not cross-examined regarding these prior statements when Griffith
was afforded the full opportunity to do so. The trial court was given no reason to believe that the
failure to cross-examine Darren was part of a specific trial strategy, nor was the trial court provided
a basis for finding that the interests of justice otherwise required the admission of the proposed
extrinsic evidence. Thus, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding
extrinsic evidence of Darren’s prior inconsistent statements.
Although the trial court properly exercised its discretion in excluding this evidence, we
also seek to emphasize that it would not have been err to allow Darren to be recalled as a witness
and to be questioned about the alleged prior inconsistent statement. See Della Rose, 403 F.3d at
903 (explaining that even if the witness was not asked about the prior inconsistent statement on
cross-examination, the prosecution could still have recalled the witness to the stand and asked
about the statement at that time). We acknowledge that Appleton and Griffin provide that “a party
is forbidden from placing a witness on the stand when the party’s sole purpose in doing so is to
present otherwise inadmissible evidence cloaked as impeachment.” 740 N.E.2d at 125; See also
Griffin, 754 N.E.2d at 904. However, in this context, the witness would have been recalled for the
purpose of allowing that witness to explain or deny a prior inconsistent statement. Thus, this rule
would not be controlling over a trial court’s discretion to allow a witness to be recalled.
Furthermore, even if the trial court in the present case did err in excluding the testimonies,
we would conclude that the error was harmless. Although Griffith claims that this testimony was
significant to prove his claim of self-defense, it does not appear that a self-defense argument was
ever developed at trial. Griffith did not assert in opening statements that he had acted in self-
defense. During the State’s presentation of its case, Griffith did not cross-examine any witness
regarding the possibility that Griffith acted in self-defense. Griffith also never proposed a final
jury instruction on self-defense. Only a brief reference was made in closing arguments suggesting
13
that Griffith had only defended himself.7 Given the absence of argument on self-defense, it does
not appear that self-defense was the theory of the defense’s case. Most significantly, the jury
would not have been permitted to use the testimonies of Brinson and Kennett as substantive
evidence. Under Rule 613(b), their testimonies would have been admitted for impeachment
purposes only, and Griffith concedes that there is not an applicable hearsay exception that would
allow their testimonies to have been admitted for substantive use. As such, the exclusion of
Brinson and Kennett’s testimonies would have been harmless error.
Conclusion
We hold that under Indiana Evidence Rule 613(b), extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent
statement may be admitted before or after a witness is given the opportunity to explain or deny the
alleged statement. While the preferred method remains that the witness be confronted with the
statement prior to the admission of extrinsic evidence, the trial court has wide discretion in making
this evidentiary ruling. Several factors may properly sway the trial court to admit or deny extrinsic
evidence given the circumstances of the case. To the extent that our prior holding in Hilton could
be read to require trial courts to admit extrinsic evidence under Rule 613(b) in a specific sequence,
we clarify that Hilton upheld the discretion of the trial court under Rule 613(b) without setting out
a requirement for the sequence in which extrinsic evidence must be admitted. In accordance with
that interpretation, the trial court did not err in excluding the proposed extrinsic evidence of a prior
inconsistent statement offered by Griffith. Griffith’s conviction and sentence are affirmed.
Rush, C.J., Dickson, Rucker, and Massa, J.J., concur.
7
Defense counsel stated, “[i]f someone attacks you with a weapon, you have the right to defend yourself
with a weapon and that’s not a crime.” (Tr. at 341.)
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