Mayfield v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama

Mayfield v. State

545 So. 2d 93, 1989 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 156, 1989 WL 61298

CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Alabama

DecidedApril 28, 1989

Docket8 Div. 279

StatusPublished

This text of 545 So. 2d 93 (Mayfield v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mayfield v. State, 545 So. 2d 93, 1989 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 156, 1989 WL 61298 (Ala. Ct. App. 1989).

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Opinion

AFTER REMAND FROM ALABAMA SUPREME COURT

McMILLAN, Judge.

This cause was remanded to this court, pursuant to the Alabama Supreme Court’s [94]*94decision in Mayfield v. State, 545 So.2d 92 (Ala.1988), in which the court held that the evidence was sufficient to prove that the appellant violated the “leaving the scene” statute.

One issue remains which has not yet been addressed by this court. The appellant argues that the trial court erred in overruling his objection to the introduction of testimony regarding “his cursing and threatening behavior,” because, he says, the prejudicial effect of the testimony substantially outweighed its probative value. However, relevancy is a matter ordinarily left to the sound discretion of the trial court and, absent an abuse of discretion, this court’s ruling will not be considered error on appeal. Dawkins v. State, 455 So.2d 220, 222 (Ala.Cr.App.1984), and cases cited therein. In the present case, the appellant’s “cursing and threatening behavior” was inextricably intertwined with the offense and was part of the res gestae. Smith v. State, 447 So.2d 1327, 1329-30 (Ala.Cr.App.1983), affirmed, 447 So.2d 1334 (Ala.1984) (evidence of gambling and drinking was admissible notwithstanding the fact that it tended to show the commission of other crimes). “[A]ll acts done and words spoken pending the commission of a particular act, tending to illustrate or give character to that act, are admissible into evidence as part of the res gestae of the act.” Neal v. State, 460 So.2d 257, 261 (Ala.Cr.App.1984). We find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in allowing the testimony regarding the appellant’s behavior.

AFFIRMED.

All Judges concur.

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AFTER REMAND FROM ALABAMA SUPREME COURT

McMILLAN, Judge.

This cause was remanded to this court, pursuant to the Alabama Supreme Court’s [94]*94decision in Mayfield v. State, 545 So.2d 92 (Ala.1988), in which the court held that the evidence was sufficient to prove that the appellant violated the “leaving the scene” statute.

One issue remains which has not yet been addressed by this court. The appellant argues that the trial court erred in overruling his objection to the introduction of testimony regarding “his cursing and threatening behavior,” because, he says, the prejudicial effect of the testimony substantially outweighed its probative value. However, relevancy is a matter ordinarily left to the sound discretion of the trial court and, absent an abuse of discretion, this court’s ruling will not be considered error on appeal. Dawkins v. State, 455 So.2d 220, 222 (Ala.Cr.App.1984), and cases cited therein. In the present case, the appellant’s “cursing and threatening behavior” was inextricably intertwined with the offense and was part of the res gestae. Smith v. State, 447 So.2d 1327, 1329-30 (Ala.Cr.App.1983), affirmed, 447 So.2d 1334 (Ala.1984) (evidence of gambling and drinking was admissible notwithstanding the fact that it tended to show the commission of other crimes). “[A]ll acts done and words spoken pending the commission of a particular act, tending to illustrate or give character to that act, are admissible into evidence as part of the res gestae of the act.” Neal v. State, 460 So.2d 257, 261 (Ala.Cr.App.1984). We find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in allowing the testimony regarding the appellant’s behavior.

AFFIRMED.

All Judges concur.

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Bluebook (online)

545 So. 2d 93, 1989 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 156, 1989 WL 61298, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mayfield-v-state-alacrimapp-1989.

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