State v. Bassett

26 Citing cases

  1. State v. Ruffin

    539 A.2d 144 (Conn. 1988)   Cited 20 times

    `It is a reasonable exercise of judicial discretion to exclude questions which would introduce issues foreign to the case; State v. Dortch, 139 Conn. 317, 325, 93 A.2d 490; or evidence the relevancy of which appears to be so slight and inconsequential that to admit it would distract attention which should be concentrated on vital issues of the case. State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473.' State v. Mahmood, 158 Conn. 536, 540, 265 A.2d 83 (1969). We have reiterated that evidence is relevant only when it tends to establish the existence of a material fact or to corroborate other direct evidence in the case.

  2. State v. Talton

    197 Conn. 280 (Conn. 1985)   Cited 174 times
    In State v. Talton, 197 Conn. 280, 292-93, 497 A.2d 35 (1985), the defendant challenged the admission of evidence that the defendant had refused to answer a question during police interrogation under the theory that his refusal to answer constituted an invocation of his right to remain silent and, therefore, could not be used against him.

    "It is a reasonable exercise of judicial discretion to exclude questions which would introduce issues foreign to the case; State v. Dortch, 139 Conn. 317, 325, 93 A.2d 490; or evidence the relevancy of which appears to be so slight and inconsequential that to admit it would distract attention which should be concentrated on vital issues of the case. State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473." State v. Mahmood, 158 Conn. 536, 540, 265 A.2d 83 (1969).

  3. State v. Johnson

    190 Conn. 541 (Conn. 1983)   Cited 61 times
    In Johnson, the court “reject[ed] the defendant's assertion that the elements of intent and motive were not at issue... because the defendant's claim at trial was that he was not the individual who committed the crime.

    "`It is a reasonable exercise of judicial discretion to exclude questions which would introduce issues foreign to the case; State v. Dortch, 139 Conn. 317, 325, 93 A.2d 490; or evidence the relevancy of which appears to be so slight and inconsequential that to admit it would distract attention which should be concentrated on vital issues of the case. State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473.' State v. Mahmood, 158 Conn. 536, 540, 265 A.2d 83." State v. Moynahan, 164 Conn. 560, 589-90, 325 A.2d 199, cert. denied, 414 U.S. 976, 94 S.Ct. 291, 38 L.Ed.2d 219 (1973).

  4. Berndston v. Annino

    177 Conn. 41 (Conn. 1979)   Cited 41 times
    Finding that "evidence of speed, physical impact, and the like is admissible as relevant to the probable extent of personal injuries"

    State v. Towles, 155 Conn. 516, 523, 235 A.2d 639. At times the evidence offered may be relevant, but its relevance may be so slight and inconsequential that to admit it would distract attention which should be concentrated on other evidence which bears directly on the vital issues of the case. State v. Mahmood, 158 Conn. 536, 540, 265 A.2d 83; State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473." State v. Varricchio, 176 Conn. 445, 450, 408 A.2d 239 (1979).

  5. State v. Varricchio

    176 Conn. 445 (Conn. 1979)   Cited 22 times

    At times the evidence offered may be relevant, but its relevance may be so slight and inconsequential that to admit it would distract attention which should be concentrated on other evidence which bears directly on the vital issues of the case. State v. Mahmood, 158 Conn. 536, 540, 265 A.2d 83; State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473. According to the colloquy which was referred to in the defendant's brief, it appears that the defendant was eliciting this testimony from a lay witness with the idea of proving the defendant's state of mind.

  6. State v. Mastropetre

    175 Conn. 512 (Conn. 1978)   Cited 99 times
    In Mastropetre, we rightly acknowledged that a defendant's right to confront witnesses was not absolute and must yield to “other legitimate interests....” (Internal quotation marks omitted.)

    See Ordover, "Admissibility of Patterns of Similar Sexual Conduct: The Unlamented Death of Character for Chastity," 63 Cornell L. Rev. 90, 93-96 (1977). Further, evidence which is inconsequential tending to distract attention from the real issue should be excluded; State v. Mahmood, 158 Conn. 536, 540, 265 A.2d 83 (1969); State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473 (1964); as should evidence which would be of greater prejudicial effect than probative value. See State v. Moynahan, 164 Conn. 560, 597, 325 A.2d 199 (1973), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 976, 94 S.Ct. 291, 38 L.Ed.2d 219. Under this reasoning, testimony focusing on the complainant's prior sexual relationship was, on the issue of consent, properly excluded.

  7. State v. Lewisohn

    379 A.2d 1192 (Me. 1977)   Cited 37 times
    Stating that the prior relationship between the defendant and victim was relevant to show motive and lack of accident or mistake

    Such smoke-screen defense tactic would have materially beclouded the issue in the case and for that reason was properly excluded from the evidence. See State v. Bassett, 1964, 151 Conn. 547, 200 A.2d 473, where the alleged selective enforcement of the Sunday closing laws was ruled of such slight and inconsequential relevance to the issue of guilt or innocence of the crime of blackmail as to justify its exclusion to prevent jury distraction from the main issue. 3

  8. State v. Carbone

    172 Conn. 242 (Conn. 1977)   Cited 55 times   1 Legal Analyses
    Impeaching witness on collateral matter by extrinsic evidence not allowed

    State v. Mahmood, 158 Conn. 536, 540, 265 A.2d 83. Evidence which is inconsequential and tends to distract attention from the real issue should be excluded. State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473. Since the Carbones were not charged with any crimes after February 20, the truck rental evidence was not related to a matter in issue.

  9. State v. Vaughn

    171 Conn. 454 (Conn. 1976)   Cited 14 times

    We are not unmindful of the broad discretion which a trial court has in ruling on the relevancy of evidence and the exclusion of questions which would introduce issues collateral or foreign to the case or which would tend to distract attention which should be concentrated on vital issues of the case. State v. Mahmood, 158 Conn. 536, 540, 265 A.2d 83; State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473. We must conclude, however, that in this instance the discretion of the trial court was improperly exercised when it excluded the defendant's offer of proof by an expert witness concerning the defendant's mental deficiencies and subnormal intelligence as they would affect the weight and credibility which the jury should accord to his confession, which was the most significant and damaging evidence against him.

  10. Dacey v. Connecticut Bar Assn

    170 Conn. 520 (Conn. 1976)   Cited 164 times
    Applying rule of necessity

    Robinson v. Faulkner, 163 Conn. 365, 371, 306 A.2d 857. Such determination requires the exercise of the court's discretion. State v. Blyden, 165 Conn. 522, 531, 338 A.2d 484; State v. Bassett, 151 Conn. 547, 551, 200 A.2d 473. Those recommendations, appearing at p. 237 of the plaintiff's book, are: "On the back of nearly all automobile registration certificates is a place where you are to sign if you sell the car or turn it in on a new one. Sign it — now. If anything happens to you, your spouse or other family member can take it down to the Motor Vehicle Department and freely transfer it to another name without having to forge any signature or apply to the probate court for `letters testamentary.' Some states now require possession of a title form in connection with ownership of a motor vehicle, which form must be signed and surrendered to the Motor Vehicle Department when the vehicle is being transferred to someone else. If your state is one requiring a title form, make certain that you sign it now as well as the car registration certificate."