Evidence of a previous battery
Sec. 14. (a) This section applies even if no criminal charges were
filed concerning the act that is the basis of the evidence of a previous
battery.
(b) As used in this section, "evidence of a previous battery" means
evidence that a person charged with a crime described in subsection
(c)(1) through (c)(3) committed a prior unrelated act of battery or
attempted battery on the victim of a crime described in subsection
(c)(1) through (c)(3) within five (5) years before the person allegedly
committed the crime described in subsection (c)(1) through (c)(3).
(c) In a prosecution for:
(1) battery (IC 35-42-2-1);
(2) aggravated battery (IC 35-42-2-1.5);
(3) murder (IC 35-42-1-1); or
(4) voluntary manslaughter (IC 35-42-1-3);
evidence of a previous battery is admissible into evidence in the
state's case-in-chief for purposes of proving motive, intent, identity,
or common scheme and design.
(d) If the state proposes to offer evidence described in subsection
(b), the following procedure must be followed:
(1) The state shall file a written motion not less than ten (10)
days before trial stating that the state has an offer of proof
concerning evidence described in subsection (b) and the
relevancy of the evidence to the case. The motion must be
accompanied by an affidavit in which the offer of proof is
stated.
(2) If the court finds that the offer of proof is sufficient, the
court shall order a hearing out of the presence of the jury. At the
hearing, the court shall allow the questioning of the victim or
witness regarding the offer of proof made by the state.
At the conclusion of the hearing, if the court finds that evidence
proposed to be offered by the state is admissible, the court shall make
an order stating what evidence may be introduced by the state and the
nature of the questions to be permitted. The state may then offer
evidence under the order of the court.
(e) This section shall not be construed to limit the admissibility of
evidence of a previous battery in any civil or criminal proceeding.
As added by P.L.213-1991, SEC.1.
Last modified: May 24, 2006