Ex Parte Reid

B.T. Reid's conviction of theft of property in the first degree was affirmed by the Court of Criminal Appeals, 474 So.2d 148 (Ala.Cr.App. 1984). We granted certiorari to review the issue whether the trial court's disallowing certain testimony was reversible error. We find that it was. Therefore, we reverse.

A brief recitation of the pertinent facts is necessary to this Court's treatment of the narrow evidentiary issue presented.

In October 1980, B.T. Reid sold the assets of his construction company (including heavy equipment) to a company known as Celco. Celco, in turn, leased the equipment…