People v. Vasher

*496Weaver, J.

The case before us involves the intertwined evidentiary issues of undue prejudice, character, religious beliefs, and the rules of procedure regarding rebuttal.

In June, 1986, defendant Francis Vasher was babysitting his four-year-old granddaughter and two other three-year-old girls. The events of that night resulted in Vasher being shot by the father of one of the girls1 and convicted by a jury of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The evidence at trial showed that defendant performed various acts of sexual penetration on all three girls.

At trial the prosecution…