State v. Buller

HARRIS, Justice.

In this appeal from an arson conviction, the defendant challenges testimony concerning the reaction at the fire scene of a dog trained in fire accelerant detection. We find no error in the testimony and affirm.

I. We review questions of admissibility of evidence for an abuse of district court discretion, meaning that we accord wide latitude to the district court on the question of sufficiency of foundation. State v. Spilger, 508 N.W.2d 650, 652 (Iowa 1993). Established rules of evidence however cannot be ignored under the guise of trial court discretion. Id.

II. Following a fire…