Blair v. State

OPINION

MANNHEIMER, Judge.

Donald Blair was tried in the Dillingham district court for fourth-degree assault upon his wife. Soon after the jury retired to begin its deliberations, Blair's attorney told the trial judge that he wished to be present for any playbacks of testimony that the jury might request.

At 4:10 that afternoon, Blair's attorney telephoned the court to inform the judge that he would be away from his office for approximately forty-five minutes, picking up his wife and grandchildren. Seventeen minutes later, at 4:27 p.m., the jury requested a playback of a hotly disputed portion…