State v. Erdman

OPINION

AMDAHL, Chief Justice.

We granted the state’s petition for review to determine whether the court of appeals erred in granting defendant a new trial on the basis of a witness’ recantation of her trial testimony. Holding that the court of appeals erred, we reverse the award of a new trial and reinstate defendant’s conviction of the gross misdemeanor offense of fleeing a peace officer, Minn. Stat. § 609.487, subd. 3 (1986).

The state’s main witness at defendant’s trial in 1985 was a state trooper, Richard Mosca. He testified that he clocked defendant driving at 69 miles per hour in a 55…