State v. Barcomb

This is an appeal from a conviction of simple assault. 13 V.S.A. § 1023(a) (1). The defendant contends that she was prejudiced by the admission of certain evidence irrelevant to the offense charged, specifically, evidence of previous acts such as complaints to police officers and other prior alleged assaults. The State argues that this evidence was introduced to rebut testimony elicited by defense counsel in his examination of a State’s witness as well as the defendant’s testimony “that she had never hit anybody.”

We need not idiscuss the substance of the testimony or the State’s claim of…