State v. Cruse
State v. Cruse
Opinion of the Court
Defendant appeals his conviction for the offense of assault with intent to inflict great bodily injury. His only assignment of error is that the District Court committed reversible error in failing to sustain defense objections to expert medical testimony. We affirm.
Kathy Adams testified that she observed the defendant strike Joann in the face and kick her two or three times after she was down.
The issue on appeal concerns the testimony of Doctor Dennis Bresnahan who was in attendance at the emergency room of St. Joseph’s Hospital on the evening of October 31, 1976. When asked if he recalled receiving a patient by the name of Joann Hat-thorn in the emergency room that evening, he stated: “Not specifically, but upon reviewing the chart, I did examine her * * *.” He was asked to examine the photographs, of the complaining witness, whereupon he stated: “I recognize her as the lady sitting in the first row (Indicating), but if I was asked to say who this lady was, I would have to say that I don’t know who it is.’’ Over objection, the doctor was permitted to testify the records showed
Defendant argues: “Without proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the injuries that Dr. Bresnahan testified to were in fact the injuries sustained by the victim, the evidence is insufficient as a matter of law to sustain the conviction since there was no proof of the seriousness of the injuries.” This contention is frivolous. Proof that great bodily injury actually occurred is not an essential element of the crime charged. See State v. Lang, 197 Neb. 47, 246 N. W. 2d 608 (1976).
The essential element is that the defendant intended to inflict great bodily injury. This is evident from his kicking her in the face after he had knocked her to the ground by a blow to the face. In State v. Judd, 200 Neb. 344, 263 N. W. 2d 487 (1978), we said: “Specific intent is an essential element in the crime of assault with intent to inflict great bodily injury, and proof thereof is indispensable to sustain a conviction. Because the intent with which an act is done exists only in the mind of the actor, its proof must be inferred from the act itself and from the facts surrounding the act.” There definitely was sufficient evidence in the record from which to infer the intent without the medical testimony.
While testimony by á physician who attended the complaining witness as to the extent of the injuries is relevant as tending to establish the element of intent, Stevens v. State, 84 Neb. 759, 122 N. W. 58 (1909), it has never been held that such evidence is required to be introduced. In this case the physician had no question Joann Hatthorn was the person he treated in the emergency room. He just did not recall her name.
The record is clear. Defendant struck Joann Hatthorn in the face with his fist, and then kicked
The judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Nebraska v. Glenn M. Cruse
- Status
- Published