Opinion ID: 1927470
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: hearsay evidence state of mind

Text: Appellant next argues that the trial court erred in refusing to allow the victim's grandfather to testify that the victim intended to go to a party on the day of the murder and that she was to be picked up by an unknown person. Appellant asserts that this testimony which was excluded by the trial court should have been admitted under the state of mind hearsay exception. Specifically, appellant objects to the court's disallowance of the following testimony by the victim's grandfather: Q: Now, prior to your leaving, did you speak to Andrea at all? A: Yes, I did. Q: Is it my understanding that she was going to a picnic that day? A: Right. Q: Did you ask her anything? A: Yes, I asked her how she was going to get there. Q: What did she tell you? MR. CASTOR [the prosecutor]: Objection. THE COURT: Sustained. (N.T. 8/18/94 at 734). Admissibility of evidence is a matter addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court, which may only be reversed upon a showing that the court abused its discretion. Commonwealth v. Claypool, 508 Pa. 198, 495 A.2d 176, 178 (1985). Pennsylvania recognizes a state of mind hearsay exception because determining one's state of mind is often impossible without such statements and such statements are presumed reliable because of their spontaneity. Commonwealth v. Thornton, 494 Pa. 260, 265, 431 A.2d 248, 251 (1981). However, state of mind evidence must still meet the test of relevance. As this Court has stated, Determination of the relevancy of evidence offered at trial requires a two-step analysis. It must be determined first if the inference sought to be raised by the evidence bears upon a matter in issue in the case and, second, whether the evidence renders the desired inference more probative than it would be without the evidence. Thornton, 494 Pa. at 265, 431 A.2d at 251. Assuming, arguendo, that the trial court should have admitted this testimony, no new trial is warranted because any resulting error was harmless since appellant cannot show he suffered any prejudice. Harmless error exists if the record demonstrates either: (1) the error did not prejudice the defendant or the prejudice was de minimis; or (2) the erroneously admitted evidence was merely cumulative of other untainted evidence which was substantially similar to the erroneously admitted evidence; or (3) the properly admitted and uncontradicted evidence of guilt was so overwhelming and the prejudicial effect of the error was so insignificant by comparison that the error could not have contributed to the verdict. Commonwealth v. Williams, 524 Pa. 404, 573 A.2d 536 (1990). Here, appellant asserts that this evidence would have shown that the victim was scheduled to be driven to a party by an unknown acquaintance. The victim's grandmother testified that the victim was supposed to attend a graduation party on the afternoon of the murder. The grandfather also testified that he gave the victim money for the party and that she would need a ride to the party. Moreover, the evidence established that no one living at the victim's house could have given her a ride to the party since the grandparents left for vacation and the victim's aunt was at work. Thus, the excluded testimony was merely cumulative in that other evidence was admitted which established that which the grandfather would have testified about. Appellant fails to establish how the exclusion of this evidence caused him prejudice. Accordingly, we conclude that any possible error resulting from the exclusion of the grandfather's testimony as to what the victim intended to do on the day of the murder was harmless.