Opinion ID: 1948427
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Taped Interrogation

Text: Mannion argues that the trial court erred in admitting the taped interrogation in evidence. He claims that the statements of the interrogating officer on the tape constituted inadmissible opinion testimony and inadmissible hearsay. M.R.Evid. 701, 801. M.R.Evid. 701 provides: If the witness is not testifying as an expert, his testimony in the form of opinions or inferences is limited to those opinions or inferences which are (a) rationally based on the perception of the witness and (b) helpful to a clear understanding of his testimony or the determination of a fact in issue. During the taped interrogation, the officer repeatedly questioned whether Mannion was telling the truth and gave differing versions of the facts and asked Mannion if each version was accurate. Mannion argues that the officer would not have been able to make such statements if he were testifying before a jury. As such, Mannion argues that the admission of the tape in which such statements exist violates M.R.Evid. 701. The statements of the officer on tape are not testimony that is being offered at trial. In addition, as discussed below, the statements of the officer were not offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Therefore, we find that M.R.Evid. 701 is not violated. The trial court found that the statements of the officer on the taped interrogation were not offered for the truth of the matter asserted and therefore were not inadmissible hearsay. Instead, the court admitted the statements to show the context of the statements made by Mannion. In addition, the trial court instructed the jury that such statements were not being offered for their truth. Mannion asserts that the trial court erred in admitting the statements to show context. Since the tape-recorded statements are out-of-court statements, the hearsay rule is implicated. The statements of Mannion, however, because they are admissions against him as a party, are not hearsay and therefore are admissible pursuant to M.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(A). The statements made by the officer to which Mannion manifested his adoption or belief in [their] truth are also admissible non-hearsay as admissions. M.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(B). This appeal focuses on the statements of the officer which were not adopted by Mannion. Since these statements were admitted by the trial court not for the truth of the matter asserted but rather to provide context for the other statements made by Mannion, they do not violate the hearsay rule. See M.R.Evid. 801(c). As non-hearsay, these statements of the officer are admissible to prove context if they are relevant, M.R.Evid. 401, and not excludable on the grounds of prejudice, confusion or waste of time. M.R.Evid. 403. We find that the admission of the statements of the officer to show context, not to prove their truth, was within the court's discretion. Mannion argues that the admission of such contextual statements is only available for statements made by co-defendants and is not available when the statements were made during an interrogation. Authority for such an assertion is lacking. See Lee v. McCaughtry, 892 F.2d 1318, 1324-26 (7th Cir.1990) (cited by U.S. v. McDowell, 918 F.2d 1004, 1007 (1st Cir.1990)); See generally, 58 A.L.R.3d 598; cf., State v. Rossignol, 580 A.2d 152, 154 (Me.1990); State v. Mottram, 184 A.2d 225, 232 (Me.1962) Next, Mannion contends that the trial court erred in sending the taped interrogation, and its transcript, to the jury room. Mannion did not object to the trial court's ruling on this issue, so we review it for obvious error. M.R.Crim.P. 52; State v. True, 438 A.2d 460, 467 (Me.1981). In fact, the trial transcript indicates that Mannion supported the decision to give the tapes and transcript to the jury. We find that the trial court's action did not constitute obvious error. See Jonathan M. Purver, Annotation, Permitting Documents Or Tape Recordings Containing Confessions Of Guilt Or Incriminating Admissions To Be Taken Into Jury Room In Criminal Case, 37 A.L.R.3d 238 (1971 & Supp.1993).