Opinion ID: 2291635
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Police officer's comment

Text: For his next point on appeal, Appellant asserts that the trial court erred by not redacting Officer Shaw's comment to Appellant contained on the recording of Appellant's statement to police. Specifically, he asked the court to redact the officer's statement, I know what happened. Appellant asserts that this was error because (1) the officer could not testify at the trial; (2) the officer's knowledge was based on hearsay from the other two co-defendants; and (3) the statement would violate Appellant's rights to confront witnesses against him. Appellant contends that he was prejudiced because the officer's statements could have been given greater weight than Appellant's statements. A statement is not hearsay unless it is offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. See Ark. R. Evid. 801(c) (2008). Here, the officer's statement, I know what happened, was not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, but was rather part of the officer's interrogation technique. Because the statement was not hearsay, we hold that the circuit court did not err in admitting it into evidence. Even if there were merit to his argument, he has not shown that he was prejudiced by the police officer's statement. Prejudice is not presumed, and this court will not reverse a conviction absent a showing of prejudice by the defendant. Eastin v. State, 370 Ark. 10, 257 S.W.3d 58 (2007).