Opinion ID: 1696930
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Testimony of William Meredith

Text: ¶ 61. Jordan asserts that the testimony of William Meredith, a pawnshop owner, concerning Jordan's purchase of a gun was inadmissible, irrelevant and hearsay. At trial, Meredith was questioned about documents related to Jordan's purchase of a gun. Jordan's trial counsel objected to Meredith's testimony, arguing that Meredith could not authenticate the documents. The objection was overruled. ¶ 62. As to Jordan's argument that the documents were hearsay, trial counsel did not object on those grounds, so the claim is procedurally barred. Smith, 729 So.2d at 1205-06. As to Jordan's challenge of the authenticity of the documents, Meredith offered testimony that was sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims, which is required by Mississippi Rule of Evidence 901. Miss. R. Evid. 901. The record reflects that Meredith was familiar with the document, and as the federal firearms holder, he was responsible for maintaining that particular document, as well as others like it. Accordingly, we find this issue to be without merit.