Opinion ID: 1846807
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: coconspirator exception to hearsay

Text: Hudson argues that the trial court committed reversible error when it allowed the State to offer testimony by Johnson under the coconspirator exception to the hearsay rule, § 27-801(4)(b). `[B]efore the trier of facts may consider testimony under the coconspirator exception to the hearsay rule, a prima facie case establishing the existence of the conspiracy must be shown by independent evidence.. . .' State v. Gutierrez, 272 Neb. 995, 1018, 726 N.W.2d 542, 565 (2007), quoting State v. Bobo, 198 Neb. 551, 253 N.W.2d 857 (1977). The question is whether the State established the existence of a conspiracy between Hudson and McDonald that would permit the admission of Johnson's testimony regarding a conversation between Hudson and McDonald that Johnson overheard. We examine the evidence presented prior to the time Johnson's statements were admitted.