Opinion ID: 1405826
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Victim's Statement to her Mother

Text: Appellant argues the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of Victim's mother concerning the statements of Victim to her about the sexual assault because they violated the rule against hearsay and Rule 801(d)(1)(D), SCRE as the statements went beyond the time and place of the assault. We disagree. A. Issue Preservation At trial, defense counsel objected to the introduction of Victim's statement as hearsay in general. The trial judge overruled the objection. Defense counsel never argued that Victim's statement went beyond the time and place of the assault as provided in Rule 801(d)(1)(D). Because this issue was not raised below, it is not preserved for appellate review. B. Hearsay `Hearsay' is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Rule 801(c), SCRE. Hearsay is not admissible except as provided by these rules or by other rules prescribed by the Supreme Court of this State or by statute. Rule 802, SCRE. An excited utterance is a statement relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement caused by the event or condition. Rule 803(2), SCRE. A statement that is admissible because it falls within an exception in Rule 803, SCRE, such as the excited utterance exception, may be used substantively, that is, to prove the truth of the matter asserted. State v. Sims, 348 S.C. 16, 20, 558 S.E.2d 518, 520-21 (2002) (citation omitted). Three elements must be met for a statement to be an excited utterance: (1) the statement must relate to a startling event or condition; (2) the statement must have been made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement; and (3) the stress of excitement must be caused by the startling event or condition. Id. at 21, 558 S.E.2d at 521. A court must consider the totality of the circumstances in determining whether a statement falls within the excited utterance exception. State v. McHoney, 344 S.C. 85, 94, 544 S.E.2d 30, 34 (2001). The passage of time between the startling event and the statement is one factor to consider, but it is not the dispositive factor. Sims, 348 S.C. at 21, 558 S.E.2d at 521. Other factors useful in determining whether a statement qualifies as an excited utterance include the declarant's demeanor, the declarant's age, and the severity of the startling event. Id. at 22, 558 S.E.2d at 521. In the present case, Victim's statement to her mother related to the startling event of being sexually assaulted by Appellant immediately before her mother returned home. Victim was lying in a fetal position when her mother came to check on her minutes after arriving home. Victim was upset and crying when she told her mother about the abuse; thus, Victim made the statement while under the stress of excitement. Finally, this stress was obviously caused by the sexual assault. The requirements of Rule 803(2), SCRE were satisfied in this case. Victim's statement to her mother was an excited utterance and the trial judge did not err in allowing Mother's testimony. [4] See also State v. Ladner, 373 S.C. 103, 644 S.E.2d 684 (2007) (holding a trial judge did not abuse his discretion by admitting a hearsay statement under the excited utterance exception when the statement was made by a two-and-a-half year old girl to her caretakers after they discovered blood coming from her vaginal area and the statement related to the startling event of a sexual assault).