Opinion ID: 2167035
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Officer William Roach's Testimony

Text: Link claims that the trial court erred in admitting Officer William Roach's testimony that there were five suspects, other than Link, who were eliminated in the case. Link argues that this testimony was improper because its clear import was that Officer Roach believed Link was guilty, and therefore, like earlier testimony complained of, invaded the province of the jury. Because Link failed to object to the testimony in question, he is only entitled to relief under the plain error/manifest injustice standard. Rule 30.20. Even if this claim had been properly preserved, the trial court did not err in admitting this testimony. It is improper for a witness to directly comment that he thinks that the defendant is innocent or guilty. See State v. Cason, 596 S.W.2d 436, 440 (Mo.1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 982, 101 S.Ct. 397, 66 L.Ed.2d 243 (1980); State v. Linzia, 412 S.W.2d 116, 120 (Mo.1967). In the present case, Officer Roach did not testify that he believed Link was guilty, and, instead, merely stated that there were other suspects who had been eliminated. This testimony does not invade the province of the jury, and the trial court did not err in this regard. Link further complains that Officer Roach's testimony about his reasons for eliminating the suspects  that the suspects had alibis that were supported by other witnesses  constituted improper hearsay testimony. Link did not object on hearsay grounds at trial, and again, his claim is reviewable only under the plain error/manifest injustice standard. Assuming that the testimony was hearsay, the evidence of Link's guilt, and especially the DNA evidence, was overwhelming, and the admission of the testimony did not amount to manifest injustice. On another matter relating to Officer Roach's testimony, Link contends that the trial court erred in allowing the officer to testify that Elissa's sister told him that she found Elissa's umbrella in the alley near her home on the morning Elissa was abducted. Link argues that this testimony was inadmissible hearsay and that it violated his constitutional right to confront witnesses against him. Unlike the other claims, this claim was properly preserved for review. Although the testimony was clearly hearsay, and admission of the testimony was error, the error was not so prejudicial as to require reversal. The underlying rationale for the hearsay rule is for the purpose of securing the trustworthiness of the assertions. State v. Harris, 620 S.W.2d 349, 355 (Mo. banc 1981). Courts generally exclude hearsay because the out-of-court statement is not subject to cross-examination, is not offered under oath, and the fact-finder is not able to judge the declarant's demeanor and credibility as a witness. Bynote v. National Super Markets, Inc., 891 S.W.2d 117, 120 (Mo. banc 1995). However, to the extent that a declarant is available for live testimony, under oath, the `dangers of hearsay are largely non-existent.' State v. Schaal, 806 S.W.2d 659, 664 (Mo. banc 1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1075, 112 S.Ct. 976, 117 L.Ed.2d 140 (1992). In this case, Elissa's sister was available to testify during the guilt phase of the trial, and, in fact, she did testify during penalty phase, telling the jury firsthand that she found Elissa's umbrella in the alley at about 7:30 a.m. on January 11, 1991. These are indeed the kinds of circumstances in which the dangers of hearsay are largely non-existent. For that reason, and considering the overwhelming evidence of Link's guilt, the prejudice was negligible. The point is denied.