Opinion ID: 1992257
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: hearsay: prior consistent statements

Text: Appellant next contends that the testimony of Assistant District Attorney Delaney was inadmissible hearsay. Appellant argues that because the child victim admitted that she had made the prior inconsistent statements, Assistant District Attorney Delaney's testimony regarding prior consistent statements, made immediately before and immediately after the hearing at which the prior inconsistent statements were made, was not admissible. Appellant cites Commonwealth v. White, 340 Pa. 139, 16 A.2d 407 (1940) in support of this contention. We find the issue to have been waived. Alternatively, we find the contention to be without merit.
It is axiomatic that only issues raised by specific objection in the trial court may be addressed on appeal. See Commonwealth v. McMillan, supra ; see also Commonwealth v. Butts, 495 Pa. 528, 434 A.2d 1216 (1981). The record in this case reveals three objections during Assistant District Attorney Delaney's testimony. Two involved the mere utterance of the word objection without any grounds stated for the objection. The remaining objection was stated as follows: Q. Did she testify to the court consistently with what she had told you earlier that day? MR. GOLDMAN: Objection. Are you trying to put in inconsistent statements or consistent? This is really getting beyond what I feel the prosecution is allowed to do, Your Honor. THE COURT: No. He can ask him if what she said was substantially consistent with what she said outside the courtroom. I see no problem with that. I will permit that. (N.T. 11/1/85 at 104). Counsel in no way indicated that his objection was based upon the ground that the victim's admission that she had made the prior inconsistent statements at the first preliminary hearing rendered the evidence of the prior consistent statements inadmissible. Because counsel failed to assert that specific ground for the objection at trial, the issue is waived. Commonwealth v. McMillan, supra . We note that had an objection been clearly stated on that ground, the Commonwealth and the trial court would not have been denied (as they were here) the opportunity to either respond to the objection or to alter the course of the questioning accordingly.
Alternatively, we find no merit in the contention that the evidence was inadmissible under the circumstances of this case. As a general rule, statements made by a witness at another time, though freely admissible to contradict, are not admissible to corroborate. See Commonwealth v. Swint, 488 Pa. 279, 288, 412 A.2d 507, 512 (1980) (plurality); Commonwealth v. Ravenell, 448 Pa. 162, 168-69, 292 A.2d 365, 368 (1972); Commonwealth v. Carr, 436 Pa. 124, 128-29, 259 A.2d 165, 168 (1969). [4] Though often stated as an axiom without rationale, the primary reasons for exclusion of evidence of prior consistent statements are the need to avoid unnecessary repetition of cumulative evidence, and the need to prevent the fabrication of evidence. See Commonwealth v. Swint, supra, 488 Pa. at 288, 412 A.2d at 512 (but for the rule, the door might be open to the fabrication of evidence); Commonwealth v. Carr, supra, 259 A.2d at 168 (to admit them would permit a party to manufacture evidence for himself); Crooks v. Bunn, supra, 136 Pa. at 371, 20 A. 529 (mere repetition); Clever v. Hilberry, 116 Pa. 431, 438, 9 A. 647 (1887) (mere repetition). To the extent that prior consistent statements are offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted therein, they are plainly inadmissible hearsay. However, when they are offered to corroborate in-court testimony, prior consistent statements are not hearsay. See Commonwealth v. Freeman, 295 Pa.Super. 467, 477, 441 A.2d 1327, 1332 (1982); see also Commonwealth v. Stohr, 361 Pa.Super. 293, 317, 522 A.2d 589, 601 (1987) (Kelly, J., concurring; McEwen, J., joins); Binder, Hearsay Handbook, § 2.14, at 49 (2d Ed. 1983 & 1987 Supp.); VI Wigmore on Evidence, § 1792, at 326-27 (Chadbourne rev. 1976 & 1986 Supp.). The general rule of exclusion of prior consistent statements, then, is based not upon hearsay grounds but upon a general consensus that the relevance of such evidence to corroborate unimpeached testimony is ordinarily outweighed by the danger of fraudulent manufacture of evidence, confusion of issues, undue delay, and needless repetition of cumulative evidence. See Graham, Prior Consistent Statements; Prior Statements of Identification, 23 Crim.L.Bull. 173, 173-75 (1987); Binder, supra, § 2.14 at 49; Graham, Prior Consistent Statements, 30 Hastings L.J. 575, 578-82 (1979); Lilly, Law of Evidence, § 52, at 181-82 (1978); IV Wigmore on Evidence, § 1124 at 255. The general rule precluding corroboration of unimpeached testimony with prior consistent statements is subject to exceptions when particular circumstances in individual cases tip the relevance/prejudice balance in favor of admission. Among the common examples of such exceptions are prior consistent statements which constitute prompt complaints of sexual assault and prior consistent statements which constitute prior statements of identification. Evidence of a prompt complaint of sexual assault is considered specially relevant because (rightly or not) a jury might question an allegation that such an assault occurred in absence of such evidence. See Commonwealth v. Freeman, supra, 441 A.2d at 1332. [5] Prior statements of identification are deemed specially relevant because in-court identifications of the defendant are generally considered to be unconvincing, while out of court identifications are considered more meaningful because they were made when the witness' memory was fresher and there had been less opportunity for corrupting influences to work on the witness' memory. Graham, supra, 23 Crim.L.Bull. at 183; see also Gilbert v. California, 388 U.S. 263, 272 n. 3, 87 S.Ct. 1951, 1956 n. 3, 18 L.Ed.2d 1178, 1186 n. 3 (1967). Prior consistent statements may also be considered specially relevant when the witness' status alone is such that his or her testimony may be called into question even in the absence of express impeachment. In Howser v. Commonwealth, 51 Pa. 332 (1865), our Supreme Court explained: Though not formally impeached, this witness as a pardoned convict, testified under circumstances that tended strongly to discredit him. The jury would inevitably regard his testimony with suspicion. It was very proper, therefore, to corroborate him, . . . . 51 Pa. at 340. See also Commonwealth v. Wilson, supra, 148 A.2d at 242 (citing the quotation from Howser with approval). Similarly, jurors are likely to suspect that unimpeached testimony of child witnesses in general, and child victims of sexual assaults in particular, may be distorted by fantasy, exaggeration, suggestion, or decay of the original memory of the event. [6] Prior consistent statements may therefore be admitted to corroborate even unimpeached testimony of child witnesses, at the trial court's discretion, because such statements were made at a time when the memory was fresher and there was less opportunity for the child witness to be effected by the decaying impact of time and suggestion. See Commonwealth v. Stohr, supra, 361 Pa.Superior Ct. at 315, 522 A.2d at 600. In the instant case, though, we need not rest affirmances of the trial court's decision to admit the evidence of prior consistent statements on these grounds alone. The principle exception to the general rule of exclusion is that prior consistent statements may be admitted to corroborate or rehabilitate the testimony of a witness who has been impeached, expressly or impliedly, as having a faulty memory, or as having been induced to fabricate the testimony by improper motive or influence. Binder, supra, § 2.14 at 49-51. [7] Admission of prior consistent statements on such grounds is a matter left to the sound discretion of the trial court, to be decided in light of the character and degree of impeachment. See Commonwealth v. White, supra ; Lyke v. Lehigh Valley R.R. Co., supra ; Commonwealth v. Stohr, supra, 361 Pa.Superior Ct. at 315, 522 A.2d at 600; Commonwealth v. Marino, 213 Pa.Super. 88, 245 A.2d 868 (1968). It is not necessary that the impeachment be direct; it may be implied, inferred, or insinuated either by cross-examination, presentation of conflicting evidence, or a combination of the two. See Commonwealth v. Swint, supra ; Commonwealth v. Carr, supra ; Keefer v. Byers, supra ; Commonwealth v. Palskin, supra; Zell v. Commonwealth, supra ; Commonwealth v. Stohr, supra ; Commonwealth v. Cain, 358 Pa.Super. 198, 202, 516 A.2d 1252, 1254 (1986). It is generally required, however, that any corroboration offered, including prior consistent statements, be related to the impeachment they are to deny, rebut, or explain; [t]he wall, attacked at one point, may not be fortified at another. Commonwealth v. Fisher, 447 Pa. 405, 415-16, 290 A.2d 262, 268 (1972), quoting McCormick, Evidence, § 49 (1954). In the instant case, the child victim was subjected to extensive cross-examination. (N.T. 11/1/85 at 33-81). Counsel asked questions designed to establish the child victim's sexual awareness (hence ability to make a false charge) arising from unrelated sexual abuse of her by a male relative. (N.T. 11/1/85 at 61-63). Counsel then asked her whether she had imagined, dreamed, or exaggerated the incident in question based upon what had happened to her previously. (N.T. 11/1/85 at 63-64). Throughout cross-examination, counsel confronted the child victim with the prior inconsistent statements made by her at the first preliminary hearing. Her testimony was also impeached indirectly by appellant's denial that the incident occurred, and the implicit impeachment by the character witness who testified on appellant's behalf. (N.T. 11/1/85 at 117-144); see Commonwealth v. Stohr, supra, 361 Pa. Superior Ct. at 315, 522 A.2d at 600; Commonwealth v. Cain, supra, 516 A.2d at 1254. The character of this impeachment was such that the trial court could reasonably exercise its discretion to permit admission of evidence of prior consistent statements to corroborate the child victim's impeached testimony. Appellant contends, however, that such evidence was not admissible because the child victim admitted that she had made the prior inconsistent statements with which her testimony was impeached. Appellant cites Commonwealth v. White, supra , in support of this contention. In White, our Supreme Court upheld the trial court's exercise of its discretion to exclude evidence of prior inconsistent statements, made after a confession was given, which were offered to support the defendant's claim that his confession had been coerced. We note similar statements or holdings in Commonwealth v. Ravenell, supra, 292 A.2d at 368-69, Risbon v. Cottom, 387 Pa. 155, 158-159, 127 A.2d 101, 105 (1956), and Parnell v. Taylor, 266 Pa.Super. 74, 79-81, 403 A.2d 100, 103-03 (1979) (plurality). White, Ravenell, and Parnell each involve an affirmance of the trial court's exercise of its discretion to exclude the evidence of prior consistent statements offered, rather than a claim that the court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of prior consistent statements. The citation to White in Risbon is purely dicta. We do not find these cases controlling. Prior consistent statements offered to corroborate testimony impeached with evidence of prior inconsistent statements may be offered to deny, rebut, or explain any apparent inconsistency between an alleged prior statement and the witness' testimony at trial. See Graham, supra, 23 Crim.L.Bull. at 175-81; Binder, supra, § 2.14 at 52-53; Graham, supra, 30 Hastings L.J. at 582-616. When the witness admits that a prior inconsistent statement has been made, prior consistent statements are obviously not relevant to deny the acknowledged inconsistencies. Prior consistent statements may, however, still be admitted to explain the circumstances and thereby rebut the impeaching inferences arising from the acknowledged inconsistency. In several cases, when the witness had admitted or could not have reasonably denied the fact that a prior inconsistent statement had been made, the appellate courts of this Commonwealth have approved the admission of prior consistent statements made prior to the acknowledged inconsistent statement for the purpose of rebutting the impeachment inferences arising from the inconsistency. See e.g. Commonwealth v. Berrios, 495 Pa. 444, 451-52, 434 A.2d 1173, 1177 (1981); Commonwealth v. Fisher, supra, 290 A.2d at 268 ( dicta ); Commonwealth v. Westwood, supra, 188 A. at 311; McKee v. Jones, supra, 6 Pa. at 429; Craig v. Craig, supra, 5 Rawle at 98. Likewise, evidence of prior consistent statements made after an acknowledged prior inconsistent statement has been admitted into evidence when evidence of the prior consistent statements was relevant to support an explanation given for the acknowledged inconsistent statement. See e.g. Commonwealth v. Swint, supra, 412 A.2d at 511-12 & nn. 5-6; Commonwealth v. Bartell, supra, 136 A.2d at 174-75; Bank v. Short, 15 Pa.Super. 64, 69 (1900). In the instant case, the evidence of prior consistent statements, made immediately before and immediately after the prior inconsistent statements with which the child victim's in-court testimony was impeached, were particularly relevant to corroborate her explanation that she made the inconsistent statements at the hearing because she was afraid of appellant who was present at the hearing and standing five feet away from her. Consequently, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in permitting the admission of evidence of the prior consistent statements. [8]