Opinion ID: 2093275
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: tape-recorded statements played to jury

Text: In all proceedings where the Nebraska Evidence Rules apply, admissibility of evidence is controlled by such rules, not judicial discretion, except in those instances under the rules when judicial discretion is a factor involved in the admissibility of evidence. State v. Sanchez, 257 Neb. 291, 597 N.W.2d 361 (1999). Prior to trial, Myers moved in limine to prevent the State from introducing tape-recorded statements involving Henley and Lynam. Myers argued that these recordings were inadmissible hearsay and irrelevant and that their probative value was outweighed by their prejudicial effect. The State argues that Myers did not preserve his hearsay objection to the tapes. The State's claim is unpersuasive in light of the fact that the hearsay issue was argued at the hearing and that when the tapes were played to the jury, Myers renewed his earlier objection to the tapes. The State claims that the statements contained in the tapes are not hearsay because the statements prove that Myers, Henley, and Sheila Myers conspired to conceal Myers' involvement in the murder of Mainelli. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-801(4)(b)(v) (Reissue 1995) provides that a statement by a coconspirator of a party during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy is not hearsay. In State v. Copple, 224 Neb. 672, 401 N.W.2d 141 (1987), abrogated on other grounds, State v. Reynolds, 235 Neb. 662, 457 N.W.2d 405 (1990), we held that statements made by coconspirators could be admitted even when the conspiracy was not charged in the information. However, before 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....' Copple, 224 Neb. at 693, 401 N.W.2d at 156. The State asserts that the tapes contain statements made in furtherance of the conspiracy to cover up Mainelli's murder. However, our review of the record reveals that the conspiracy to cover up the murder can only be proved by the hearsay statements themselves. Thus, the State has failed to make a prima facie showing of the existence of the conspiracy between Myers, Lynam, and Henley separate and apart from the hearsay statements. Consequently, the statements contained within the tape recording cannot be considered nonhearsay. The State advanced no other grounds for admitting this hearsay, and as such, the district court erred in admitting the tapes. In a jury trial of a criminal case, an erroneous evidential ruling results in prejudice to a defendant unless the State demonstrates that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Sanchez, supra . Evidentiary error is harmless when improper admission of evidence did not materially influence the jury to reach a verdict adverse to substantial rights of the defendant. State v. Hingst, 251 Neb. 535, 557 N.W.2d 681 (1997). In determining whether error in admitting evidence was harmless, an appellate court bases its decision on the entire record in determining whether the evidence materially influenced the jury in a verdict adverse to the defendant. State v. Chojolan, 253 Neb. 591, 571 N.W.2d 621 (1997). In State v. Lotter, 255 Neb. 456, 586 N.W.2d 591 (1998), modified 255 Neb. 889, 587 N.W.2d 673 (1999), we reasoned that any error in admitting a police investigator's hearsay testimony concerning statements made by an accomplice's wife was harmless when the statements pertain merely to a collateral matter or are cumulative. In the tapes, Sheila Myers called Henley to tell her that the police had towed Sheila Myers' van. Henley then called Lynam looking for Myers to tell him about the van. Henley later spoke to Myers and told him that Sheila Myers' van had been towed by the police. The evidence about which Myers complains was admitted later in the trial when Sheila Myers testified that in May 1996, the police came to search and tow her van. She also stated that after her van was towed, she called Henley to ask what was going on. These are the same facts established by the tape-recorded statements. We, therefore, conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Myers could not have been harmed by the admission of the tape-recorded statements and that this assignment of error is without merit.