Opinion ID: 370140
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Larain's statements on the tapes

Text: 35 Defendants object that the tapes of the conversations between Ariza and Larain should not have been admitted in their entirety; they argue that, while Ariza's statements were properly introduced as admissions of a party opponent, Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2), Larain's statements were not. Even overlooking defendants' failure to object at trial, this argument is frivolous: the tapes were properly authenticated and, because the conversations were short and consisted primarily of questions and answers, Larain's statements were essential to give content to Ariza's. See 7 J. Wigmore, Evidence § 2094-95 (Chadbourn rev.1978). There is no general rule that the voices of parties to a taped telephone conversation who do not appear at trial must be suppressed. Cf. United States v. Gladney, 563 F.2d 491, 493 (1st Cir. 1977) (informer's unavailability at trial does not prevent showing of consent to taping of conversations).