Opinion ID: 1807431
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Photographs of Writing

Text: Boppre asserts that the district court erred by allowing into evidence photographs which depicted the writing on the floor and on the door casement in Valdez' residence, arguing that the writings are hearsay and do not fit within any exceptions to the hearsay rule. While Boppre is correct that the writings are hearsay, it cannot be said the district court erred in determining that the writings constitute both excited utterances and dying declarations, and thus are admissible into evidence under exceptions to the hearsay rule. Hearsay is defined as 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, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-801(3) (Reissue 1989), and a statement is defined in part as an oral or written assertion, § 27-801(1). Because the writings are written out-of-court statements offered to prove that Boppre committed the crimes, they are hearsay. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-803(1) (Reissue 1989) provides a hearsay exception, even where the declarant is available, for 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. We have determined that in order for a statement to qualify as an excited utterance, three conditions must exist: (1) There was a startling event; (2) the statement relates to the event; and (3) the statement was made by the declarant while under the stress of the exciting event. State v. Lee, 216 Neb. 63, 341 N.W.2d 600 (1983). Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-804(2)(b) (Reissue 1989) provides a hearsay exception, where the declarant is unavailable as a witness, for a statement made by a declarant while believing that his death was imminent, concerning the cause or circumstances of what he believed to be his impending death. We agree with the district court's determinations that there was sufficient evidence to establish that Valdez was the person who wrote Boppre's name on the floor and door casement, that the three conditions for an excited utterance existed, and that Valdez wrote Boppre's name while believing that his death was imminent.