Opinion ID: 1775339
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the trial court err in allowing the six year old victim, alicia gavagnie, to testify?

Text: Counsel for Mary Beth argues that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing Alicia Gavagnie, a six year old kindergarten student at the time of trial, to testify. Counsel for Mary Beth argues that Alicia failed to express intelligent answers, had poor recollection, and did not fully understand the duty to speak the truth. Under the new Mississippi Rules of Evidence, [1] Rule 601, involving the competency of witnesses, reads as follows, Every person is competent to be a witness except as restricted by Miss.Code § 13-1-5 (competency of spouses) and § 13-1-11 (persons convicted of perjury or subordination of perjury), or by these rules. With this rule and code section in mind, the trial court conducted a pre-trial competency hearing for Alicia. Noting the trial court's pre-rule procedure in examining the child, the trial court made a finding supported by the record that the child had the capacity to understand the questions, frame intelligent answers, and had a moral responsibility and consciousness to speak the truth. In addition to the persuasive testimony of Alicia, this Court holds that this argument is settled by the wording of Mississippi Rule of Evidence 601. Under Rule 601, [e]very person is competent to be a witness. Therein, the trial court did not err in allowing the testimony of Alicia Gavagnie; rather, his action is supported by the record.