Opinion ID: 1225396
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Rape Trauma Evidence

Text: After the rape was reported, the victim was interviewed by Heather Odell from the Department of Social Services and Ruth Strait, a mental health counselor. Both Odell and Strait testified at trial regarding the victim's behavior after the rape. Odell testified the victim appeared withdrawn and nervous, was tugging at her clothing, and had a difficult time maintaining eye contact at their interview. She described the victim as being in a general state of nervousness and apprehension. Based on her observations, Odell referred the case for crime victim counselling. Odell also testified the victim's behavior was not attributable to normal teenage hormonal changes and she therefore concluded this was a case of criminal child sexual assault. Strait was qualified as an expert in the field of sexual abuse. She testified the victim was tearful, nervous, and had fluctuating eating habits, nightmares, lethargy, hypervigilence, and problems with anger and guilt. Strait further testified the victim's behavioral symptoms were typical for a victim of sexual abuse. First, appellant contends Odell and Strait were not qualified to give expert testimony on rape trauma syndrome. No issue was raised at trial regarding Odell's qualification as an expert. This issue is therefore not properly before us. State v. Caldwell, 283 S.C. 350, 322 S.E.2d 662 (1984). As to Strait's qualification, we find no error. The qualification of a witness as an expert falls largely within the trial judge's discretion. State v. Myers, 301 S.C. 251, 391 S.E.2d 551 (1990). The party offering the expert has the burden of showing his witness possesses the necessary learning, skill, or practical experience to enable the witness to give opinion testimony. Generally, however, defects in the amount and quality of education or experience go to the weight of the expert's testimony and not its admissibility. Id. Strait testified she had a master's degree in social work and specialized in child and adolescent services. She attended training seminars regarding sexual abuse survivors and worked on more than one hundred cases involving sexually abused children. We find no abuse of discretion in her qualification as an expert. Appellant next claims error in the admission of rape trauma evidence to prove a rape actually occurred. He relies on State v. Hudnall, 293 S.C. 97, 359 S.E.2d 59 (1987), in which this Court held expert testimony regarding common behavioral characteristics exhibited by child victims of sexual abuse was not admissible to establish abuse had occurred. We held this evidence admissible only to rebut a defense claim that the victim's response was inconsistent with such a trauma. In State v. Alexander, 303 S.C. 377, 401 S.E.2d 146 (1991), however, we held trauma testimony of a rape victim is relevant to prove the elements of criminal sexual conduct since such evidence makes it more or less probable that the offense occurred. We further held such evidence admissible where its probative value outweighs its prejudicial effect. Id. We now expressly overrule State v. Hudnall to the extent it is inconsistent with State v. Alexander and clarify that both expert testimony and behavioral evidence are admissible as rape trauma evidence to prove a sexual offense occurred where the probative value of such evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect. [1] We find the probative value of the rape trauma evidence in this case outweighs its prejudicial effect and therefore hold it was properly admitted.