Opinion ID: 2373555
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Competency Determinations

Text: Both defendants contend that because the children did not understand the obligation of the oath or the importance of telling the truth, the trial court erred in finding that the nine-year-old and seven-year-old were qualified to testify. They argue that the defendants should have been allowed to cross-examine the children as to claimed inconsistencies in their responses to the court. M.R.Evid. 601(b) provides: A person is disqualified to be a witness if the court finds that (1) the proposed witness is incapable of expressing himself concerning the matter so as to be understood by the judge and jury either directly or through interpretation by one who can understand him, (2) the proposed witness is incapable of understanding the duty of a witness to tell the truth, (3) the proposed witness lacked any reasonable ability to perceive the matter, or (4) the proposed witness lacks any reasonable ability to remember the matter. We have previously stated that a child of any age is competent to be a witness unless disqualified. State v. Hussey, 521 A.2d 278, 280 (Me.1987). A court's decision regarding a child's competency to testify is a factual one and is reviewed for clear error. State v. Gordius, 544 A.2d 309, 311 (Me. 1988). A review of the court's voir dire examination of the children reflects that they clearly understood what it meant to tell the truth, that it is wrong to tell a falsehood, and that it was their duty when testifying to tell the truth. As a result, the court's determination that the children qualified as witnesses was not clearly erroneous. Id. The court also properly ruled that the issue before the court on its voir dire examination of the children was to determine if they were qualified to be witnesses and that the issue of their credibility as witnesses would be for the jury to resolve. Hussey, 521 A.2d at 281.