Opinion ID: 1518504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the trial court commit error in admitting an out-of-court contradictory statement of a prosecution witness?

Text: The Commonwealth called Erick Munson as a witness. On direct examination, he testified that he had known appellant and Peter Margerum for some time. He testified that he had had a conversation with Margerum several weeks after the discovery of Kelly's body. Munson denied that he had told Margerum that appellant had said to him that if Kelly didn't come up with his (appellant's) money, he would kill him. The Commonwealth then called Margerum as a witness. He testified that Munson had, in fact, made such a statement to him. In Jett v. Commonwealth, Ky., 436 S.W.2d 788 (1969), we held that out-of-court statements of a prosecution or defense witness can be received as substantive evidence. There are four prerequisites to such admission: (1) both the person who is alleged to have made the out-of-court statement and the person who says he made it must appear as witnesses, and be subject to cross-examination; (2) a foundation must be laid by asking the witness about the statement; (3) the questioned statement must be contradictory to the witness' incourt testimony or, at least, must provide relevant information which the witness cannot remember at the trial, and, (4) the statement must be material and relevant to the issues of the case. In Jett , we rationalized our ruling: When both the person who is said to have made the out-of-court statement and the person who says he made it appear as witnesses under oath and subject to cross-examination there is simply no justification for not permitting the jury to hear, as substantive evidence, all they both have to say on the subject and to determine wherein lies the truth, . . . Id., at p. 792. In this case, Munson was called as a witness for the Commonwealth. He had known both appellant and Margerum for quite some time. He had had a conversation at his home with Margerum after Kelly's body had been found. Munson denied that he had told Margerum that appellant had said if Kelly didn't come up with his money, he would kill him. Margerum, however, testified that Munson had made such a statement to him. All the requirements of Jett are present. There is no reason why the jury should not hear what both have to say on the subject and to determine wherein lies the truth. Id., at 792.