Opinion ID: 1667146
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Hearsay objections regarding the testimony of Officer Greg Broussard

Text: ś 94. Thorson next alleges that the trial court erred in sustaining an objection to his testifying to what Officer Greg Broussard said to him during the interrogation. During his testimony when asked about Officer Broussard, Thorson answered, He was the one who was pushing me into the filing cabinets, yelling and screaming at me, holding me up against the wall by the sides of my shirt, and telling me the things that had been done to Gloria McKenzie (sic), and saying `We know you did this. We just want to know why.' The State objected to what the officer said, and the trial court sustained the objection. The State argues that the objection was made because the answer was unresponsive to the question. Thorson was asked how he was treated and then exceeded the scope of the question by stating what the officer said. The State further argues that even if the statement was an exception the hearsay rule, the exact answer was given by Thorson previously when he was asked if he was mistreated during the interrogation. ś 95. Thorson correctly argues that a statement is not hearsay if it is offered merely to show its effect on someone. See Knight v. State, 601 So.2d 403, 406 (Miss.1992). In Knight, the trial court excluded as hearsay the statement of a witness that another person had warned the defendant that he had better leave the scene. We held that [t]his statement, when offered for its effect on Knight, is not offered `to prove the truth of the matter asserted.' Rather it is offered for the fact that it was said. It does not fit the definition of hearsay. Id. at 406. ś 96. A criminal defendant is not entitled to a perfect trial, only a fair trial. McGilberry v. State, 741 So.2d 894, 924 (Miss.1999). As previously stated, actual prejudice must be shown in order for this Court to reverse on the exclusion of evidence. This exact answer was given by Thorson when he was questioned regarding his interrogation. Therefore, this information was already before the jury. Therefore, at most it was harmless error for the trial court to sustain the State's objection. This issue is without merit.