Opinion ID: 1285642
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Exclusion of letter denying cab driver murder

Text: At the same time the Ruckus song was seized from appellant's cell, a letter he wrote was also seized. The letter as proffered reads: Yes, they do have a letter that I write in mathematics to a fraud not God admitting to doing the cab driver. But word is bond to the Father Allah, I didn't do the crime nor was I at any of the crime scenes. You see, when I was pulling a lid in '94, I was on lockup for my last two years before making my sentence of six years. This brother used to look out for me with food, radio and writing material. We got tight like cousins within them two years. So when I got out, I wanted to look out for him. But things were rough out there on my own. I didn't want to lose his trust in me. So when that cab shit came up and I read they didn't know who did it, I lied to him so he would think I was trying to come up. See, we used to talk about how we were going to do capers and shit, but I saw things different when I was in the county jail. I saw brothers getting out and coming right back, so I decided I was going to get two jobs and work on my music career. I used to tell the officers to tell him I would look out when I got straight, but I felt I was he was giving up on me, so I used the cab thing to keep his trust. The trial judge excluded this letter as self-serving hearsay. Appellant argues it was admissible under Rule 106, SCRE, to explain the Ruckus song. Rule 106 provides: When a writing, or recorded statement, or part thereof is introduced by a party, an adverse party may require the introduction at that time of any other part or any other writing or recorded statement which ought in fairness to be considered contemporaneously with it. Evidence that is otherwise inadmissible is not admissible under Rule 106. State v. Gay, 343 S.C. 543, 541 S.E.2d 541 (2001). Appellant's exculpatory letter contains inadmissible hearsay since it is offered for the truth of the matter asserted, i.e. that appellant did not commit the cab driver murder which linked him to the barbershop murders. See Rules 801(c) and 802, SCRE. Further, it falls under no exception to the hearsay rule. Moreover, given that it was written while appellant was awaiting trial on this matter, its trustworthiness is highly suspect. The trial judge did not abuse his discretion in excluding this letter. See State v. Jones, 343 S.C. 562, 541 S.E.2d 813 (2001) (trial judge's decision to admit or exclude evidence is reviewed on appeal under abuse of discretion standard).