Opinion ID: 1159272
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: rebuttal examination

Text: BY MR. PETRIE: Q For the record will you state your full name please. A Jean Gerstenberger. Q And what do you do for a living? A I am a court reporter. Q How long have you been a court reporter? A Four years. Q And where did you receive your training? A At a school called the Academy of Stenographic Arts in San Francisco, California. Q And how long does that training take? A Two years. Q And did you successfully complete that training? A I did not graduate from the school, no sir. Q Okay. How long have you been a court reporter in this area? A Two and a half years. Q And what towns do you report in? A I cover the Second Judicial District which would be anywhere from Grangeville up to Moscow. Q What special training, if any, do you receive to become a court reporter? A I don't know how to answer that. You learn to operate the machine and to take everything down verbatim and to listen carefully. Q Listen carefully to whom? A To whoever is speaking. Q I see. Did you have an occasion to take a preliminary hearing on the 27th of December, 1977? A Yes sir, I did. Q And what preliminary hearing were you taking at that time? A It was State of Idaho versus Monte Hoisington. Q And did that involve the Traci Boyd rape? A Yes sir. Q Do you recall when Traci Boyd was testifying at that preliminary hearing? A Yes sir. Q And were you the reporter at that preliminary hearing? A Yes sir. Q Where was that taken? A In courtroom three in the Nez Perce County Courthouse. Q This same building? A Yes sir. Q Do you recall of anything unusual being said during that preliminary hearing while Traci Boyd was testifying? A Yes sir. Q And do you recall when this unusual item was said  do you recall what the topic was when Traci Boyd was testifying? A Yes sir. Q And what topic was she testifying to at that time? MR. AHERIN: If the Court please, I am going to object. I don't know where counsel is headed. If he is having her testify as to what was recorded, that is part of her official duties as the court reporter. If he is trying to impeach some testimony, there is a recorded statement. MR. PETRIE: I am not, your Honor. I merely want to get the topic of the conversation that the witness was testifying to. THE COURT: Yes, the objection is overruled. MR. PETRIE: Thank you. Q Do you recall the topic of conversation  or the topic of testimony at that time? A Yes sir. Q And what did that entail  not the precise testimony, but what was the topic about? A The topic was about a pillow. Q And what about the pillow? A I don't understand if you want me to say what she was saying or what. Q Well, basically what was she testifying to concerning the pillow? A She was testifying to the pillow behind her head. Q Okay. And at that time did the defendant  did you hear the defendant say anything? A Yes sir. Q What did you hear him say? MR. AHERIN: If the Court please, I am going to object to that. Is this to something she recorded or an unrecorded statement? THE COURT: This is something  the question was directed as to something she heard. I don't know whether it was recorded or whether it wasn't, that she heard the defendant  the question, as I understand it, is something she heard the defendant say while Miss Boyd was testifying regarding the pillow. MR. AHERIN: If the Court please, I am going to move to  object to the testimony on the basis that it is improper impeachment if that is an attempt to impeach the testimony of someone that has already testified. I think it is an improper form of rebuttal. THE COURT: The objection is overruled. MR. PETRIE: Thank you, your Honor. Q To clarify the record, was the defendant testifying at that time? A No sir. Q Where was the defendant at that time? A At counsel table. Q And about how far away from you was he? A Five feet. I am not too good at distance. Q Okay. And at that time when Traci Boyd was testifying to the position of the pillow what did the defendant say, if you recall? A I do not recall his exact words. Q Do you recall the effect of those words? A Yes sir. Q What are they? A That he had not placed the pillow that way, or that was not how the pillow was placed. Q And to whom did he say that to? A Mr. Aherin. MR. PETRIE: No further questions. CROSS-REBUTTAL EXAMINATION BY MR. AHERIN: Q How close was I to Mr. Hoisington? A You were seated next to him. Q Closer than you? A Yes sir. Q And you are absolutely sure that that is what he said? A Not to his exact words but that was the idea, yes sir. Q How do you know that was the idea if you don't know the exact words? A Because I remember when he made the statement that it indicated to me that he had been there because he knew what he was talking about. Q Could you have been mistaken since you didn't hear it exactly? MR. PETRIE: Objection, your Honor. That is an improper question. THE COURT: Overruled. MR. PETRIE: Thank you. A I heard it exactly but I do not remember what the words are now. Q Do you think I would have heard that statement if it was made? A Yes sir, you heard it because you asked him to be quiet. Q At the time  what was the date of this statement? A It was during the preliminary hearing which was on December 27th, 1977. Q Was that the only thing you ever heard the defendant say during that time? A That is the only thing I understood. Q You don't remember what was said right before that? A As I recall, Mr. Aherin, nothing. Q You are saying that he never said anything to me up to that time? A No sir, I am just saying that right before that he was sitting there saying nothing. Q Was there a witness testifying at this time? A Traci Boyd. Q Do you remember what Traci Boyd  do you remember what page that was on the transcript? A No sir, I haven't looked at the transcript since I  I believe it is in the first part but I am not sure. THE COURT: Do you want a recess, Mr. Aherin? MR. AHERIN: Yes. THE COURT: All right, we'll take a short recess. (RECESS TAKEN AT 10:50 O'CLOCK A.M. RECONVENED AT 11:15 O'CLOCK A.M.) THE COURT: Mr. Aherin. MR. AHERIN: If the Court please, at this time I would move for a mistrial on the grounds that the impeachment attempts by the prosecutor was improperly done in that the defendant was never confronted with this statement, if they are trying to make an inconsistent statement, and it has resulted in highly prejudicial matters being before the jury. It also puts me in the position of an ethical problem and for those reasons I would move for mistrial. THE COURT: The motion is denied. Q You indicated that the witness was testifying about a pillow? A Yes sir. Q Do you recall at that time the materials that were on counsel table at that particular time? A Your table? Q Correct. A The only thing I recall would be your file, nothing else. Q Do you recall a stack of papers, police reports? A I have no idea. I do not recall them. Q You have no idea then? A I remember your file being there but I do not know what else. Q Now you answered the question in the alternative. Your answer was at least an or answer. At the time do you recall if I had a note pad or anything and was writing? A I believe so. Q Do you recall if Mr. Hoisington had any papers before him? A I do not recall. Q Do you have any knowledge whether Mr. Hoisington had read the statements and the material that was in my file? A I have no knowledge. Q Then you don't know if he was making reference to another statement, do you? A No sir. MR. AHERIN: I have no further questions. REDIRECT REBUTTAL EXAMINATION BY MR. PETRIE: Q Mrs. Gerstenberger, you were subpoenaed to testify here today, weren't you? A Yes sir. MR. PETRIE: No further questions. THE COURT: You may step down. MR. PETRIE: The State calls Dennis Gamet.