Opinion ID: 1058342
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exclusion of Mitigation Evidence as Hearsay

Text: The defendant contends that the trial court erred in ruling that testimony sought from two defense witnesses during the sentencing portion of the trial was inadmissible hearsay. The first instance involved Kim Bowen, who was prepared to testify regarding statements the defendant had made to her about his childhood. Defense counsel asked Ms. Bowen if the defendant had ever spoken to her about his childhood and the way he was raised. The prosecution objected, arguing that Bowen's response to the question would be hearsay. Defense counsel argued that hearsay may be admitted during the penalty phase of a capital trial if it is being offered as mitigation evidence. The trial court asked defense counsel whether the same information could not be elicited from another witness who had first-hand knowledge. Defense counsel agreed that it could. The trial court then responded, [l]et's do that. [The State's] objection is sustained. The prosecution next objected when defense counsel asked the defendant's aunt, Roxanne Evans, whether the defendant's parents were absent from the trial by their own choice. The State objected on the ground that any response would be hearsay, and the trial court sustained the objection. However, a short bench conference was then held out of hearing of the jury. After the conference, the trial court explained to the witness that she could not testify about what somebody's told you. Defense counsel's questioning was then allowed to resume, at which time, in the presence of the jury, Ms. Evans was asked: Q: From what you've observed. Go ahead. A: They have chosen not to be here. Thus, the answer defense counsel sought to elicit from the witness was ultimately admitted. The defendant argues on appeal, however, that by the time the jury heard the answer to the original question, the interruptions caused by the prosecution and the trial court had negated its value. Further, the defendant claims that the trial court's instructions to the witness left her unable to state why the defendant's parents had chosen not to attend the trial. Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-204(c) (1997) provides that, at a capital sentencing hearing, any evidence which the court deems to have probative value on the issue of punishment may be received regardless of its admissibility under the rules of evidence; provided, that the defendant is accorded a fair opportunity to rebut any hearsay statements so admitted. Therefore, any evidence relevant to the circumstances of the murder, the aggravating circumstances relied upon by the State, or the mitigating circumstances is admissible if such evidence has probative value in the determination of punishment. See State v. Teague, 897 S.W.2d 248, 250 (Tenn.1995). Testimony concerning the defendant's estranged relationship with his parents was relevant as mitigating evidence. Exclusion of such mitigating evidence potentially undermines the reliability of the sentencing determination, and is an error of constitutional magnitude. State v. Cauthern, 967 S.W.2d 726, 739 (Tenn.1998) (citing Skipper v. South Carolina, 476 U.S. 1, 4, 106 S.Ct. 1669, 90 L.Ed.2d 1 (1986)). The burden thus falls on the State to prove that any error in excluding mitigation evidence did not affect the verdict and was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. (citing Satterwhite v. Texas, 486 U.S. 249, 258, 108 S.Ct. 1792, 100 L.Ed.2d 284 (1988); Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967)). A review of the record reveals that the essence of the excluded evidence was ultimately presented to the jury. Defense counsel agreed that the testimony sought from Kim Bowen could be obtained through other witnesses and, in fact, it was brought forth through the testimony of Roxanne Evans. Also, despite the defendant's contentions that its value was lessened due to interruptions by the trial court, the jury was allowed to hear Ms. Evans' statement that the defendant's parents were not at the trial by their own choice. Furthermore, the reason for the parents' absence would have served only as evidence of the strained relationship between the defendant and his parents, and this fact was already before the jury. Accordingly, we conclude that any error in excluding such mitigation evidence did not affect the jury's verdict and was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.