Opinion ID: 2428738
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testimony of Wayne Eatmon

Text: Appellant claims that the trial court erred by admitting testimony by eyewitness Wayne Eatmon that he heard someone say, No, Antonio, don't, just before the victim was shot and killed. Antonio is appellant's first name. Appellant asserts that the admission of this testimony was improper because the speaker's voice was not identified or authenticated under Arkansas Rule of Evidence 901. Appellant, however, never objected in the trial court on the basis of Rule 901. At a pretrial hearing, the trial court considered appellant's motion in limine to exclude Eatmon's testimony. In response to a question by the court as to the nature of his objection, appellant's attorney stated, Relevance, and unduly prejudicial, all under [Arkansas Rule of Evidence] 403. Because the basis of the objection was relevance under Rule 403, the judge withheld ruling on the motion until the issue arose at trial. Before Eatmon took the stand at trial, his testimony was proffered at a hearing outside the presence of the jury. In the proffer, Eatmon testified that he lived at the apartment complex where the shooting occurred. He was awakened by an altercation taking place in the parking lot. He looked out of his window and saw two men fighting. He could tell that one of the men was black, but could not determine the race of the other man, due to the lighting. Eatmon testified that he saw the black man pull something out of his pocket and point it at the other man. Eatmon heard someone say, No, Antonio, don't. Next, he saw three flashes coming from the extended arm of the black man and heard three pops. Appellant again objected to Eatmon testifying at trial on the basis that his testimony would be unduly prejudicial, misleading, and confusing to the jury under Arkansas Rule of Evidence 403. The court overruled appellant's objection and ruled that Eatmon could testify. At no time did appellant ever make a specific objection based on Arkansas Rule of Evidence 901 or mention lack of foundation or authentication. We have stated on numerous occasions that we will not consider an argument raised for the first time on appeal. Slaton v. Slaton, 330 Ark. 287, 956 S.W.2d 150 (1997); McGhee v. State, 330 Ark. 38, 954 S.W.2d 206 (1997). To preserve an argument for appeal, there must be an objection in the trial court that is sufficient to apprise the court of the particular error alleged. Love v. State, 324 Ark. 526, 922 S.W.2d 701 (1996). A party cannot change the grounds for an objection or motion on appeal but is bound by the scope and nature of the arguments made at trial. Henderson v. State, 329 Ark. 526, 953 S.W.2d 26 (1997). Even if Rule 901 were to apply to this situation, appellant never objected on the basis of Rule 901 below. His objection was made solely on the basis of relevancy under Rule 403. His entire argument on appeal, however, is based on Rule 901. Because he has changed the basis of his objection on appeal, this Court will not consider his argument on this point.