Opinion ID: 1999504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statement of witness Hall.

Text: Linda Hall testified that John Lambert came to her apartment at approximately 1:30 a. m. and that they were sitting in the bedroom, talking. Thereafter two other persons entered the apartment, who she was able to recognize as the defendant and the complainant. She then overheard an argument in which defendant told the complainant that if he didn't leave she was going to push him out the window. Complainant then left and she and the defendant began arguing over the noise. After Hall identified a statement she had made to the police on the afternoon of June 21, 1970, the state advised the court that this statement was inconsistent with her testimony at trial and moved the court to have her declared a hostile witness pursuant to sec. 885.35, Stats. 1967. Without divulging the contents of the statement, the state requested that the court allow the examination of Hall as a hostile witness. Defense counsel objected, but after a discussion in the presence of the jury on the legal points involved, defense counsel withdrew his objection and the state was allowed to proceed. The court was of the opinion that until the state proceeded to make use of the statement he could make no ruling. Hall acknowledged her prior statement that she overheard defendant and the complainant arguing over some money. Defendant then pushed the complainant out of the front door of the apartment and came walking back towards the bedroom. Hall then asked her to see the gun she was holding and asked if it was Hall's. Defendant replied that she had obtained it from Albert Lambert's car. Hall also stated that she overheard the defendant tell complainant that she should make him jump from the window. On cross-examination, Hall testified that when defendant came into the apartment she had nothing in her hand. She further stated that she owned a gun which was kept in the closet. The state then moved into evidence the entire recorded statement of Hall. Defense counsel objected, arguing that only those portions which the witness acknowledged as true should be admitted. After some discussion, defense counsel withdrew his objection and the entire statement was received. Defendant argues that the court erred in allowing the jury to consider, as substantive evidence, the prior inconsistent statement of Hall. However, no such error is supported by the record. The trial court instructed the jury they were not to consider Hall's prior statement as substantive evidence but only to use the statement in considering the credibility of the witness. It is also argued that the court erred in receiving the entire statement into evidence rather than only those portions acknowledged at trial by the witness. Defense counsel initially made this objection, but after the court referred him to Gelhaar v. State (1969), 41 Wis.2d 230, 163 N. W.2d 609, he withdrew his objection. Gelhaar has no direct bearing on the objection made by defense counsel. [2] While prior inconsistent statements may not be introduced until they have been read to the witness in order that the witness may explain the contradiction, State v. Johnson (1936), 221 Wis. 444, 267 N. W. 14, in the instant case, the unread portion of the statement was not inconsistent with Hall's testimony at trial. The unread portion of the statement would have been properly objectionable as hearsay. See Gelhaar v. State, supra ; State v. Major (1956), 274 Wis. 110, 79 N. W.2d 75. No such objection was made by defense counsel, and the unread portion of the statement was not prejudicial, particularly in view of the trial court's instructions to the jury.