Opinion ID: 1785298
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Police Testimony about Victim's Statement

Text: We next consider whether the district court erred by admitting Officer Baumhofer's testimony about the statement Vang made after the March 2004 attack. The State sought to introduce Vang's statements as Rule 803(2) excited utterances. The basic elements of an excited utterance are (a) that there be a startling event or condition, (b) that the statement relates to the event or condition, and (c) that the statement is made under the stress caused by the event or condition. State v. Edwards, 485 N.W.2d 911, 914 (Minn.1992) (citing Minn. R. Evid. 803(2)). The district court may exercise its discretion to admit the evidence if it determines that the declarant was sufficiently under the `aura of excitement' when the statement in question was made. Id. (quoting Daniels, 380 N.W.2d at 782). Baumhofer testified that Vang was upset, crying, shaking, and having a hard time completing sentences. She observed fresh wounds on Vang, indicating that the assault occurred immediately before police arrived at the restaurant. An assault is a startling event. Baumhofer's description of Vang's condition indicates that she was still under the stress caused by the assault at the time she made the statement. Accordingly, we hold that the district court acted within its discretion when it admitted Baumhofer's testimony about Vang's excited statement to her. See State v. Bauer, 598 N.W.2d 352, 366 (Minn.1999) (victim's statement to her brother was an excited utterance because she was very upset, extremely agitated, and very afraid); State v. Berrisford, 361 N.W.2d 846, 850 (Minn.1985) (declarant's statement 90 minutes after a murder was an excited utterance because he was scared, shaky, and very upset).