Opinion ID: 2315430
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exclusion of prior statement of Robert Mower

Text: Classifying the statement given by Robert Mower to Officer Ronald Raymond of the Fairfield Police Department as a prior inconsistent statement offered to attack Mower's credibility, the defendant contends the court erred in excluding the statement as absolute hearsay. Although the defendant is correct, the error committed was harmless, and therefore, does not constitute a ground for vacating the conviction. A hearsay statement is one made out of court offered in court to prove the truth of the matter asserted. M.R.Evid. 801(c) (1984); see State v. O'Clair, 292 A.2d at 194. The purpose for which the out-of-court statement is offered is, therefore, critical in determining its admissibility. If a prior inconsistent written or oral statement properly qualified, is introduced not to prove its truth but for the limited purpose of attacking the credibility of the maker, it is not hearsay and is properly admissible. This principle is universally accepted, and has been repeatedly recognized in Maine. See, e.g., State v. Nason, 383 A.2d 35, 36 (Me.1978); State v. St. Germain, 369 A.2d 631, 632 (Me.1977); McCormick's Handbook of Evidence § 34, at 67 (2d ed. 1972). See generally Field & Murray, Maine Evidence § 801.4 at 191-92 (1976). [6] Given defense counsel's timely explanation of the purpose for which he sought to introduce Mower's statement, it is clear the presiding justice erred in excluding the statement as hearsay. Upon careful examination of the record, however, we are convinced the error was harmless. Robert Mower had admitted making the inconsistent statement, and had testified to its contents. The testimony improperly excluded, therefore, was entirely cumulative. [7] Its exclusion cannot be deemed prejudicial. See State v. Collins, 456 A.2d 362, 364 (Me.1983); State v. Burnham, 427 A.2d 969, 972 (Me.1981).