Opinion ID: 1135325
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Summary of Trial

Text: The trial lasted from September, 1987, to February, 1988. The State did not seek to exclude the appellants from the courtroom. The primary evidence presented by the prosecution consisted of: (1) testimony of some of the children; (2) testimony of parents, psychologists, police, and a doctor recounting hearsay statements in which the children implicated appellants; (3) videotapes of children's accusatory statements made during therapists' and psychologists' interviews; (4) videotapes of preliminary hearing testimony of some children; and (5) testimony of several physicians regarding physical evidence of CSA. At trial, Susan testified to all of the acts for which appellants were convicted. After she finished testifying, however, the State introduced hearsay testimony from others recounting accusatory statements that Susan had made to them but to which Susan had not testified at trial. Patricia did not testify at any phase of the proceedings, and she was never seen nor examined by the district court. Therefore, the convictions regarding Patricia stemmed from Patricia's statements as reported by others. Several of the children's parents recounted hearsay statements that their children had made regarding the CSA. Those parents were called to the stand after their child had been excused, and the children were never recalled. Thus, the defense was unable to cross-examine many children about statements that they allegedly made to their parents. For example, two children, Jacob and Amanda, refused to make any accusations of CSA at trial. However, their parents subsequently testified and recounted their versions of what their children had said. All testifying physicians agreed that none of the nine children involved in the counts charged at trial was subjected to full penile penetration. However, two physicians testified that Patricia and Susan displayed physical evidence of CSA consistent with penetration by a blunt object. The physician testifying for the defense disputed this evidence, stating that the medical evidence was inconclusive. Dr. Lee Coleman, the defense psychiatrist, again testified in some detail concerning the techniques used in interviewing the children. He stated his opinion that the principal interviewing psychologists had used grossly leading and suggestive techniques which rendered unreliable the children's statements and memories of the events at the Felix home. Four times during the trial the State played videotapes of four of the children's preliminary hearing testimony. The videotape of Susan's preliminary hearing testimony was proffered about two weeks after her trial testimony. The videotape showed Susan stating that Paco had stuck his penis and a knitting needle in her crotch. The defense objected to the videotape, noting that Susan had not testified about a knitting needle at trial and that the defense had no opportunity to cross-examine on this point. The objection was overruled. The State planned to introduce numerous videotapes of the psychologists interviewing the children and the children making accusatory statements against the appellants during the interviews. The appellants were initially opposed to the introduction of these videotaped interviews. However, after the court ruled that all of the accusatory hearsay statements made by Patricia and Susan were not unreliable and would be admitted into evidence, the defense changed its strategy and did not oppose the admission of these videotapes. This was because the defense believed that the best way to attack the wholesale admission of the children's accusatory hearsay statements was to show on the videotapes that the psychologists' interviewing techniques were fatally flawed and that any responses from the children were unreliable. Psychologist Patricia Bay (Bay) had interviewed Patricia extensively, and the one session she had videotaped was shown during trial to the jury. Interviews with Susan conducted by psychologists Fisher and Payne were also shown.