Opinion ID: 1942778
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Exclusion of evidence supporting a claim of self-defense

Text: ¶ 39. Chandler argues that the trial court erred by excluding certain statements as hearsay. Chandler testified that he was afraid on August 17, 2003, because of rumors that he had heard. However, the trial court refused to allow Chandler to state exactly what he had been told that made him fearful. This occurred on two occasions. On the first occasion, Chandler was not allowed to testify that on August 17, 2003, McCurry told Chandler that Emmitt was out to get him. In addition, Chandler was not allowed to testify that on the same day Ewing told Chandler a specific rumor. ¶ 40. M.R.E. 801(c) provides: Hearsay is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. ¶ 41. In Shaw v. State, 915 So.2d 442, 445 (Miss.2005), this Court set forth the standard of review for admissibility of evidence as follows: Our standard of review for the admission or exclusion of evidence is very familiar. A trial judge enjoys a great deal of discretion as to the relevancy and admissibility of evidence. Unless the judge abuses this discretion so as to be prejudicial to the accused, the Court will not reverse this ruling. Jefferson v. State, 818 So.2d 1099, 1104 (Miss. 2002) (quoting Fisher v. State, 690 So.2d 268, 274 (Miss.1996)). See also Hill v. State, 774 So.2d 441, 444 (Miss.2000); Crawford v. State, 754 So.2d 1211, 1215 (Miss.2000); Gilley v. State, 748 So.2d 123, 126 (Miss.1999); Hughes v. State, 735 So.2d 238, 269 (Miss.1999). ¶ 42. Chandler testified that after church on August 17, 2003, he borrowed his uncle's gun from his car. He felt that he needed to protect himself because of all the rumors that were surfing around. Later that day, when Emmitt told Chandler to follow him to Pheba so that Chandler could get something that belonged to him, Chandler testified that he was afraid to follow Emmitt because he heard a lot of rumors that day. On the drive to Pheba, Emmitt pulled off the road and took something out of a ditch. Chandler again stated that he did not feel safe because of all the rumors, therefore, Chandler refused Emmitt's request to drive in front of Emmitt. ¶ 43. When they arrived in Pheba, Emmitt and Chandler went into the woods to allegedly retrieve some stolen car parts belonging to Chandler. Ewing, Gustavis, Carouthers and Belt followed Emmitt and Chandler into the woods. According to Chandler, when everyone arrived in a clearing in the woods, they began to argue about the location of the drugs. Chandler stated that Emmitt said that everyone else present were going to get Chandler, whereas all the other witnesses present said that Emmitt wanted to get Chandler. ¶ 44. Chandler testified that he felt frightened when he and Emmit were surrounded by the other people. Emmitt was brushing up next to Chandler and told Chandler you're a punk and my shotgunanybody come near you, I will kill them, and my shot gun do this and that. Chandler never saw a shot gun, however, Emmitt grabbed Chandler's gun from his pants. Chandler stated that he was scared, he did not know what Emmitt was thinking, and he did not want anyone to get hurt, so he grabbed for the gun too. Chandler thought that Emmitt's words were frightening, and he thought that Emmitt was trying to turn the gun on him and kill him. At this point, Chandler and Emmitt began to struggle for the gun. Chandler had the handle of the gun, and Emmit tried to turn the end of the gun when the gun fired. Chandler stated that at one point Emmitt tried to turn the gun toward Chandler. Chandler then fled the scene in his car. Chandler later told Investigator Huffman that he was scared because Emmitt kept talking about his shotgun and that Emmitt was going to go home to get his shotgun. ¶ 45. Clearly, Chandler testified on numerous occasions that he had heard rumors. That because of the rumors he did not feel safe, and therefore, he borrowed his uncle's gun to protect himself. He also testified that at numerous times during the day he was afraid of Emmitt and afraid of what Emmitt might do. Chandler also stated that he was afraid of the other men present in the woods. He also stated that Emmitt stated that the other men were out to get Chandler, whereas the other men stated that Emmitt was out to get Chandler. Therefore, Chandler was able to get this information before the jury. ¶ 46. Even though this Court finds that Chandler had the opportunity to place his facts before the jury, the two statements by McCurry and Ewing will be analyzed.
¶ 47. Chandler testified on direct examination that when he went to Club Hollywood to look for his shirt, he saw McCurry on August 17, 2003. McCurry told Chandler that he wanted to talk to him. Chandler stated Well, at that point [McCurry] walked over to me. He spoke with me. He told me that he heard I had[.] The prosecution objected on the basis of hearsay. The trial judge sustained the objection. ¶ 48. Chandler argues that the statement was not hearsay because the statement was not being offered for the truth of the matter asserted, that being that Emmitt was going to get [Chandler]. Instead, Chandler claims that McCurry's statement was being offered to show the jury that Chandler had reason to believe that Emmitt was out to hurt or kill him. We find that Chandler's reason to admit that Emmitt was going to get him, as stated in his brief, was in fact being offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Therefore, the statement was hearsay and properly excluded. ¶ 49. Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not err by excluding the testimony based on hearsay. Alternatively, assuming arguendo that any error occurred, the error is clearly harmless as Chandler placed before the jury that he was afraid for his life based on rumors he had heard. The jury also was made aware that Chandler believed Emmitt had stolen his marijuana.
¶ 50. Chandler also argues that the trial court erred by prohibiting Chandler from testifying about a statement made by Ewing to him. The trial court denied the statement on the basis of hearsay. Chandler argues that the trial court sustained the prosecution's objection on the basis of hearsay without any determination of whether the statement was offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Further, Chandler asserts that the statement was not hearsay because the statement concerned why he had reason to be afraid and why he went to get a gun. ¶ 51. The record reflects the following exchange: [Defense:] At your Uncle Troy's house, what did you do? A. Uh, we will have to go back. At the church, Brandon Ewing had told me that somebody was going to [Defense:]  Without saying what  [State:]  Objection to hearsay, your Honor. By the Court: Sustained. [Defense:] Without saying what anybody said, what did you do when you went to your Uncle Troy's house? A. I borrowed his gun out of his car. [Defense:] Why? A. Because I felt like I needed to protect myself with all rumors [sic] that were surfing around. ¶ 52. We find that Chandler did not preserve this issue for appeal. Chandler made no argument before the trial court, and thus, he is procedurally barred on appeal. This Court has held that [i]f no contemporaneous objection is made, the error, if any, is waived. Walker v. State, 671 So.2d 581, 597 (Miss.1995) (citing Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263, 1270 (Miss. 1994)). ¶ 53. Regardless of the trial court's ruling on the inadmissibility of Ewing's alleged statements, the jury heard Chandler testify that he heard rumors. Because of the rumors, he felt scared and borrowed his uncle's gun to protect himself. Chandler testified that he was afraid of Emmitt. Again, while this testimony may not have been heard exactly to Chandler's liking, the testimony was nonetheless presented to the jury. We find that Chandler did not preserve the issue of Ewing's statements for appeal purposes and is procedurally barred.