Opinion ID: 2080543
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Hearsay Identification Testimony.

Text: Defendant contends that the presiding justice erred in not declaring a mistrial when Detective Olsen testified to an out-of-court photographic identification of defendant by Ronald Hartley. Defense counsel did not object to Detective Olsen's testimony until after cross-examining the witness regarding details of the photographic array, then moved to strike the evidence on the basis of a discovery violation. The court ordered the testimony stricken as inadmissible hearsay and twice instructed the jury to disregard the evidence so stricken. Defense counsel neither objected to the curative instructions nor moved for a mistrial. On appeal, defendant contends that the introduction of Hartley's out-of-court identification was so inherently prejudicial that curative instructions were insufficient and a new trial was required. Because Mr. Hartley was unavailable for cross-examination, the hearsay testimony was improperly before the jury. M.R.Evid. 801 and 802. The general rule, as stated in State v. Heald, Me., 292 A.2d 200 (1972), is that where evidence is erroneously admitted, the error may be cured by striking the evidence from the case and clearly and positively instructing the jury to disregard it. An exception to this rule is recognized, and a new trial will be granted, where the testimony is so prejudicial that its removal from evidence cannot remedy the harmful effect of its admission. State v. Heald, supra at 203. Whether a mistrial should be granted is a question traditionally addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. Where inadmissible evidence has been admitted, it is for the presiding justice to determine what effect such evidence may have had on the jury and whether the evidence is of such a nature that the jury can be reasonably expected to disregard it when so instructed. Appellate review is limited to a consideration of whether the trial court abused that discretion. An additional factor must be considered where, as here, defendant never requested that a mistrial be declared. A criminal defendant is entitled to a verdict from the jury originally impaneled and sworn to try him. State v. Sanborn, 157 Me. 424, 173 A.2d 854 (1961). Except in the event of manifest necessity, a case may not be withdrawn by the court from the jury without consent of the accused. State v. Linscott, Me., 416 A.2d 255 (Dec. No. 2359, 1980); United States v. Jorn, 400 U.S. 470, 91 S.Ct. 547, 27 L.Ed.2d 543 (1971). The hearsay identification testimony erroneously admitted in the instant case was not so exceptionally prejudicial that the failure to declare a mistrial, sua sponte, amounted to an abuse of discretion. The testimony in question was essentially cumulative. On three separate occasions, Ms. O'Donald identified the defendant as one of the burglars. An accomplice testified to transporting defendant and another man to the vicinity of the Pizza Plus restaurant on the night of the robbery and to observing the defendant remove a stocking mask from his face and throw a gun from the window of the vehicle. The record reveals no circumstances that required the granting of a mistrial. Accordingly, we defer to the decision of the trial justice.