Opinion ID: 1879671
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Alleged Inadmissible Hearsay Testimony of Officer Dedeaux

Text: Officer Dedeaux, the arresting officer, testified that the reason he was suspicious of the black Camaro was that he had been instructed at the daily patrol briefing to be on the lookout for a black Camaro automobile which had recently been stolen. Further, he had been informed that a shooting had taken place at the Shaws' residence located on Highway 53, and he was to do an extra patrol. Sample claims this testimony, which was objected to, embodied inadmissible hearsay. The State, on the other hand, claims this testimony did not constitute hearsay because it was not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. This Court disagrees with the State and holds that the statement was irrelevant testimony and highly prejudicial. There is no reason for Deputy Dedeaux to explain his presence on the roads of Harrison County in a position to observe the Camaro and his subsequent investigation after learning that the car had an improper tag. His testimony that a shooting had been reported at the residence where the car was seen and that a car fitting that description had been either stolen, or was involved in a robbery, was unduly prejudicial in that it allowed an inference that Sample was engaged in other crimes. It follows that this explanation which is unduly prejudicial should be excluded because, first, it is not relevant, Miss.R.Evid. 401, and second, if remotely relevant, it is more prejudicial than probative. Miss.R.Evid. 403. This Court finds reversible error in this assignment.