Opinion ID: 1300381
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Krause's Additional Claim

Text: 2. Krause raises only one other claim. She contends that the trial court committed reversible error when it allowed Chesser, over her counsel's hearsay objection, to play for the jury a tape of the 911 call that Bagley made on the night of the crimes, because the sole purpose was to allow the jury to hear the statement that Krause admitted killing Carver. Krause insists that the 911 tape was pure hearsay and argues that its admission was not harmless because the case against her was circumstantial and the 911 tape was critical to lend credence to Chesser's claim that Krause was the shooter. The trial court did not err, however, in admitting the tape of the 911 call. Bagley, Buchan, and the 911 operator can all be heard on the 911 tape, and all three testified at trial and were subject to cross-examination. On the 911 tape, Buchan can be heard saying that Krause told her that Krause shot Carver. However, at trial, Buchan testified, I don't believe that I said that she said she shot him. Chesser reminded her of her statement on the 911 call, but Buchan did not change her testimony. OCGA § 24-9-83 provides in relevant part as follows: A witness may be impeached by contradictory statements previously made by him as to matters relevant to his testimony and to the case. Before contradictory statements may be proved against him, unless they are written statements made under oath in connection with some judicial proceedings, the time, place, person, and circumstances attending the former statements shall be called to his mind with as much certainty as possible. ... Accordingly, the trial court did not err in allowing Chesser to play the 911 tape to impeach Buchan's testimony with her prior inconsistent statement.