Opinion ID: 669733
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Defendant's attempt to rehabilitate a witness

Text: 22 During direct examination, James Patterson indicated that he saw only one gun on the day of the incident in Comer Cox Park. Later the prosecutor confronted him with statements he made shortly before he testified, in which he indicated that there were two guns. The prosecutor then asked him what had happened to change his testimony and specifically asked him if he had met with the defendant's attorney in that short interim period. The defendant now argues that this line of questioning amounted to a charge that the witness had recently fabricated his testimony after meeting with defense counsel. He argued at trial, and argues here, that he was entitled to introduce prior consistent statements in order to rebut that charge of fabrication pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(1)(B). 23 That rule specifically permits the introduction of a witness' prior consistent statements if the declarant testified at trial subject to cross-examination and his prior consistent statements are offered to rebut an express or implied charge of recent fabrication. In addition to those requirements the witness must also have made the statements before he had a motive to fabricate. United States v. Fulford, 980 F.2d 1110, 1114 (7th Cir.1992). The reasoning behind the last requirement is that a statement made after the witness allegedly had a motive to fabricate is not relevant to rebut the charge of recent fabrication. United States v. Harris, 761 F.2d 394, 399 (7th Cir.1985). The proffered prior consistent statements here do not satisfy the last element of the test. 24 The witness had met with the defense counsel and another attorney, shortly before trial. According to the defendant's argument, the prosecutor implied that the witness fabricated his testimony during the meeting with the defense counsel. In response he called the other attorney who was present to testify that during that meeting the witness stated there was only one gun, a statement that would be consistent with the witness' trial testimony. The alleged motive to fabricate arose in connection with that meeting. Therefore, the rule would only permit admission of consistent statements that the witness made before the meeting. The proffered testimony, that during the meeting the witnesses said there was only one gun, is not relevant to rebut a charge that he fabricated his testimony during that meeting and the court properly excluded it.