Opinion ID: 1849099
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Teronda's Statement

Text: ś 44. Teronda also made a statement to Ruth Granning of State Farm on June 29, 1994, in an effort to recover the life insurance proceeds. The State offered this statement into evidence through the testimony of Granning. It should be noted that by the time Granning testified, Teronda had become unavailable for further testimony. ś 45. The State contends that this statement is admissible under M.R.E. 801(d)(1). M.R.E 801(d)(1) states, in pertinent part: A statement is not hearsay if: The declarant testifies at the trial or hearing and is subject to cross-examination concerning the statement, and the statement is (B) consistent with his testimony and is offered to rebut an express or implied charge against him of recent fabrication or improper influence or motive.... ś 46. The State argues that the testimony Teronda gave on direct examination was wholly consistent with the statement in question and that it was being offered by the State to refute an expressed or implied claim of recent fabrication. It is clear from the record that during the defense counsel's cross-examination of Teronda, he was accusing her of recent fabrication. He asked Teronda several times if she was lying now or then. ś 47. Though the statement in issue is consistent with Teronda's prior testimony and was offered to rebut a charge of recent fabrication, it was not the statement upon which she was cross-examined. The statement in issue is one given to State Farm. The statement upon which Teronda was cross-examined was an entirely different statement. This point in the trial was the first time the State Farm statement was introduced. ś 48. In Jackson v. State, 766 So.2d 795, 808 (Miss.Ct.App.2000), the Mississippi Court of Appeals addressed this exact issue. In Jackson, a witness for the State was cross-examined on an unsworn statement she had given to the sheriff. This statement was inconsistent with her testimony on direct. On re-direct the State questioned the witness about a second sworn statement she had given to the sheriff. The court found that the defense had elicited information from the witness on cross-examination that was inconsistent with her prior trial testimony, and pursuant to M.R.E. 801(d)(1), this opened the door for the State to elicit a prior consistent statement from its witness to rebut the defense's implied charge of recent fabrication. The court of appeals held that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in allowing the witness to testify as to the sworn statement. We conclude likewise regarding Teronda's statement. ś 49. Conley also argues that he was denied the right to confront Teronda pursuant to the Confrontation Clause as found in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In analyzing a hearsay statement that was admitted under Rule 803(24), we have found previously that no confrontation clause problem existed where the person who made the statement testified at trial. Leatherwood v. State, 548 So.2d 389, 402 (Miss.1989). Likewise, no confrontation clause problems exists in the case sub judice. Teronda was fully examined by both the prosecution and the defense for an entire day of trial. It was Conley's confrontation and cross-examination of Teronda which caused her to admit her participation in the cover up of Whitney's murder. This argument is without merit.