Opinion ID: 2416880
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Hearsay statements of witnesses

Text: Social workers testified about statements made to them by the daughter. Kester contends that the court erred in admitting the statements because the court failed to follow the requirements of Rule 803(25)(A)1. which requires the court to find, in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury, that the statement offered possesses a reasonable likelihood of trustworthiness.... The rule goes on to state the criteria to be applied in making the determination. We agree with Kester that the court erred in failing to hold a hearing to assure itself of the trustworthiness of the statements. We cannot suggest the degree to which such a hearing will be needed on remand, given the fact that the court has now heard the witnesses. We caution, however, that the rule must be satisfied before such statements are admitted. Kester also questions the basic constitutionality of Rule 803(25) in making this point. We settled that issue in favor of the Rule in St. Clair v. State, 301 Ark. 223, 783 S.W.2d 835 (1990).