Opinion ID: 1796222
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Hearsay Statement by Law Enforcement Investigator

Text: At trial, Mr. Wyles attempted to introduce a statement made by a law enforcement investigator during a taped interview he was conducting with Mr. Wyles. During that interview, the investigator stated, I think you killed her. It may have been an accident, but I think you got scared after it happened. I think you had tobecause you were seeing this other girl. Mr. Wyles was attempting to have this statement admitted as an opinion of the investigator that Lisa's death was an accident. The circuit court sustained the State's objection on hearsay grounds. On appeal, Mr. Wyles does not contest the hearsay ruling. Instead, he argues that the investigator's out-of-court statement was admissible under Arkansas Rules of Evidence 701 and 702 (2003). He made the same argument at trial. Arkansas Rule of Evidence 802 states, [h]earsay is not admissible except as provided by law or by these rules. Neither Rule 701 nor Rule 702 provides an exception to the hearsay rule. As such, Mr. Wyles's argument is meritless.