Opinion ID: 2276886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: AdmissibilityOut-of-Court Conversation

Text: At trial, Latifah Johnson testified about hearing a conversation between Appellant and Cameron Williams sometime after the murder. According to Latifah, Appellant had bought a .38-caliber revolver from Albert Reed, and Cameron Williams wanted to buy the gun but Appellant would not sell it to him. Appellant objected to the testimony, arguing that it violated Ark. R. Evid. 404(b). Appellant contends on appeal that, because Latifah Johnson did not identify who said what, her testimony was hearsay in violation of Rule 801 of the Arkansas Rules of Evidence. We decline to address this argument because Appellant raises it for the first time on appeal. Standridge v. State, 357 Ark. 105, 161 S.W.3d 815 (2004). With regard to Appellant's Rule 404(b) argument, evidence that Appellant possessed a gun similar to that used in the murder was independently relevant proof on the issue of Appellant's identity. Bragg v. State, 328 Ark. 613, 946 S.W.2d 654 (1997). Moreover, its probative value was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. We affirm the circuit court on this point. The record in this case has been reviewed for other reversible error pursuant to Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-3(h), and none has been found. Affirmed. HANNAH, C.J., dissents.