Opinion ID: 1421514
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: admission of hearsay testimony of crandall

Text: Arnette Goepfert left the Ratcliff trailer to get help during the time Gordon Kelly was beating and stomping James Ratcliff. She ran across the street to the Crandall residence where she telephoned the police, notifying them of the fight at the trailer. Phyllis Crandall, over objection by appellant, was allowed to testify that Arnette Goepfert had stated that evening at her residence that Gordon Kelly first beat her and then beat up James Ratcliff. Appellant objected to the testimony upon the grounds of hearsay. `Hearsay' is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial   . Rule 801(c), W.R.E. Phyllis Crandall, when testifying, was the declarant. When she repeated the statements of Arnette Goepfert, they were statements made by one other than herself (declarant), and they were hearsay. Hearsay is generally inadmissible [1] because it is thought to be unreliable and untrustworthy and because there is no opportunity to confront the witness or cross-examine. 29 Am.Jur.2d Evidence § 493. Where, however, a statement is made under circumstances which bring it within an exception to the exclusionary-hearsay rule, it will be admissible. 4 Louisell & Mueller, Federal Evidence § 437 (1980). The hearsay statement of Arnette Goepfert, in this case, was admissible under the excited utterance exception of Rule 803(2), W.R.E., which provides that statements are not excluded by the hearsay rule that relate to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement caused by the event or condition. The exception is founded upon the proposition that a statement made during the stress of excitement resulting from a startling event is probably trustworthy, since there is not leisure to reflect, contrive or fabricate. Lancaster v. People, 200 Colo. 448, 615 P.2d 720 (1980); Bankers Life Co. v. Nelson, 56 Wyo. 243, 108 P.2d 584 (1940), rehearing denied, 56 Wyo. 513, 111 P.2d 136 (1941). The beating and stomping of a 58-year-old man into helplessness resulting in multiple rib fractures on both sides of the chest and of such magnitude as to necessitate surgery is surely a startling event. Because of her involvement in that event, Arnette Goepfert was frightened, scared and ran screaming across the street bursting into her neighbor's residence to call the police. In this condition, under the stress of excitement caused by the event, she made the statements to which Phyllis Crandall testified. Generally these questions of admissibility must be determined upon their own facts and circumstances. Matter of GP, Wyo., 679 P.2d 976 (1984). Considering the sudden and violent nature of the assault, Arnette Goepfert's inability to stop it, and her frightened, screaming state, it was not an abuse of discretion for the court to rule the statements admissible under the excited-utterance exception to the exclusionary hearsay rule. Appellant contends, nevertheless, that the statements should have been held inadmissible because Arnette Goepfert had been drinking intoxicating liquor and was mad at Kelly; therefore, the statements were unreliable and not trustworthy. Whether a hearsay statement is admissible under the excited-utterance exception to the hearsay rule is determined by the nature and effect of the startling event and stress of excitement under which the statement is made. If the witness is competent and the statement is found to be made under conditions which satisfy the excited-utterance exception, it is admissible. Once the statement is held admissible, the weight to which it is entitled and the credibility of the person making the statement may be affected by that person's age, ability, experience, intelligence, mental state, or sobriety. Goldade v. State, Wyo., 674 P.2d 721 (1983), cert. denied ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 3539, 82 L.Ed.2d 844 (1984); State v. Jeffers, 135 Ariz. 404, 661 P.2d 1105, cert. denied ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 199, 78 L.Ed.2d 174 (1983). Appellant adduced evidence of drinking and the mental state of Arnette Goepfert at the time of making the statements. It is assumed that the jury duly considered the evidence of Miss Goepfert's condition and gave the statements the weight to which they were entitled.