Opinion ID: 1914917
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Written Transcript of Tape Recording

Text: During the investigation, Lottman conducted a tape-recorded interview with Freeman in Lottman's patrol vehicle. The quality of the tape recording was poor and included background noise from the vehicle's engine. The tape was taken to an audio engineer to filter out some of the background noise. Freeman did not object to the offer of the reproduced tape recording or to the method used to improve the quality of the tape. Because some portions of the tape remained difficult to understand, the State asked if it could provide the jurors with a transcript of the tape prepared by Lottman. Freeman objected to the use of a transcript as being cumulative. The district court allowed use of the transcript, but the jury was instructed that the transcript was to be used as an aid and that the transcript would not be permitted in the jury room. Freeman complains that the district court erred in allowing the jury to review a written transcript of his interview by Lottman while it listened to the tape recording. He argues that a transcript destroys the purpose of an audio recording because the tonal inflection and strength of the voices are not portrayed. He suggests that the tape itself is the best evidence and that the court abused its discretion in allowing the jury to have a transcript. The Nebraska Court of Appeals was presented with a similar question in State v. Wade, 7 Neb. App. 169, 581 N.W.2d 906 (1998). There, the jury was provided with a transcript prepared by an undercover officer who was present when a drug transaction was recorded. The appellate court stated: [I]t is well established that one who is present and hears the conversation in question at the time the recording is made may testify for the purpose of clarifying inaudible or unintelligible portions of the recording. State v. Loveless [, 209 Neb. 583, 308 N.W.2d 842 (1981)]. Additionally, the court specifically instructed the jury that the transcripts were to be used only as assistance in following the recordings and that they, as the finders of fact, were free to rely on their own judgment of what the recordings said . . . . With regard to the transcript, we find that it accurately reflects the decipherable statements and is of great value in helping the listener follow the conversations and identify the speakers. We conclude, based upon State v. Loveless, supra , that the court properly admitted the transcripts for the limited purpose of helping the jury follow along with the recordings. Wade, 7 Neb. App. at 183-84, 581 N.W.2d at 916. In State v. Loveless, 209 Neb. 583, 308 N.W.2d 842 (1981), this court approved the use of transcripts of audio recordings as an aid to the jury. The court cited United States v. Onori, 535 F.2d 938 (5th Cir. 1976), in which the federal court noted that transcripts may be needed and allowed at the court's discretion in two instances: (1) if portions of the tape are relatively inaudible or (2) if it is difficult to identify the speakers. In the present case, the district court was careful to instruct the jury that the transcript was provided merely as an aid and that the transcript would not be allowed into the jury room during deliberations. The court acted within its discretion, and this assignment of error is without merit.