Opinion ID: 1058311
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 41

Heading: Testimony of Loretta Diorio and Stephen Diorio

Text: During a break in the testimony of Stephen Diorio, he went into the hallway and sat with his mother, Loretta Diorio, who had already testified. As they were sitting in the hallway, a news reporter was making a live broadcast concerning the trial. Appellant's counsel immediately alerted the court and moved to strike the testimony of both Stephen and Loretta Diorio. The court questioned Stephen Diorio outside of the presence of the jury about what he had heard. Stephen admitted that he heard part of the news report and that the reporter stated that, after a long pause, I pointed out the person. He did not hear anything else the reporter said. The court then ruled that there was no Tennessee Rule of Evidence 615 violation. The court went on to state that, although witness Stephen Diorio could have been adversely affected and the Rule compromised, the same had not occurred. On appeal, the appellant argues that the trial court erred. Tennessee Rule of Evidence 615 provides in pertinent part: At the request of a party the court shall order witnesses, including rebuttal witnesses, excluded at trial or other adjudicatory hearing ... The court shall order all persons not to disclose by any means to excluded witnesses any live trial testimony or exhibits created in the courtroom by a witness. Tenn. R. Evid. 615. The sequestration rule is designed to prevent witnesses from hearing the testimony of other witnesses and subsequently adjusting their testimony. State v. Harris, 839 S.W.2d 54, 68 (Tenn.1992). When a sequestration rule violation is raised on appeal, the court shall consider the seriousness of the violation and the prejudice, if any, suffered by the defendant. Id. at 68-69. In the case at bar, any violation was minor, appellant suffered no resulting prejudice. This issue is without merit.