Opinion ID: 1727289
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: whether the chancellor erred in admitting into evidence a tape recording allegedly made by the deceased.

Text: ¶ 15. We address this issue though the point is now moot. The Chancellor admitted into evidence an audio tape of Glen, Sr. instructing how he wished his assets divided. All parties agree that the tape is hearsay. However, Glen, Jr. and Glenda argue the statements fit within the other exceptions provision of the hearsay rule. M.R.E. 804(b)(5) states: A statement not specifically covered by any of the foregoing exceptions but having equivalent circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness, if the court determines that (A) the statement is offered as evidence of a material fact; (B) the statement is more probative on the point for which it is offered than any other evidence which the proponent can procure through reasonable efforts; and (C) the general purposes of these rules and the interests of justice will best be served by the admission of the statement into evidence. ¶ 16. We have long accepted audio tapes as admissible evidence. Wilkins v. Bancroft, 248 Miss. 622, 160 So.2d 93 (1964); Ray v. State, 213 Miss. 650, 57 So.2d 469 (1952). Further, admission or suppression of evidence is within the discretion of the trial judge and will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion. Sumrall v. Mississippi Power Co., 693 So.2d 359, 365 (Miss.1997)(citing General Motors Corp. v. Jackson, 636 So.2d 310, 314 (Miss.1992)); Walker v. Graham, 582 So.2d 431, 432 (Miss.1991). The indicia of trustworthiness in this case were cemented by the concession of Mrs. Dorothy Baker, the party opposing admission, that the voice on the tape is that of her deceased husband and that she was told of the tape's existence by her husband prior to his death. The audio recorded statements of Glen, Sr. are probative of his state of mind on the date of the recording, and they explain his understanding of the joint accounts. Although the will is the only binding instrument relevant to the distribution of Mr. Baker's estate, we find that the Chancellor acted within proper bounds in admitting the tape into evidence.