Opinion ID: 1497818
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: overruling of hearsay objections

Text: Webb claims that the Superior Court erred in admitting over objection evidence relating to the mother's suffering from trichomoniasis, as testified to at trial by the mother and Detective Edward Hazewski (Hazewski). Although admitted without objection, Webb also challenges Hazewski's testimony that Webb informed him of his suffering from the same ailment. Webb's hearsay claims are without merit. The Superior Court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the mother's statements as to her trichomoniasis infection in that the thrust of the questions addressed to her related to matters within her personal knowledge. [12] See D.R.E. 602 (A witness may [] testify to a matter [where] ... evidence is introduced sufficient to support a finding that [s]he has personal knowledge of the matter....), not to hearsay expert matters; cf. McLain v. General Motors Corp., Del.Supr., 569 A.2d 579, 584 (1990) (When a witness testifies based on their own experience, knowledge and observation about the facts in the case, they are not giving expert testimony, as that term is defined by the rules of evidence.[]) (footnote omitted). Hazewski's statement regarding the mother's condition is hearsay. See D.R.E. 801(c) (`[h]earsay' is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.). The statement falls within an exception, however, and thus is admissible. See D.R.E. 803(3) (The following [is] not excluded by the hearsay rule ... [a] statement of the declarant's then existing ... physical condition....). Webb's prior statement to Hazewski is a nonhearsay party-admission. See D.R.E. 801(d)(2)(A) (A statement is not hearsay [and is an admission] if ... [t]he statement is offered against a party and is [] his own statement....). Thus, the trial court acted properly within its discretion with regard to its hearsay rulings. [13]