Opinion ID: 1189791
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: wystrach's testimony

Text: Martinez argues that Wystrach was a co-conspirator and that her testimony linking him to the murder was inadmissible hearsay, unless it fits within the co-conspirator hearsay exception of Rule 801. Martinez maintains that the state failed to present sufficient and independent evidence of a conspiracy to make her testimony admissible under Rule 801. Under the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule, statements offered against a party and made by a co-conspirator during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy are not hearsay. In order to fit testimony into the co-conspirator exception, it is not necessary that a formal charge of conspiracy be made, but the prosecution must present some evidence of the conspiracy before a court can properly admit evidence of statements made in pursuance of the conspiracy. State v. Caudill, 109 Idaho 222, 226, 706 P.2d 456, 460 (1985). We will not disturb a trial court's decision to admit statements so long as there is sufficient evidence to permit the trial court reasonably to infer that there existed a conspiracy. State v. Hoffman, 123 Idaho 638, 642, 851 P.2d 934, 938 (1993) ( citing State v. Brooks, 103 Idaho 892, 901, 655 P.2d 99, 108 (Ct.App. 1982)). In denying Martinez' motion to exclude this testimony, the trial court found there was sufficient evidence of a conspiracy to fit Wystrach's testimony within the co-conspirator exception. We find that the evidence was sufficient to make that finding. Looking at the record as a whole, there is sufficient independent evidence to permit the trial court reasonably to infer that a conspiracy existed. Wystrach's non-hearsay testimony clearly established the conspiracy. Further, George Florence testified to seeing Martinez and Jones parked near the victim's house a few days before the murder. Spalding testified to Martinez having a job in Boise and to Martinez and Jones taking evening trips. Since there was independent evidence of the conspiracy, Wystrach's testimony as to statements of any of the co-conspirators made during and in furtherance of the conspiracy were admissible. [4] See State v. Jones, 125 Idaho 477, 873 P.2d 122 (where this Court found that Wystrach's testimony at Jones' trial, which was substantially the same as that in this trial, clearly establish[ed] the conspiracy.)