Opinion ID: 1613765
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: testimony of officers and victim's mother

Text: The trial court overruled Smith's hearsay objection to the testimony of Officer Cook regarding details of the sexual assaults. Citing State v. Plant, 236 Neb. 317, 461 N.W.2d 253 (1990), the State argues that the testimony is admissible as an excited utterance because the victim was visibly shaken and distraught as she spoke with the officer. As in Plant, the crucial question in this case is whether the statements were made while the declarant was still under stress from the startling event. Again, [t]he key requirement is that the statement be made without time for conscious reflection. Id. at 329, 461 N.W.2d at 264. The record is unclear regarding the time lapse between the last sexual assault and the time the victim spoke to police officers. It is clear that there had been sufficient time for the victim to record her reactions in her diary. The diary entry was made approximately 1 week prior to June 30, 1990. There was a time lapse of over 6 hours from the time the victim awakened her aunt and mother until she spoke to Officer Cook. The victim here was 13 years of age, much older than the 4-year-old whose statements were at issue in Plant. Because there was ample time for conscious reflection on the part of the victim, the court erred in admitting Officer Cook's testimony. Officer Cook was asked by the State if she believed the victim, and she answered that she did. A belated objection was then made and sustained by the court. The answer was ordered stricken from the record, and the jury was instructed to disregard it. This court has held that it is totally improper for one witness to testify as to the credibility of another witness. The question of any witness' credibility is for the jury. State v. Beermann, 231 Neb. 380, 396, 436 N.W.2d 499, 509 (1989). Smith claims that the trial court erred in overruling his hearsay objections to the testimony of Officer Thorson and the victim's mother as to details of the sexual assaults. The victim's testimony preceded that of the officer and of her mother. During the victim's cross-examination, it was implied, at least by innuendo, that the victim had falsified her story of sexual abuse. The testimony of Officer Thorson and of the victim's mother was relevant to the charges against the defendant and showed that the victim had made prior consistent statements. Subject to the balance found in rule 403 of the Nebraska Evidence Rules (Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-403 (Reissue 1989)), admission of the victim's prior consistent statements was a matter within the discretion of the trial court. State v. Johnson, 220 Neb. 392, 370 N.W.2d 136 (1985). We find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in admitting the victim's prior consistent statements to her mother and to Officer Thorson.