Opinion ID: 2514469
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony by Officers Heyde, Wright, and Alconcel

Text: Following the complainant's testimony, the prosecution called Officer Heyde, the police dispatcher who spoke with the complainant during her 911 call on April 15, 2005. He identified State's Exhibit 2, a compact disk that contained an audio recording of the 911 call, and the prosecution offered the exhibit into evidence. Carlut objected on the ground that it contained hearsay statements that did not qualify as present sense impressions, excited utterances, or statements of existing mental, emotional, or physical condition. The family court responded that, even if the statements were not present sense impressions, they were excited utterances or statements of existing mental, emotional, or physical condition. Carlut additionally objected on the basis that he could not effectively cross-examine the complainant based on her statements. The family court countered that Carlut could confront the complainant if he wanted to. Consequently, the circuit court admitted the recording. In the recording, the complainant stated that Carlut had beaten her up. She explained that he had almost broken her arm, that he had slapped her two times on the ear, and that he had hit her on the head. She stated that her face was swollen. When asked whether she had hit back at Carlut, she answered: No. I can't. After Officer Heyde's testimony concluded, the prosecution called Officer Wright, one of the officers who responded to the complainant's 911 call on April 15, 2005. He testified that he asked the complainant if she wanted to fill out a VVS form, and she said that she did. She asked the officer to fill out the form for her because she was too shaken up and did not want to write it herself. Officer Wright therefore filled out the form for her outside of the residence on the trunk of his vehicle. During his testimony, the officer identified State's Exhibit 1, a copy of the VVS form that the complainant had signed. The prosecution offered the form into evidence, and Carlut objected on the grounds that it was not a prior inconsistent statement and that he did not have an opportunity to meaningfully cross-examine the complainant regarding her statements. The family court overruled Carlut's objections and admitted the form into evidence. The form stated that the complainant and Carlut had engaged in a verbal argument. He slapped her many times on both sides of her face, pulled her hair, twisted and scratched her left arm, and kicked her out of the house after taking her keys. The complainant consequently sustained injuries to her face, the back of her head, and her arms. In addition to discussing the VVS form, Officer Wright testified that his observations of the complainant's physical features on April 15, 2005 were consistent with what she had reported to him. He observed a small trail of blood on her left arm that looked like a scratch. She also had redness and swelling on the left side of her face in the shape of a hand print. She complained to Officer Wright that her injuries were painful. On cross-examination, the officer identified Defendant's Exhibits 2, 3, and 4, which were photographs of the complainant. The officer was asked whether the photographs accurately depicted the complainant's condition on April 15, 2005. He responded that Defendant's Exhibit 2, which depicted the complainant's left arm, showed a red spot on her arm, but that he recalled seeing blood where the red spot was. He also explained that the photographs of her face, Defendant's Exhibits 3 and 4, were inaccurate because, in person, her face was much redder. Carlut offered, and the circuit court admitted, the exhibits into evidence. Officer Wright additionally testified that he could smell alcohol on the complainant' breath when he spoke with her, but that there was no redness in her eyes. On redirect examination, the officer identified State's Exhibits 3, 4, and 5, which were enlarged versions of the photographs that the family court had just admitted. The officer explained that he could more clearly see a handprint, redness, and swelling on the complainant's face in State's Exhibit 3 than in Carlut's corresponding exhibit. The prosecution offered, and the family court admitted, the State's Exhibits 3, 4 and 5. Officer Alconcel was called next to testify. He stated that, when he was dispatched on April 15, 2005 to respond to the complainant's 911 call, he observed that there was redness and swelling on the left side of the complainant's face and a cut on her left forearm. The complainant told him that Carlut had caused those injuries. The officer testified that he had taken the photographs that were previously admitted as State's Exhibits 3, 4, and 5. He explained that the redness, swelling, and finger markings depicted in the photograph were consistent with what the complainant had reported to him. On cross-examination, the officer testified that he could smell alcohol on the complainant's breath and that she admitted that she had been drinking. He could not recall whether her eyes were bloodshot, but he did remember that she did not need any help standing. Tr. 8/30/05 at 103.