Opinion ID: 2226571
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Admission of Deposition.

Text: Liggins argues that the district court erred in admitting a witness's deposition, thereby depriving him of his Sixth Amendment rights to confrontation and cross-examination, and his right to a fair trial. Because Liggins' Sixth Amendment rights are implicated, our review of the district court's findings is de novo. State v. Rojas, 524 N.W.2d 659, 662 (Iowa 1994). At Liggins' first trial, Lloyd Eston testified. His testimony related to his observation of a car similar to Liggins', on the night of the murder, near the school where Jennifer's body was found. After Eston attempted to give testimony, the district court declared him to be unavailable by reason of mental infirmity, pursuant to Iowa Rule of Evidence 804(a)(4). As a result, the court allowed Eston's deposition to be read into evidence. During Liggins' second trial, the State informed the court that Eston had died after the first trial. Following an objection by Liggins, the court ruled that the State could introduce Eston's testimony from the first trial and could read the deposition into evidence. At a later point in the trial, the State learned Eston was not deceased. The State then produced him in court, and, after examination, the parties elected to stand on the record made and not present him to the jury. Liggins claims the court erred in concluding that Eston was unavailable under Iowa Rule of Evidence 804(a)(4) and in admitting Eston's deposition. Our review of the record indicates that Eston was unavailable to testify at Liggins' first trial. At the time, Eston was seventy-six years old. He admitted that he had trouble with his memory, and he exhibited confusion and disorientation. The court observed this behavior on the stand and made its determination based on Eston's actions. The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Eston's deposition at the second trial. Iowa Rule of Evidence 804(b)(1) permits the use of former testimony, including depositions, at a later trial where the declarant is unavailable as a witness. State v. Gregg, 464 N.W.2d 431, 432 n. 1 (Iowa 1990). At a hearing during Liggins' second trial, the court correctly ruled that Eston was not available under Iowa Rule of Evidence 804(a)(4). Further, at Eston's deposition, defense counsel had the opportunity to cross-examine Eston. We conclude there is no violation of Liggins' Sixth Amendment rights because the State proved that Eston was unavailable, and there is no evidence in the record that Eston's deposition is not reliable testimony. See Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56, 65, 100 S.Ct. 2531, 2539, 65 L.Ed.2d 597, 607 (1980).