Opinion ID: 1375439
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Chantelle's statements to Goode prior to her death

Text: The statements that Chantelle planned to leave Jason and that she was afraid Jason was going to kill her were admitted as an excited utterance. In Hogan v. State, 103 Nev. 21, 23, 732 P.2d 422, 423 (1987), we held that the victim's hearsay statements to two witnesses that her husband had threatened to kill her were admissible as an excited utterance. The victim made these statements right after the threat and an hour after the threat. Both times, the victim was frightened, shaky, nervous, and crying. We decided that since the victim was still excited even one hour later (and not only contemporaneously), both statements were admissible as an excited utterance. Similarly, when Chantelle spoke with her father, she was upset, excited, and frightened. According to Hogan, even if Chantelle's statements were made an hour after a startling event, they may still be considered an excited utterance. However, the record here does not indicate the timing of the event precipitating her fear. Accordingly, as timing is often the determining factor for an excited utterance, these statements cannot fall into this exception. Therefore, the district court improperly admitted the statements as an excited utterance. However, after a harmless error analysis, we conclude reversal of Jason's conviction is unnecessary. See Franco, 109 Nev. at 1237, 866 P.2d at 252.