Opinion ID: 1759699
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court erred by refusing to grant walker's motion in limine seeking to prohibit the introduction of audiotape conversations in violation of m.r.e. 401, 402, and 403.

Text: ¶ 24. Walker claims that during the trial the prosecution played several irrelevant tape recorded conversations which unfairly influenced the jury and prejudiced the defense. Relying on our decision in Ragin v. State, 724 So.2d 901 (Miss.1998), Walker maintains that prosecution failed to satisfy M.R.E. 401's relevancy requirement and that the evidence violated unfair prejudice limitation set forth under M.R.E. 403. The Court disagrees. ¶ 25. In Ragin, we affirmed the trial court's decision to admit audio tapes and transcripts concerning a drug sale. 724 So.2d at 903-04. Discussing the two requirements for the admissibility of the audio tapes, the Court stated: We have announced that the prosecution must prove the recordings are relevant pursuant to Miss. R. Evid. 401 as well as authentic as required by Miss. R. Evid. 901 before they are deemed admissible. In Middlebrook v. State, 555 So.2d 1009 (Miss.1990) we held the prosecution is required to lay a substantial predicate before a tape recording may be received into evidence. First, the recording must pass the relevancy test of Rule 401; i.e., it must have a tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Miss. R. Evid. 401. Id. at 903. As to the second requirement, the Court noted that M.R.E. 901 will be satisfied if evidence is introduced which is `sufficient' to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims. Id. ¶ 26. Here, the recorded conversations, laden with sexual overtones, are clearly relevant as evidence of Walker's disposition towards M.M. This satisfies the M.R.E. 401. As for M.R.E. 901, Walker tacitly authenticated the conversations himself. ¶ 27. When questioned by the authorities, Walker explained through his conversations with M.M. he sought to raise her self-confidence and by telling her that she was sexy and appealing he wanted her to know that others found her attractive. In light of such explanation, the Court finds that the tapes are what they were purported to be (i.e. conversations between Walker and M.M.) and we reject his challenge to their authenticity. ¶ 28. Whether the evidence presented satisfies Rules 401 and 901 is a matter left to the discretion of the trial judge. M.R.E. 104(a). See also Ragin, 724 So.2d at 903. Without an abuse of discretion, his decision will be upheld. Id. (citing Stromas v. State, 618 So.2d 116, 119 (Miss.1993)). See Butler v. State, 592 So.2d 983, 984 (Miss.1991). ¶ 29. For these reasons, this issue is without merit.