Opinion ID: 1160484
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Diana's tape recorded statement

Text: Pursuant to Hawai`i Rules of Evidence (HRE) Rule 802.1 (1993), which provides for substantive use of most prior inconsistent witness statements[,] State v. Eastman, 81 Hawai`i 131, 136, 913 P.2d 57, 62 (1996) (quoting Commentary to HRE Rule 613), Diana's tape recorded statement to Detective Swann was admitted into evidence, over Clark's objection. HRE Rule 802.1 provides in pertinent part: Hearsay exception; prior statements by witnesses. The following statements previously made by witnesses who testify at the trial ... are not excluded by the hearsay rule: (1) Inconsistent statement. The declarant is subject to cross-examination concerning the subject matter of the declarant's statement, the statement is inconsistent with the declarant's testimony, the statement is offered in compliance with rule 613(b),[ [3] ] and the statement was: . . . . (C) Recorded in substantially verbatim fashion by stenographic, mechanical, electrical, or other means contemporaneously with the making of the statement[.] `The intent [of HRS 802.1] is to include in paragraph (1) all written or recorded statements that can be fairly attributed to the witness declarant.' Eastman, 81 Hawai`i at 136, 913 P.2d at 62 (quoting Commentary to HRE Rule 802.1). The Eastman court further stated: The trustworthiness of statements defined in paragraph[] . . . (C) is further assured by the requirement that the witness-declarant be subject to cross-examination concerning the subject matter of the statement. The situation envisioned is one where the witness has testified about an event and his [or her] prior written statement also describes that event but is inconsistent with his [or her] testimony. Since the witness can be cross-examined about the event and the statement, the trier of fact is free to credit his [or her] present testimony or his [or her] prior statement in determining where the truth lies. Because the witness is subject to cross-examination, the substantive use of his [or her] prior inconsistent statements does not infringe the sixth amendment confrontation rights of accused in criminal cases, see California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149 [90 S.Ct. 1930, 26 L.Ed.2d 489] (1970). Id. (citing to the Commentary to HRE Rule 802.1). In order for the recorded statement of a witness to be admitted as substantive evidence of a defendant's guilt, HRE Rule 802.1(1)(C) requires the following: (1) the witness must testify about the subject matter of his or her prior statement so that the witness is subject to cross-examination concerning the subject matter of the prior statement; (2) the witness's prior statement must be inconsistent with his or her testimony; (3) the prior inconsistent statement must be recorded in substantially verbatim fashion by stenographic, mechanical, electrical, or other means contemporaneously with the making of the statement; and (4) the prior inconsistent statement must be offered in compliance with HRE Rule 613(b), which, as previously noted, requires that, on direct or cross-examination, the circumstances of the prior inconsistent statements have been brought to the attention of the witness and that the witness has been asked whether he or she made the prior inconsistent statements. See Eastman, 81 Hawai`i at 137, 913 P.2d at 63 (outlining the requirements for admission of prior inconsistent statements pursuant to HRE Rule 802.1(1)(B)). The admission of Diana's prior statement to Detective Swann complied with the foregoing requirements. First, at Clark's trial, the prosecution directly examined Diana as a witness and elicited testimony from her regarding the circumstances surrounding the September 6, 1993 incident and her prior statement to Detective Swann wherein she had stated that Clark stabbed her in the chest. Such testimony, thus, made Diana subject to cross-examination concerning the subject matter of her prior statement to Detective Swann. Second, although Diana testified at trial that the stab wound to her chest was self-inflicted, Diana alleged in her statement to Detective Swann that Clark had stabbed her in the chest. Thus, Diana's statement to Detective Swann was inconsistent with her testimony. Third, the record shows that Diana's statement to Detective Swann was recorded in substantially verbatim fashion on audio tape, and Diana, at trial, acknowledged that she had given a recorded statement to Detective Swann. Finally, after Diana testified on direct examination by the prosecution that the stab wound to her chest was self-inflicted, the prosecutor brought to Diana's attention the circumstances of her statement to Detective Swann. At that point, Diana admitted making the statement, but testified that her prior inconsistent statement was a total lie. Thus, Diana's prior inconsistent statements to Detective Swann were offered in compliance with HRE Rule 613(b). Under cross-examination by Clark's counsel, Diana explained that her prior inconsistent statements were not true because she (1) does not take responsibility for anything and (2) was strung out on drugs at the time. Diana's cross-examination satisfied constitutional and trustworthiness concerns over admitting into evidence her prior inconsistent statements to Detective Swann because it afforded Clark the opportunity to have Diana fully explain to the trier of fact why her in-court and out-of-court statements were inconsistent, which, in turn, enabled the trier of fact to determine where the truth lay. See Eastman, 81 Hawai`i at 139, 913 P.2d at 65. We therefore hold that the trial court did not err in admitting Diana's tape recorded statement to Detective Swann as substantive evidence of Clark's guilt.