Opinion ID: 1058965
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Testimony of Mildred Muhammad

Text: In assignments of error 84 and 85, Muhammad asserts that the trial court erred in allowing Mildred Muhammad, (Mildred), the defendant's former wife, to testify about statements made to her by her lawyer in Tacoma, Washington and a statement made by their child, Taalibah. Mildred testified that the lawyer representing her in a custody proceeding told her to leave town quickly because of fear that Muhammad would find her and kill her. Muhammad objected to this statement on the grounds of hearsay. The trial court overruled the objection because it was not offered for the truth of the matter asserted; rather, it was offered to show why Mildred left Washington State and moved to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. The trial court gave the jury a limiting instruction directing it that the evidence was to be considered only to prove that she moved because of the statement made by her lawyer. After further discussion with counsel, the court gave an additional limiting instruction drafted by Muhammad. Also, Mildred testified that her daughter, Taalibah, said to her that if Muhammad gets out, she was concerned that he would kill her mother. Muhammad objected on the grounds of hearsay. Muhammad maintains on appeal that allowing such statements violated his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses against him and violated the rule established in Crawford. Crawford had not been decided at the time of Muhammad's trial. He made no objection based upon the Sixth Amendment to the testimony of his former wife. These issues will not be considered for the first time on appeal. Rule 5:25. The trial court did not err in admitting Mildred's testimony regarding her lawyer's statement to her. It was not hearsay because it was not offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Chandler v. Graffeo, 268 Va. 673, 682, 604 S.E.2d 1, 5 (2004). A proper limiting instruction was given, not once, but twice. One of the instructions was drafted by Muhammad. A jury is presumed to have followed the instructions of the trial court. Green v. Young, 264 Va. 604, 611, 571 S.E.2d 135, 139 (2002) (citing Zafiro v. United States, 506 U.S. 534, 540, 113 S.Ct. 933, 122 L.Ed.2d 317 (1993)). With regard to Mildred's testimony about her daughter's statement to her, the record reveals a more complicated context. Muhammad objected on the grounds of hearsay and relevancy, not on Sixth Amendment grounds. It is significant that the Commonwealth did not seek to introduce Mildred's testimony about her daughter's statement until after the trial court, over the Commonwealth's objection, ruled that it would allow Muhammad to present to the jury several letters written to him from his children, including Taalibah, which gave the impression that the children had no fear of him. After considerable argument from counsel, the trial court ruled that all the letters Muhammad sought to introduce would be allowed and a single statement from Taalibah to her mother would also be allowed. The trial court ruled that all of this evidence was admissible pursuant to the state-of-mind exception to the hearsay rule. The Commonwealth also argued that Taalibah's statement should be independently admissible as rebuttal to Muhammad's introduction of the letters. The nature of the evidence offered by Muhammad was to show his relationship with his children. He offered out of court statements in the form of letters from his children for this purpose. Similarly, the Commonwealth offered an out of court oral statement from Taalibah for the same purpose. Upon review of the record, we hold that, if the admission of Taalibah's statement was error, it was invited error. We will not notice error which has been invited by the party seeking to take advantage thereof on appeal. Saunders v. Commonwealth, 211 Va. 399, 400, 177 S.E.2d 637, 638 (1970); Clark v. Commonwealth, 202 Va. 787, 791, 120 S.E.2d 270, 273 (1961). Muhammad's introduction of evidence showing the state of mind of his children toward him โ arguing that such proof was both relevant and not objectionable hearsay โ surely invited evidence of a similar nature from the Commonwealth. Whether as evidence in its case in chief or as rebuttal evidence, the trial court did not err in permitting Mildred to testify about Taalibah's statement.