Opinion ID: 2351922
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Preliminary Hearing Testimony Unavailable But Reconstructed

Text: Snowden's next argument is that his cross-examination of Officer Koumpias was impaired without a transcript of Officer Koumpias' preliminary hearing testimony. Snowden's preliminary hearing took place in the City of Wilmington Municipal Court on December 8, 1993. By the time of Snowden's trial it was no longer possible to obtain a transcript. [11] The Superior Court was able to reconstruct the substance of the officer's preliminary hearing testimony. See Moore v. Moore, Del.Supr., 144 A.2d 765 (1958). The assistant public defender who represented Snowden at the preliminary hearing testified on voir dire from his notes regarding the police officer's preliminary hearing testimony. The trial judge ruled that there was no inconsistency between the officer's trial testimony on direct examination and the assistant public defender's notes or recollection of the officer's preliminary hearing testimony. The record reflects no abuse of discretion or error of law in the manner in which the trial judge handled this matter. The Superior Court found that any perception of inconsistency on Snowden's part was attributable to the fact that at a preliminary hearing the rules of evidence permit the testifying officer to recount the hearsay statements of others, for the limited purpose of establishing probable cause. See D.R.E. 1101(c). The trial judge's findings are supported by the record.