Court Opinion

ID: 9704741
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 00:44:53.541389+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:04.937028
License: Public Domain

Hill, J.,
concurring in result. While I concur in the result and most of the reasoning of the majority opinion, I am unable to agree with their holding on the authentication of the tapes issue. Although I believe that the sheriff’s deputy could have testified as to the statements he had heard the defendant make, I do not believe that the admission of the tape recordings as evidence of the substance of those statements was proper, since the State failed to establish a chain of custody from the time the tapes were made until they were introduced at trial. Indeed, the evidence clearly demonstrates that the tapes had left the custody of the deputy and the sheriff’s office, and that there were gaps in the tapes admitted.
It is an elementary principle of evidence law that before real evidence will be admitted, a foundation establishing an unbroken chain of custody must be shown by the proponent in order to negate the possibility that subsequent tampering changed the evidence’s condition. See Izor v. Brigham, 111 Vt. 438, 442, 17 A.2d 236, 237 (1941); C. McCormick, Handbook of the Law of Evidence § 212, at 527-28 (2d ed. 1972). Rigid *159compliance with this rule has not been required, however, where there is adequate and reliable proof that the real evidence was not tampered with. See, e.g., State v. Burack, 133 Vt. 482, 484, 346 A.2d 192, 194 (1975) (full, tight crimp on collection tube sealing breath sample for testing in chromatograph sufficient to show no tampering). Accord, State v. Ross, 130 Vt. 235, 240, 290 A.2d 38, 41-42 (1978). But where the real evidence involved consists of tape recordings, courts have demanded “strict adherence to the rules for testing [their] admissibility.” Annot., 58 A.L.R.2d 1024, 1032 (1958). The test of admissibility for tape recordings that is generally accepted in most jurisdictions was well-stated in United States v. McKeever, 169 F. Supp. 426 (S.D.N.Y. 1958). It was there held that the proponent of the recording must establish the following facts for admission:
(1) That the recording device was capable of taking the conversation now offered in evidence.
(2) That the operator of the device was competent to operate the device.
(3) That the recording is authentic and correct.
(4) That changes, additions or deletions have not been made in the recording.
(5) That the recording has been preserved in a manner that is shown to the court.
(6) That the speakers are identified.
(7) That the conversation elicited was made voluntarily and in good faith, without any kind of inducement.
Id. at 430. See also Annot., supra, at 1032-36.
Moreover, this Court, speaking through then Justice, now Chief Justice, Barney, stated that the standards “referred to in the McKeever case would be valuable tests where the tape recording was being offered for its substantive content.” State v. Davis, 132 Vt. 290, 294, 318 A.2d 664, 666 (1974) (emphasis added). That is precisely the case here, and I am at a loss to comprehend how or why this admittedly valuable test suddenly became so worthless that the majority did not even address it. If it had, the conclusion that a proper foundation had not been laid would be inescapable.
Based on my interpretation of the relevant case law, the tape recordings should not have been admitted. I would, how*160ever, affirm on the ground that the error was harmless in light of the “overwhelming evidence of guilt.” State v. Howe, 136 Vt. 53, 69, 386 A.2d 1125, 1134 (1978) (Billings and Larrow, JJ., concurring).
I am authorized to state that Judge Bristow joins in the foregoing concurrence.