Court Opinion

ID: 9589150
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:41:41.322656+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:29:50.258153
License: Public Domain

Pope, Judge,
concurring specially.
I concur fully in the majority opinion, but I feel that more needs to be said regarding the use of OCGA § 24-3-2 as an exception to the hearsay rule. The Supreme Court announced its new, restrictive reading of OCGA § 24-3-2 in Momon v. State, 249 Ga. 865 (294 SE2d 482) (1982). Although I feel that Momon turned more on the question of similar offenses than on hearsay, nonetheless the rule was reiterated strongly in Teague v. State, 252 Ga. 534 (314 SE2d 910) (1984). As I stated in my special concurrence in Hart v. State, 174 Ga. App. 134 (329 SE2d 178) (1985): “I do not believe it was the intent of the Supreme Court in Teague to simply read OCGA § 24-3-2 out of the law and to virtually ban the admission of testimony to explain conduct; rather, the aim was to circumscribe a trend toward indiscriminate use of this Code section to cover any statement made to a police officer.” Id. at 136. In Hart, I went on to state that it is imperative that the trial court give limiting instructions regarding the testimony received under OCGA § 24-3-2. Such limiting instructions were given in this case. As in Ivester v. State, 252 Ga. 333 (2) (313 SE2d 674) (1984), and Rhine v. State, 176 Ga. App. 171 (1) (335 SE2d 422) (1985), the testimony offered here explained to the jury the officer’s conduct in effecting the arrest. The circumstances of the arrest are relevant and admissible. Ivester, supra at 335. This is not a case of abuse of OCGA § 24-3-2 which the rule in Teague so sternly prohibits. It is an example of the proper use and continuing viability of the Code section in criminal proceedings.