Court Opinion

ID: 9656028
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 19:31:34.12899+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:26.823269
License: Public Domain

Coleman, J.
I dissent in part. I would affirm the trial judge on the bases of the totality of the record before him and in light of the fact that defendant was a friend of the hapless child’s mother, thus placing said child in a position totally unlike that of an assault by a stranger. Here, withdrawal till she might sort out her fears and explore her mother’s temper was understandable— as opposed to crying out spontaneously against the assault of a stranger. I cannot fault the trial judge for his sensitivity to this distinction.
It is agreed that the testimony of the police officer was inadmissible hearsay.
Riley, J., took no part, in the decision of this case.