Court Opinion

ID: 9474063
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:46:55.480719+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:43:52.953446
License: Public Domain

HALL, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
Under the highly unusual circumstances of this case, I cannot accept the majority’s conclusion that Casey’s proposed testimony is just as probative as Massie’s statements. As the majority so cogently points out, Casey had lied to the FBI, committed perjury during his own trial, and had testified as a principal witness for the government at two criminal trials, both of which ended with not guilty verdicts. In my view, Casey’s testimony has been shown to be so unworthy of belief as to lack any probative value whatsoever. On the other hand, the government has demonstrated a high degree and impressive quality of corroboration attributable to the statements given to the FBI by the deceased Massie. I would, therefore, hold that Massie’s statements are clearly more probative than Casey’s and that they meet all the criteria for admission under Fed.R.Evid. 804(b)(5). Accordingly, I would reverse as an abuse of discretion the district court’s order refusing to admit Massie’s statements into evidence in the proceedings below.