Court Opinion

ID: 9645112
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 21:12:58.917515+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:17:24.233460
License: Public Domain

ROBERTS, Justice,
with whom McKU-SICK, Chief Justice, joins, dissenting.
I disagree with Part I of the Court’s opinion and therefore respectfully dissent. Had the trial court sustained a general objection by the prosecutor, I would concur in the majority decision. In this case, however, the objection was specifically framed to limit the purpose for which the evidence was to be admitted, viz. “I object ... if being offered for the truth of the matter.” M.R.Evid. 801(c).
*1113The majority asserts that “[t]he proffered testimony was not being offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, but rather to establish the factual basis for Crocker’s state of mind existing at the time of entry into the Hamm house.” (Emphasis added.) I agree that the testimony would not be hearsay if offered merely to prove Trott’s statement as a factual basis for Crocker’s belief that the owner of the premises had authorized Crocker’s conduct. Defense counsel, however, never accepted this limitation upon the statement’s admissibility. Without the limitation the statement was hearsay and properly excluded.