Court Opinion

ID: 9598274
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:07:27.491859+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:43.199601
License: Public Domain

Weltner, Justice,
concurring specially.
I respectfully disagree with the majority’s assessment of the testimony of Detective Freeman, as treated in Division 4 of the opinion. In Momon v. State, supra, we came finally to grips with the vexatious implications of Code Ann. § 38-302, and adopted the following rule: “When, in a legal investigation, the conduct and motives of the actor are matters concerning which the truth must be found (i.e., are relevant to the issues on trial), then information, *391conversations, letters and replies, and similar evidence known to the actor are admissible to explain the actor’s conduct. [Cits.] But where the conduct and motives of the actor are not matters concerning which the truth must be found (i.e., are irrelevant to the issues on trial) then the information, etc., on which he or she acted shall not be admissible under Code Ann. § 38-302.” 249 Ga. at 867.
In that case, we found that the conduct and motives of the police officers were not relevant to the issues on trial, hence, statements made to them by a deceased witness were not admissible under Code Ann. § 38-302.
In this case, we are presented with precisely the same factual circumstance. The conduct and motives of Detective Freeman in obtaining a warrant are not “matters concerning which the truth must be found.” They are not “relevant to the issues on trial.” Thus, statements made to Detective Freeman by others upon which he acted in obtaining a warrant are hearsay, inadmissible under Code Ann. § 38-302.
I agree with the majority that his testimony was later corroborated by other prosecution witnesses, and to some extent by Gaskins himself, and for that reason, would find the admission of the questioned testimony to be harmless error. Johnson v. State, 238 Ga. 59, 61 (230 SE2d 869) (1976).
I am authorized to state that Chief Justice Hill, Justice Clarke and Justice Gregory join me in this special concurrence.