Court Opinion

ID: 9560851
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:57:38.695143+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:13:15.523438
License: Public Domain

PARKS, Judge,
dissenting:
I agree with Judge Brett that the trial court’s failure to excuse Juror Simmons for cause amounted to reversible error. I also agree with Judge Brett that the majority has failed to correctly address appellant’s assignment of error concerning the erroneous admission of hearsay statements contained in the videotape. Appellant’s brief makes it clear that the hearsay of which he complains was introduced not through his own statements, but through the questions and comments of the interrogating officers. However, I disagree with Judge Brett that the admission of the videotape constituted harmless error.
In his brief appellant alleges, and I agree, that the “contents of [the tape] is predominantly repetitious speculation from the investigating officer, wherein he continually repeats his conjectural version of how he envisions the defendant perpetrated the injuries to the child.” (Appellant’s Brief at 34). In addition to such statements, the videotape reveals a plethora of other inadmissible and highly prejudicial comments made by both of the interrogating officers. Among other things, the officers repeatedly gave their personal opinions that appellant was lying, speculated as to the reasons why appellant beat the victim, detailed the anticipated testimony of the medical examiner and other witnesses, accused appellant of having abused the victim in the past, and insinuated that appellant had a problem with abusing children.
None of the above described testimony was admissible at trial, yet it was introduced via the videotape. I find that the repeated conjecture, supposition and innuendo contained in the tape could have had no effect other than to prejudice the jury against appellant. Notwithstanding defense counsel’s failure to object to the hearsay nature of the tape, I conclude that the introduction of these statements constituted fundamental error depriving appellant of a fair trial.
For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent.