Part 3 -Evidence, Ethics, and Appeals

378 Pages·2012·1.9 MB·English

CHAPTER ONE
EVIDENCE

By: Gary Solomon

Table of Contents
I. Hearsay Exceptions And Related Issues ...........................................................17

A. Right Of Confrontation .............................................................................17

B. Admissions ..............................................................................................18

1. Definition .......................................................................................18

2. Admissions vs. Confessions .........................................................19

3. Admission By Silence ...................................................................20

4. Pre- Or Post-Arrest Silence ..........................................................21

5. Admission By Conduct ..................................................................22

6. Plea-Related Statements .............................................................23

7. Bruton Rule ...................................................................................24

8. Corroboration Of Confession ........................................................24

9. Statements Made By Counsel Or Other Agent .............................24

10. Interpreters ...................................................................................25

11. Non-Inculpatory Portion Of Statement ..........................................25

C. Business Records ....................................................................................26

1. Statutory Foundation ....................................................................26

2. Authentication ...............................................................................27

3. "Reasonable Time" Requirement .................................................28

4. Maker's Lack Of Personal Knowledge; Admissibility Of Statements
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Made By Other Persons To Maker Of Record ..............................28

5. Specific Types Of Records ...........................................................29

a. Ballistics Reports ................................................................29
b. Criminal Enterprises ...........................................................29
c. Court Transcript .................................................................29
d. Drug Testing/Lab Reports ..................................................29
e. Medical Records ................................................................30

i. Hospital Records .....................................................30
ii. Private Physicians' Records ....................................30
iii. Statements Relevant To Treatment Or Diagnosis 30
iv. Opinions ..................................................................35
v. X-Rays .....................................................................35

f. Store Receipts And Price Tags …………………………….. 36
g. Computer Printouts ............................................................37

6. Copies ...........................................................................................37

7. Transcription Of Original Record Into Permanent Form ...............38

8. Right Of Confrontation ..................................................................38

D. Public Records ........................................................................................44

1. Generally ......................................................................................44

2. Statutory Authentication Rule .......................................................44

3. Birth And Death Certificates .........................................................45

E. Best Evidence Rule .................................................................................45

F. Declarations Against Penal Interest ........................................................46

1. Foundation ....................................................................................46

2. Offered By Prosecution .................................................................47

3. Unavailability; Declarant's Invocation Of Fifth Amendment ..........48

4. Motive To Falsify ...........................................................................48

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5. Declarant's Awareness That Statement Is Against Interest ..........50

6. Basis Of Declarant's Knowledge ...................................................50

7. Non-Inculpatory Portion Of Statement ..........................................50

8. Right Of Confrontation ..................................................................51

G. Dying Declarations ..................................................................................52

H. Excited Utterances ..................................................................................53

1. Foundation ....................................................................................53

2. Time Between Statement And Event ............................................55

3. Statement Made In Response To Inquiry .....................................57

4. Statements By Bystanders ...........................................................57

5. Recantation ……………………………………………………………57

6. Right Of Confrontation ..................................................................57

7. Infant Declarants ...........................................................................63

I. Former Testimony ...................................................................................63

1. Foundation ....................................................................................63

2. Proceedings In Which Testimony May be Admitted .....................64

3. Due Diligence In Locating And Producing Witness ………............64

4. Illness Or Incapacity Of Witness ...................................................65

5. Right Of Confrontation ..................................................................65

J. Past Recollection Recorded ....................................................................67

K. Present Sense Impression ......................................................................67

L. Prompt Outcry Of Victim ..........................................................................70

M. Pedigree ..................................................................................................73
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N. Inferential Hearsay ..................................................................................73

O. State Of Mind ..........................................................................................75

1. Intention to Perform Future Act .....................................................75

2. Declaration Of Reason, Motive Or Feeling ...................................77

3. Evidence Not Offered For Truth ....................................................77

4. Right Of Confrontation ..................................................................78

P. Trustworthiness Exception ......................................................................79

1. Statements Offered By Respondent .............................................79

2. Statements Offered By Prosecution .............................................81

Q. Co-Conspirator Statements .....................................................................81

R. Statements By Witness Who Is Unavailable Due To Respondent’s
Misconduct ……..........................……………………………………………82

S. Phone Conversations ..............................................................................86

T. Impeachment Of Hearsay Declarant .......................................................87

U. Opening The Door ...................................................................................87

V. Interpreters ..............................................................................................88

W. Internet And Text Messages ……………..………………………………… 89

II. Presumptions And Inferences ............................................................................91

A. Constitutional Considerations ..................................................................91

B. Penal Law ................................................................................................92

1. Possession Of Drugs In Car .........................................................92
a. PL §220.25(1) ....................................................................92
b. Drugs Not Located In Passenger Compartment ................92
c. Drugs Concealed Upon Occupant .....................................92

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2. Possession Of Drugs In Open View In a Room ............................92

a. PL §220.25(2) ....................................................................93
b. Close Proximity ..................................................................93
c. Circumstances Evincing Intent To Sell ...............................93
d. Open View .........................................................................93

3. Possession Of Weapon In Car .....................................................93

a. PL §265.15(3) ....................................................................94
b. Weapon Concealed Upon Occupant .................................94
c. Location Of Weapon In Car ...............................................94
d. "Occupant" Of Car .............................................................95

4. Unauthorized Use Of A Motor Vehicle ..........................................95

5. Criminal Possession Of Stolen Property .......................................95

6. Intent To Use Weapon Unlawfully ................................................95

7. Presumption Of Sanity ..................................................................95

C. Case Law-Created Rules ........................................................................96

1. Person Intends The Ordinary Natural Consequences Of His Or
Her Acts ........................................................................................96

2. Recent And Exclusive Possession Of Fruits Of Crime .................96

a. Generally ............................................................................96
b. "Recent And Exclusive" ......................................................97

3. Missing Witness Inference ............................................................97

a. Defense Witness ................................................................97
b. Prosecution Witness ..........................................................98
c. Within "Control" Of Party ....................................................98
d. Cumulative Testimony ......................................................101
e. Knowledge Of Witness .....................................................102
f. Unavailability Of Witness Due To Invocation Of Fifth
Amendment ......................................................................102
g. Infant Witness ..................................................................103
h. Respondent's Failure To Testify ......................................103
i. Comments During Summation .........................................103

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4. Mailing And Delivery ...................................................................103

III. Expert Testimony .............................................................................................104

A. Bite Marks .............................................................................................109

B. Blood Stains...........................................................................................109

C. Credibility Of Witnesses ........................................................................109

D. Credibility Of Confession .......................................................................111

E. Capacity To Waive Miranda Rights........................................................112

F. Respondent's State Of Mind During Crime ............................................113

G. DNA Tests .............................................................................................114

H. Drug Analysis ........................................................................................115

1. Use Of Known Standards ...........................................................115

2. Factual Basis For Opinion ..........................................................115

3. Conditions At Laboratory ............................................................116

4. Scientific Acceptance ..................................................................116

I. Fingerprints ............................................................................................117

J. Identification ..........................................................................................117

K. Arson .....................................................................................................123

L. Polygraph And Other Credibility Tests …………………………………...124

M. Syndrome Evidence ..............................................................................125

1. Rape Trauma Syndrome ............................................................125

2. Child Sexual Abuse Syndrome ...................................................126

3. Battered Person Syndrome/Domestic Violence ……...................128

4. Shaken Baby Syndrome .............................................................128
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5. Neonaticide Syndrome ...............................................................128

6. Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy ...............................................129

7. Parental Alienation Syndrome ....................................................129

N. Forcible Sexual Assault And Other Injuries ...........................................129

O. Criminal Modus Operandi ......................................................................131

P. "Profile" Evidence .................................................................................136

Q. Accident Reconstruction .......................................................................137

R. Firearm Identification …………..…………………………………………...138

S. Handwriting Comparison ……………………………………………………138

IV. Examination Of Witnesses ..............................................................................139

A. Order Of Proof ......................................................................................139

B. Direct Examination ...............................................................................141

C. Cross-Examination ...............................................................................142

1. Scope .........................................................................................142

2. Right Of Confrontation ................................................................142

a. Inability To Cross-Examine ..............................................142
b. Memory Lapse Of Witness ...............................................144
c. Hypnotically Refreshed Testimony ...................................144
d. Right To Face Witness .....................................................145

i. In-Court Testimony ................................................145
ii. Closed-Circuit Television .......................................145

e. Identity Of Witness ...........................................................147
f. Waiver Of Right ................................................................148
g. Location Of Police Observation Post ...............................148
h. Adequacy Of Police Investigation ………………………….149

D. Examination Of Witnesses By Judge ....................................................150
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E. Impeachment .........................................................................................152

1. Ability Of Witness To Perceive And Recall .................................152

2. Failure Of Alibi Witness To Promptly Come Forward .................154

3. Bad Acts .....................................................................................155

a. Nature Of Acts .................................................................155
b. Use Of Extrinsic Evidence ................................................157
c. Acts Committed By Juveniles Or Youthful Offenders .......158
d. Good Faith Basis Of Examiner .........................................159
e. Witness' Invocation Of Fifth Amendment .........................159
f. Dismissal Of Charges ......................................................160

4. Convictions .................................................................................160

a. Nature Of Conviction ........................................................160
b. Use Of Extrinsic Evidence ................................................161
c. Underlying Facts ..............................................................161
d. Delinquency and Youthful Offender Adjudications ...........161
e. Proof Of Conviction ..........................................................162

i. Certificate Of Conviction ........................................162
ii. Adjudicative Facts .................................................162
iii. Testimony Of Witness To Conviction ....................162

f. Right Of Confrontation .....................................................163
g. Finality Of Conviction ………………………………………..163

5. Sandoval .....................................................................................163

a. Pretrial Ruling ...................................................................163
b. Bad Acts And Convictions ................................................164

i. Nature And Time Of Acts ......................................164
ii. Prosecutorial Misconduct ......................................167
iii. Dismissal Of Charges ............................................167
iv. Pending Cases; Invocation Of Fifth Amendment 168

c. Use Of Aliases .................................................................169
d. Advance Notice Of Prosecutor's Intent To Impeach ........169
e. Failure Of Respondent To Seek Pretrial Ruling ...............169
f. Finality Of Pretrial Ruling .................................................169
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g. Cross-Examination Of Respondent By Attorney For
Co-Respondent ................................................................170
h. Preemptive Presentation Of Evidence By Accused .........170
i. Prosecution Witnesses ....................................................171

6. Motive To Falsify .........................................................................171

a. Use Of Extrinsic Evidence ................................................171
b. Bias And Hostility .............................................................171
c. Financial Or Property Interest ..........................................173
d. Witness' Fear Of Harm ....................................................174
e. Right Of Confrontation .....................................................175
f. Witness Cooperation Agreement .....................................175

7. Prior Inconsistent Statements .....................................................176

a. Foundation .......................................................................176

i. Oral Statements ....................................................176
ii. Written Statements ................................................179
iii. Prior Testimony .....................................................180

b. Introduction Of Police Reports And Other Records .........180
c. Pretrial Silence Of Accused .............................................181
d. Admission Of "Consistent" Facts .....................................182
e. Statements Made To Defense Counsel …………………..182

8. Prior Sexual Conduct Or Allegations Of Victim In Sex Offense
Case ………………………………………………………………….182

9. Reputation For Truthfulness And Veracity ..................................188

10. Opportunity To Tailor Testimony ................................................189

11. Collateral Issues .........................................................................190

12. Impeachment Of Own Witness ...................................................190

13. Prosecutorial Misconduct On Cross-Examination .......................192

F. Bolstering ..............................................................................................193

1. Pretrial Identification Of Respondent ..........................................193

a. Proved By Testimony Of Identifying Witness ...................193
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b. Proved By Testimony Of Police Officer Or Other Third
Party …………………………………………………………..193
c. Photo Identifications .........................................................195
d. "Negative" Identification Evidence ...................................196
e. Description Testimony.......................................................196
f. Witness' Sketch Of Respondent ......................................197
g. Identification Of Accomplice ...........................................197

2. Prior Consistent Statements .......................................................197

3. Good Character Of Witness ………………………………………..198

G. Competency To Testify And Be Sworn ..................................................199

1. Generally ....................................................................................199

2. Oaths ..........................................................................................199

a. Generally ..........................................................................199
b. Infants ..............................................................................200
c. Voir Dire ...........................................................................203

3. Corroboration ..............................................................................203

H. Interpreters ............................................................................................203

I. Refreshing Recollection Of Witness ......................................................205

J. Exclusion Of Witness From Courtroom .................................................206

V. Privileged Communications ..............................................................................208

A. Attorney-Client .......................................................................................208

1. Generally ....................................................................................208

2. Existence Of Relationship ...........................................................210

3. Employees Of Attorney ...............................................................211

4. Communications Within Privilege ...............................................212

a. Crime-Fraud Exception ....................................................212
b. Documents .......................................................................214
c. Address Of Client ……………………………………………214
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