Discussion board Replies

After completing Read: Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, assume the following facts:

After leaving a bar, a woman enters her car in a darkened parking garage. She is confronted by

her ex-husband, against whom she has a domestic no-contact order. She attempts to dial 911

from her cellular telephone but is unable to make a connection. Amazingly, she can take a

photograph with her phone and send an accompanying text message, asking for assistance to a

law enforcement friend. The officer and woman exchange text messages about who is

assaulting her and where she is located until the ex-husband flees. The woman is unable to

appear at trial and the defendant moves to suppress the “statements” at his trial for felony

violation of the no-contact order.

• Given the above facts and using the Court’s rationale for distinguishing

“testimonial” and “non-testimonial” statements, state whether the text message

and photograph should be admitted as evidence at trial and why.

• According to Deuteronomy 19:15, “One witness is not enough to convict a man

accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be

established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (NIV 1984). In light of

that scripture, elaborate how you would change or not change your answer.