Chelsea Jackson
Module 5
SDO 544
Sep 18, 22
Hearsay
Hearsay can be defined as information used during a testimony that is based on what
someone hears from another individual in which they have no way to verify the statement. In this
scenario, Jim told Marissa “I bought this car from a dealership last year” before he was arrested,
which led to Marissa being called to testify. The car Jim was driving when he got arrested had
been reported stolen three months prior to the arrest, which is why there is a case in the first
place. Marissa, in this statement, is testifying because she’s the only other person that could have
information to help Jim’s case.
Unfortunately, since Marissa doesn’t have prior knowledge of whether or not Jim
actually bought the car, her statement could be considered hearsay. Her testimony is based on the
idea that Jim was the one that gave her the information about what to say in her testimony.
Therefore, the only information present to her is “I bought this car from a dealership last year”
which she was told by the defendant himself in hopes that she would get him out of trouble.
However, if the scenario had said that Marissa was going to have the documents that
prove the purchase of the car, such as the registration, car insurance, or even proof from the
dealership during the time the car was purchased, and when and where he got it, her testimony
wouldn’t be seen as hearsay. If there was proof of the car being purchased, it would help
Marissa’s testimony and make it a viable statement. Therefore, if Marissa took extra time to look
into gathering all the important information, her testimony could be viable and very important in
this case since she is the only one that has information for the case.
