CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE: CIVIL AND CRIMINAL
...Hearsay Except. Requiring Unavail
......Exception: Decl. Against Interest
.........Types of Interests: Penal
............Sufficient Indicia of Trustworthiness
6 Cards On This Topic:
  • Proper to conclude W's stmt was hearsay and not against penal interest where he justified his actions rather than incriminate himself, made stmt intending to claim self-incrimination, and gave minimal account of D's actions.
  • Trial court properly excluded V's wife's inculpatory statement as untrustworthy and not admissible under EC 1230 statement against penal interest.
  • Credibility of in-court witness not a proper consideration in determining admissibility of declaration against penal interest.
  • Focus of declaration against interest exception to hearsay rule is on trustworthiness of statement.
  • Testimony by D re another's admissions re crime properly excluded; lack indicia of trustworthiness.
  • Trial court may consider circumstances under which declaration was uttered and possible motivation of declarant and his relationship to D.