CHILDREN AND THE LAW
...Evidentiary Issues
......Hearsay Rule Exceptions
.........Spontaneous Declaration (Res Gestae)
8 Cards On This Topic:
  • Spontaneous declaration admissible to describe perceived events.
  • Testimony admitted under spontaneous declaration exception need not require showing of declarant’s unavailability under Confrontation Clause.
  • Harmless error to allow statements V made to third parties about the rape under spontaneous statement hearsay exception where V had time to deliberate and reflect.
  • Spontaneous statement need not be made at time of incident, but rather under circumstances such that statement made without reflection.
  • Lapse of time between event and declaration describing it and fact that declaration elicited by questioning do not deprive statement of spontaneity.
  • Evidence of spontaneous declaration not inadmissible simply because declarant too young to testify.
  • Statements made by victim immediately after crime and otherwise corroborated admissible as spontaneous statements.
  • Statements made by 5-year-old witness immediately after crime and otherwise corroborated admissible as spontaneous statements even though she did not testify.