Hawkins v. State

The appellant, Robert Lewis Hawkins, Jr., was indicted and convicted for the murder of Anthony Francis Carter. He was sentenced as a habitual offender to life imprisonment. Three issues are raised on appeal.

I

Hawkins argues that the typewritten transcript of his tape-recorded statement to the investigating officers was improperly admitted over the objections that it violated the best evidence rule and the parol evidence rule.

After his arrest, Hawkins was interrogated and gave an oral statement. This statement was tape-recorded and a written transcript was made from that recording.

Mobile Police…