Sanders v. State

OPINION

FABE, Chief Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

A criminal defendant on trial for two murders sought to admit a recording of a phone call to the police, placed by a young woman who had since died. On the recording, the young woman told a police officer that one of the victims had told her that both victims were conspiring to attack and rob the defendant. In support of his motion to admit the recording, the defendant argued that the recording was critical to his defense, which centered on justified self-defense and heat of passion. The defendant invoked the hearsay exceptions for a declarant's then…