State v. Woods

The defendant, George Woods, appeals from his conviction after a jury trial in Superior Court {Smith, J.) of felonious sexual assault on his seven-year-old niece. RSA 632-A:3, III. The primary focus of this appeal is the admissibility of the child’s hearsay statements presented through the testimony of her mother, brother, and physician. We reverse.

On the afternoon of June 4, 1986, the alleged victim went to the defendant’s home after school, as she had done nearly every day with her brothers, cousins, and other neighborhood children. The defendant was home early from work that day in order…