TDCAA Community
Authenticating Defendant's 911 Call/Audio

This topic can be found at:
https://tdcaa.infopop.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/157098965/m/1177034416

February 24, 2015, 11:29
LindsayPhillips
Authenticating Defendant's 911 Call/Audio
Greetings all!

Facts: Defendant witnesses the theft of his mother's truck and begins chasing the stolen vehicle. Defendant calls 911 while in pursuit of the stolen vehicle and speaks to the operator for quite some time. The driver of the stolen vehicle finally pulls over and Defendant exits his vehicle and shoots the driver of the stolen vehicle in his head, killing him instantly, all the while connected on the phone with the 911 operator.

Can anyone tell me how best to authenticate the audio recording of Defendant's 911 call at trial?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

-Lindsay
February 25, 2015, 14:08
Andrea W
Have someone familiar with the defendant's voice identify it. (And the 911 operator for his/her part.)
February 25, 2015, 15:38
Robert S. DuBoise
Completely agree. Have mama identify her son's voice on the tape (and frankly she can provide some same transaction contextual evidence on the car theft). Use the dispatcher to identify her voice--and you should be done.