Case Citation
Legal Case Name

People v. Wimberly Case Brief

California Court of Appeal1992Docket #2139802
5 Cal. App. 4th 439 6 Cal. Rptr. 2d 800 92 Daily Journal DAR 4944 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3131 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 481 Criminal Procedure Evidence Constitutional Law

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: An officer testified at a preliminary hearing, relaying statements from the victim (whom he interviewed) and a witness (from another officer’s report). The court held that the victim’s statements were admissible single hearsay, but the witness’s statements constituted inadmissible double hearsay.

Legal Significance: This case establishes that the hearsay exception for preliminary hearings under California’s Proposition 115 (Penal Code § 872(b)) does not permit an officer to testify to double hearsay from a declarant whom the officer has not personally interviewed.

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

At a preliminary hearing for burglary and grand theft, the prosecution’s sole witness was Detective Osman, a 12-year police veteran. To establish the corpus delicti, Osman testified to statements made to him directly by the victim during a follow-up investigation. To identify the defendant, Wimberly, as the perpetrator, Osman testified to statements made by the apartment manager, Mr. Schiro. However, Osman had not spoken to Schiro. Instead, he relayed what another officer, Officer Yahn, had written in the official crime report regarding Schiro’s statements. Schiro had allegedly told Yahn that he let Wimberly, the victim’s brother, into the apartment. The defendant objected to the admission of this double hearsay. The magistrate held the defendant to answer based on Osman’s testimony. The superior court subsequently granted the defendant’s motion to set aside the information under Penal Code § 995, finding the evidence insufficient.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Under California Penal Code § 872(b), may a qualified investigating officer, testifying at a preliminary hearing, relate double hearsay statements from a declarant whom the officer has not personally interviewed?

No. The testimony relating the apartment manager’s statements was inadmissible double hearsay. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididu

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

Under California Penal Code § 872(b), may a qualified investigating officer, testifying at a preliminary hearing, relate double hearsay statements from a declarant whom the officer has not personally interviewed?

Conclusion

This case provides a clear prohibition against the use of double hearsay Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis

Legal Rule

While Penal Code § 872(b) creates a hearsay exception allowing a qualified Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in cu

Legal Analysis

The court applied the California Supreme Court's interpretation of Penal Code § Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • Under Prop 115 (Penal Code § 872(b)), a qualified officer testifying
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui of

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