Evidence: Hearsay: Prior Statements of Trial Witnesses

• Prior Statements of Trial Witnesses – A witness’s own prior statement, if offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement, is hearsay and is inadmissible unless an exception or exclusion applies.
  

• Exceptions (exclusions): Prior statements that are excluded from the definition of hearsay – and thus admissible:
• Prior statement of identification.
• Prior inconsistent statement, if: Made under oath, during a formal proceeding.
  

• Prior consistent statement if: Used to rebut an accusation of a motive to lie and made before the motive to lie arose