Hailes v. State
Maryland Supreme Court
113 A.3d 608 (2015)
Facts
Melvin Pate was shot in the face. The bullet went through his neck and severed a cervical bone, paralyzing him. Two days after the shooting, the doctors told Pate that he had 24 hours to live. Upon hearing this, Pate cried. Two days after that diagnosis, Pate identified Jermaine Hailes (defendant) as the shooter. The following year, Pate was released from the hospital. Pate died from complications from the shooting approximately two years after the shooting. Hailes was charged with the murder of Pate. At trial, the prosecution (plaintiff) sought to introduce Pate’s identification of Hailes. The trial court admitted the identification as a dying declaration. Hailes was convicted, and he appealed, arguing that Pate’s identification of him was inadmissible hearsay.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Watts, J.)
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