State v. Phillips
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Opinions
CLECKLEY, Justice:
The appellant and defendant below, Craig G. Phillips, appeals his conviction following a jury verdict in the Circuit Court of Barbour County of second degree murder for shooting his wife. The defendant assigns several errors on appeal, including the trial court admission of hearsay and uncharged misconduct, and its refusal to strike two jurors for cause.1 For reasons discussed below, the conviction is reversed and the ease is remanded.
I.
FACTS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On the morning of April 29, 1991, Mr. Phillips shot his wife, Cynthia Phillips, in their home. There were no witnesses to the shooting. On the day of the shooting, the defendant maintains his gun jammed while he was turkey hunting early in the morning and he returned home. When the defendant arrived home, he brought the gun with him into the living room in order to ascertain the cause of the jamming. He told his wife the gun was malfunctioning and she suggested they return the gun and have it repaired.
While attempting to remove the shotgun shells, the defendant received a telephone call from his mother. At that time, Cynthia Phillips was resting on the sofa. The defendant claimed he became entangled in the telephone cord while attempting to eject the shotgun shells and talk on the telephone. As he stood up, cradling the receiver between his neck and shoulder, the shotgun accidentally discharged and fatally injured his wife. The defendant maintained he told his mother to call 911, hung up the phone, called 911 himself, exited the house in a panic, and yelled to a neighbor to call 911.
In contrast, the State produced evidence that Cynthia Phillips was not lying on the sofa at the time of the shooting. The State asserted that Mrs. Phillips was standing next to the sofa and the defendant moved her body to the sofa when she collapsed after being shot. Although there was no blood on the defendant when the emergency squad arrived, the clothes he wore hunting were never recovered.
[574]*574The State’s theory was that the couple had marital problems due mainly to the defendant’s extramarital affairs. The State contended that Cynthia Phillips found out about her husband’s most recent affair and was determined to get proof of his infidelity. The State argued that, when he returned from his hunting expedition, Cynthia Phillips confronted her husband, told him she intended to divorce him, and she would seek half of their substantial assets in the divorce proceeding. The defendant then fatally shot his wife during this heated confrontation.
The original investigation by the local police into the death of Cynthia Phillips resulted in a finding that the incident was an accident. The prosecutor and the State police conducted a separate investigation prompted by inconsistent statements about the shooting and, subsequently, the defendant was indicted for murder. The trial concluded with the jury returning a verdict of second degree murder against the defendant. The defendant appeals.
II.
DISCUSSION
The defendant appeals his conviction on several grounds. We limit our consideration of the assigned errors to two: (1) whether the trial court committed reversible error by permitting the multiple use of hearsay evidence, and (2) whether the defendant was wrongfully deprived of two of his statutory peremptory challenges.
A.
Hearsay Evidence
In his first assignment of error, the defendant contends the trial court erred by permitting the prosecution to elicit prejudicial hearsay testimony from various witnesses. Prosecution witnesses testified that the victim told them the defendant had numerous extramarital affairs; that she knew about his most recent girlfriend; and that she planned to divorce the defendant and take half of the marital assets if she discovered concrete evidence of his infidelity. Several witnesses also testified that the defendant was having a longstanding affair at the time of the shooting.
At the pretrial and in camera hearings, the prosecution argued that the proffered testimony fit within numerous hearsay exceptions and should be admitted at trial. The defendant objected to this evidence based on relevancy and the prejudicial effect of the hearsay testimony. However, the trial court admitted most of the contested testimony on the basis of present sense impression under Rule 803(1) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence and then existing mental, emotional, or physical condition under Rule 803(3) of the Rules of Evidence.2
Hearsay “is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” W.Va. R.Evid. 801(e). As we have previously stated in Syllabus Point 2 of State v. Dillon, 191 W.Va. 648, 447 S.E.2d 583 (1994):
“ ‘Generally, out-of-court statements made by someone other than the declarant while testifying are not admissible unless: 1) the statement is not being offered for the truth of the matter asserted, but for some other purpose such as motive, intent, state-of-mind, identification or reasonableness of the party’s action; 2) the statement is not hearsay under the rules; or 3) the [575]*575statement is hearsay but falls within an exception provided for in the rules.’ Syl. Pt. 1, State v. Maynard, 183 W.Va. 1, 393 S.E.2d 221 (1990).”
“Hearsay is presumptively untrustworthy because the out-of-court declarant cannot be cross-examined immediately as to any inaccuracy or ambiguity in his or her statement.” Glen Weissenberger, Hearsay Puzzles: An Essay on Federal Evidence Rule 803(B), 64 Temple L.Rev. 145 (1991). In criminal trials, hearsay evidence directly conflicts with the constitutional guarantees embodied in the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14 of Article III of the West Virginia Constitution. Recently, in Syllabus Point 1 of State v. Mason, 194 W.Va. 221, 460 S.E.2d 36 (1995), this Court explained the “mission” of the Confrontation Clause:
“The mission of the Confrontation Clause found in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14 of Article III of the West Virginia Constitution is to advance a practical concern for the accuracy of the truth-determining process in criminal trials, and the touchstone is whether there has been a satisfactory basis for evaluating the truth of the prior statement. An essential purpose of the Confrontation Clause is to ensure an opportunity for cross-examination. In exercising this right, an accused may cross-examine a witness to reveal possible biases, prejudices, or motives.”
Despite these concerns, both this Court and the United States Supreme Court have found the inherent untrustworthiness of such statements is eliminated if the evidence fits within a firmly grounded hearsay exception. See Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56, 100 S.Ct. 2531, 65 L.Ed.2d 597 (1980); State v. Wood, 180 Ariz. 53, 881 P.2d 1158 (1994), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 115 S.Ct. 2588, 132 L.Ed.2d 836 (1995); State v. James Edward S., 184 W.Va. 408, 400 S.E.2d 843 (1990). This Court has also found in Syllabus Point 6 of State v. Mason, supra:
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CLECKLEY, Justice:
The appellant and defendant below, Craig G. Phillips, appeals his conviction following a jury verdict in the Circuit Court of Barbour County of second degree murder for shooting his wife. The defendant assigns several errors on appeal, including the trial court admission of hearsay and uncharged misconduct, and its refusal to strike two jurors for cause.1 For reasons discussed below, the conviction is reversed and the ease is remanded.
I.
FACTS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On the morning of April 29, 1991, Mr. Phillips shot his wife, Cynthia Phillips, in their home. There were no witnesses to the shooting. On the day of the shooting, the defendant maintains his gun jammed while he was turkey hunting early in the morning and he returned home. When the defendant arrived home, he brought the gun with him into the living room in order to ascertain the cause of the jamming. He told his wife the gun was malfunctioning and she suggested they return the gun and have it repaired.
While attempting to remove the shotgun shells, the defendant received a telephone call from his mother. At that time, Cynthia Phillips was resting on the sofa. The defendant claimed he became entangled in the telephone cord while attempting to eject the shotgun shells and talk on the telephone. As he stood up, cradling the receiver between his neck and shoulder, the shotgun accidentally discharged and fatally injured his wife. The defendant maintained he told his mother to call 911, hung up the phone, called 911 himself, exited the house in a panic, and yelled to a neighbor to call 911.
In contrast, the State produced evidence that Cynthia Phillips was not lying on the sofa at the time of the shooting. The State asserted that Mrs. Phillips was standing next to the sofa and the defendant moved her body to the sofa when she collapsed after being shot. Although there was no blood on the defendant when the emergency squad arrived, the clothes he wore hunting were never recovered.
[574]*574The State’s theory was that the couple had marital problems due mainly to the defendant’s extramarital affairs. The State contended that Cynthia Phillips found out about her husband’s most recent affair and was determined to get proof of his infidelity. The State argued that, when he returned from his hunting expedition, Cynthia Phillips confronted her husband, told him she intended to divorce him, and she would seek half of their substantial assets in the divorce proceeding. The defendant then fatally shot his wife during this heated confrontation.
The original investigation by the local police into the death of Cynthia Phillips resulted in a finding that the incident was an accident. The prosecutor and the State police conducted a separate investigation prompted by inconsistent statements about the shooting and, subsequently, the defendant was indicted for murder. The trial concluded with the jury returning a verdict of second degree murder against the defendant. The defendant appeals.
II.
DISCUSSION
The defendant appeals his conviction on several grounds. We limit our consideration of the assigned errors to two: (1) whether the trial court committed reversible error by permitting the multiple use of hearsay evidence, and (2) whether the defendant was wrongfully deprived of two of his statutory peremptory challenges.
A.
Hearsay Evidence
In his first assignment of error, the defendant contends the trial court erred by permitting the prosecution to elicit prejudicial hearsay testimony from various witnesses. Prosecution witnesses testified that the victim told them the defendant had numerous extramarital affairs; that she knew about his most recent girlfriend; and that she planned to divorce the defendant and take half of the marital assets if she discovered concrete evidence of his infidelity. Several witnesses also testified that the defendant was having a longstanding affair at the time of the shooting.
At the pretrial and in camera hearings, the prosecution argued that the proffered testimony fit within numerous hearsay exceptions and should be admitted at trial. The defendant objected to this evidence based on relevancy and the prejudicial effect of the hearsay testimony. However, the trial court admitted most of the contested testimony on the basis of present sense impression under Rule 803(1) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence and then existing mental, emotional, or physical condition under Rule 803(3) of the Rules of Evidence.2
Hearsay “is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” W.Va. R.Evid. 801(e). As we have previously stated in Syllabus Point 2 of State v. Dillon, 191 W.Va. 648, 447 S.E.2d 583 (1994):
“ ‘Generally, out-of-court statements made by someone other than the declarant while testifying are not admissible unless: 1) the statement is not being offered for the truth of the matter asserted, but for some other purpose such as motive, intent, state-of-mind, identification or reasonableness of the party’s action; 2) the statement is not hearsay under the rules; or 3) the [575]*575statement is hearsay but falls within an exception provided for in the rules.’ Syl. Pt. 1, State v. Maynard, 183 W.Va. 1, 393 S.E.2d 221 (1990).”
“Hearsay is presumptively untrustworthy because the out-of-court declarant cannot be cross-examined immediately as to any inaccuracy or ambiguity in his or her statement.” Glen Weissenberger, Hearsay Puzzles: An Essay on Federal Evidence Rule 803(B), 64 Temple L.Rev. 145 (1991). In criminal trials, hearsay evidence directly conflicts with the constitutional guarantees embodied in the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14 of Article III of the West Virginia Constitution. Recently, in Syllabus Point 1 of State v. Mason, 194 W.Va. 221, 460 S.E.2d 36 (1995), this Court explained the “mission” of the Confrontation Clause:
“The mission of the Confrontation Clause found in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14 of Article III of the West Virginia Constitution is to advance a practical concern for the accuracy of the truth-determining process in criminal trials, and the touchstone is whether there has been a satisfactory basis for evaluating the truth of the prior statement. An essential purpose of the Confrontation Clause is to ensure an opportunity for cross-examination. In exercising this right, an accused may cross-examine a witness to reveal possible biases, prejudices, or motives.”
Despite these concerns, both this Court and the United States Supreme Court have found the inherent untrustworthiness of such statements is eliminated if the evidence fits within a firmly grounded hearsay exception. See Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56, 100 S.Ct. 2531, 65 L.Ed.2d 597 (1980); State v. Wood, 180 Ariz. 53, 881 P.2d 1158 (1994), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 115 S.Ct. 2588, 132 L.Ed.2d 836 (1995); State v. James Edward S., 184 W.Va. 408, 400 S.E.2d 843 (1990). This Court has also found in Syllabus Point 6 of State v. Mason, supra:
“For purposes of the Confrontation Clause found in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14 of Article III of the West Virginia Constitution, no independent inquiry into reliability is required when the evidence falls within a firmly rooted hearsay exception.”
However, we recognize that “exceptions cannot permit the admission of hearsay that is less trustworthy than the minimum necessary to satisfy the confrontation requirements.” Stanley A. Goldman, Not So “Firmly Rooted”: Exceptions to the Confrontation Clause, 66 N.C. L.Rev. 1, 5 (1987).
Besides trustworthiness, of equal concern is the relevancy of hearsay evidence. Rule 403 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence provides for the exclusion of relevant evidence on grounds of prejudice, confusion, or waste of time.3 There is no provision excusing hearsay evidence from meeting the basic requirement of relevancy for admission. In State v. Satterfield, 193 W.Va. 503, 512, 457 S.E.2d 440, 449 (1995), this Court stated that even if a trial court finds an extrajudicial statement is admissible under our hearsay rules,
“[t]he trial judge must additionally analyze whether the ... [statement] is relevant pursuant to W.Va.R.Evid. 401 and, if so, thereby admissible pursuant to W.Va.R.Evid. 402. However, if the probative value of the evidence ‘is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, then, although relevant, the evidence may be excluded pursuant to W.Va.R.Evid. 403.”
The statements at issue in the present case were admitted by the trial court as exceptions to the hearsay rule under Rule 803(1) (present sense impression) and Rule 803(3) (then existing mental, physical, or emotional condition). We will discuss each of these exceptions in turn.
[576]*5761. Present Sense Impression
The present sense impression exception4 is an outgrowth of the common law res gestae (a Latin phrase meaning “things done”) exception and a cousin to the excited utterance exception embodied in Rule 803(2) of the Rules of Evidence.5 See T.P. Hardman, Spontaneous Exclamations v. Res Gestae, 25 W. Va. L.Q. 341 (1918). The res gestae exception was an umbrella exception that permitted trial courts to admit assorted spontaneous extrajudicial statements if there was contemporaneity between the act established and the declarations, “precluding the reflection that gives rise to falsehood.” Reynolds v. W.T. Grant Co., 117 W.Va. 615, 620, 186 S.E. 603, 605 (1936); State v. Coram, 116 W.Va. 492, 182 S.E. 83 (1935); Thompson v. Updegraff, 3 W.Va. 629 (1869); Beckwith v. Mollohan, 2 W.Va. 477 (1868).
Many jurisdictions, including this State, have codified a part of the res gestae exception by adopting verbatim the present sense impression found in the Federal Rules of Evidence.6 However, most states have failed to discuss the appropriate standards for this exception. Instead of grappling with the intricacies of the exception, frequently courts have so interwoven the definition of present sense impression with that of the excited utterance exception that the two exceptions are virtually synonymous and indistinct. See United States v. Narciso, 446 F.Supp. 252, 286 (E.D.Mich. S.D.1977) (“traditionally, the distinction between an ‘excited utterance’ and a ‘present sense impression’ has not been as precise as the authors of the Federal Rules of Evidence have made it”); State v. Maestas, 92 N.M. 135, 584 P.2d 182 (1978) (statements made at hospital to her mother by victim of severe beating were admissible under Rules 803(1) and 803(2)). However, as we discuss below, we recognize there will be situations where both exceptions may not be equally applicable.
Under Rule 803(1), the present sense impression is defined as “a statement describing or explaining an event or condition made while the declarant was perceiving the event or condition, or immediately thereafter.” As any exception under Rule 803, proof of the unavailability of the declarant is not a prerequisite for admission. The rationale for this exception is that “substantial ‘contemporaneity’ of event and statement negates the possibility of conscious misrepresentation.” 2 Franklin D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 8-3(B)(1) at 194 (1994).
If the present sense impression statement is made “‘under stress of excitement from the event or condition that it describes or explains, then it overlaps’ ” with the excited utterance exception. Booth v. State, 306 Md. 313, 323, 508 A.2d 976, 980 (1986). (Citation omitted). Confusion between the present sense impression and the excited utterance exception arises because the average person is “more likely to remark upon unusual and exciting events rather than those of ordinary character,” but both exceptions could apply for statements arising from exciting events.7 2 Franklin D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 8-3(B)(l) at 196.
[577]*577Despite the possibility that Rule 803(1) can be used in exciting circumstances, clearly the definition of the present sense impression indicates the contested statement need not be the result of an exciting event. In fact, the key difference between the present sense impression exception and the excited utterance exception is that present sense impression requires contemporaneity while the central requirement of an excited utterance is that the declarant still be under the pressure of the exciting event. See 3 Stephen A. Saltzburg, Michael M. Martin, and Daniel J. Capra, Federal Rules of Evidence Manual 1390 (6th ed. 1994).8
We hold that it is within a trial court’s discretion to admit an out-of-court statement under the present sense impression exception if: (1) The statement was made at the time or shortly after an event; (2) the statement describes the event; and (3) the event giving rise to the statement was within a declarant’s personal knowledge. Additionally, it is appropriate for a trial court to weigh the corroboration of an event (or the absence thereof) by an independent witness in evaluating the trustworthiness of the statement.
We will first consider the necessity of the spontaneity of the statement. As indi-eated above, contemporaneity of a statement reduces the possibility of fabrication and memory lapses. Theoretically, the reliability of the statement increases as the length of time between the statement made and the event described decreases. However, we recognize that at times, “ ‘precise contemporaneity’” is not always possible, thus slight delays are permissible. Booth v. State, 306 Md. at 320, 508 A.2d at 979. (Citation omitted). The goal then is to determine whether “sufficient time elapsed to have permitted reflective thought.” 2 John W. Strong, McCormick on Evidence § 271 at 214 (4th ed. 1992). Thus, a functional test for contemporaneity is to determine “whether the proximity in time is sufficient to reduce the hearsay dangers of faulty memory and insincerity.” 2 Franklin D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 8-3(B)(1) at 195. This Court cannot create a bright line time limit beyond which a statement would be deemed presumptively unreliable because this functional test is necessarily dependant on the individual facts of a case. Such a factual analysis is properly vested with a trial court, and we will not reverse absent an abuse of discretion.9 However, there must be some evidence concerning the lapse of time or there is no foundation for the [578]*578admission of this evidence. See State v. Williams, 395 A.2d 1158, 1163 (Me.1978) (“victim’s statement ... coming as it did after an undetermined lapse of time from the triggering event, does not possess the indicia of trustworthiness to qualify as a present sense impression”).
The second element of the present sense impression exception is that the statement must describe or explain the event or condition and not just “relate to” the event, as is permissible for excited utterances. Therefore, a statement that is only evoked by an event and does not describe it is inadmissible under Rule 803(1). This limitation may be the deciding factor in cases where it is doubtful whether an event is sufficiently exciting to fit within the excited utterance exception of Rule 803(2). See Jack B. Weinstein & Margaret A. Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence ¶ 803(1)[01] at 803-95 (1994). Similarly, certain statements like “[njarratives of past events or statements on other subjects are meant to be excluded ... because they lack the required contemporaneity.” Jack B. Weinstein & Margaret A. Berger, supra, at ¶803(1)[01] at 803-95. (Footnote omitted). See also United States v. Phelps, 572 F.Supp. 262 (E.D.Ky.1983) (declarant’s statements involved event occurring in past instead of present sense impression).
The third element that is implied by the text of Rule 803(1) is there must be proof that the declarant is speaking from personal knowledge. Personal knowledge does not mean the declarant of the present sense impression is required to be a participant in the event described. The difficult question under this element is what is the “quantity and quality of evidence required to demonstrate the existence of the requisite personal knowledge!!?]” Booth v. State, 306 Md. at 325, 508 A.2d at 981. At times, if the statement is sufficiently descriptive, it may itself demonstrate the declarant’s knowledge. However, barring this happenstance, a trial court is permitted to accept extrinsic evidence to satisfy this requirement. The personal knowledge requirement, while not de minimus, is not meant to be a very difficult standard and may be satisfied if it is more likely than not that the evidence proves the percipiency of the declarant. See W.Va. R.Evid. 104(b) & 602.10
The last point we must consider is' whether the declarant’s statements must be corroborated by an independent and equally percipient witness. Jurisdictions disagree about whether these independent observers are necessary for admissibility. There are three competing viewpoints on the necessity of corroboration: the first group rejects a corroboration requirement11; the second group finds corroboration is a factor guaranteeing trustworthiness12; and the third group requires corroboration.13 The advantage, of course, in requiring strict corroboration is that a statement’s reliability not only [579]*579will be enhanced, but there will be a separate witness available to question concerning the events surrounding the statement. However, the end result of such a strict requirement is that many trustworthy, uncorroborated statements would be excluded simply out of formulaic concerns.
We reject both extremes and follow those states that use corroboration merely as a relevant element bearing on trustworthiness. Thus, we find that it is within the discretion of a trial court to consider corroborating evidence “in determining whether a statement not exactly contemporaneous qualifies for admission.” Weinstein & Berger, Wein-stein’s Evidence ¶ 803(1)[01] at 803-93. By adopting this corroboration element, we do not mean to suggest that a separate showing of trustworthiness is required for a statement to be admissible. A descriptive statement made by a percipient declarant contemporaneous with an event is sufficient to justify admissibility. See 2 Franklin D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 8-3(B)(l) at 194. See also Stanley A. Goldman, Not so “Firmly Rooted": Exceptions to the Confrontation Clause, supra (discussing the shortcomings of various hearsay exceptions and advocating a case-by-case trustworthiness analysis).
2. Then Existing Mental, Emotional, or Physical Condition
The second hearsay exception at issue in this case is the then existing mental, emotional, or physical condition exception under Rule 803(3) of the Rules of Evidence. Under Rule 803(3), a statement which is hearsay is admissible if it is “a statement of the declar-ant’s then existing state of mind, emotion, or physical condition (such as intent, plan, motive, design, mental feeling, pain, and bodily health)[.]” This exception encompasses the following four kinds of extrajudicial statements:
“statements of present bodily condition; statements of present state of mind or emotion, offered to prove a state of mind or emotion of the declarant that is ‘in issue’ in the case; statements of present state of mind — usually intent, plan, or design — offered to prove subsequent conduct of the declarant in accordance with the state of mind; and statements of a testator indicating his state of mind offered on certain issues in a will case.” 2 Franklin D. Cleck-ley, Handbook on West Virginia Evidence § 8-3(B)(3) at 207.
Statements admissible under Rule 803(3) must relate to the state of mind existing at the time of the communication. As a result of this requirement, the statements take on special reliability because of the “spontaneous quality of the declarations[.]” 2 John W. Strong, McCormick on Evidence § 273 at 226 (4th ed. 1992). Necessity also plays a key factor in the admissibility of statements under Rule 803(3). Frequently, the mental or physical condition of a declarant is of great significance in a case. Spontaneous statements as to condition at the time the statement was made are often the best and only indications of the declarant’s condition at the time in question.
The first two categories of statements admissible under this exception are fairly straightforward. The first — statements of present state of mind to prove the state of mind of the declarant that is in issue in a case — is admissible to prove such things as motive, intent, reliance, etc., of the declarant. However, the key factor for this type of statement is that the declarant’s state of mind is at issue and relevant to the resolution of the case.14 As a partial guarantee of trustworthiness, the statements introduced must be made under circumstances indicative of sincerity. 2 Franklin D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 8-3(B)(3)(c) at 209.
The second category of statements permissible under this exception — statements of present bodily condition — is similar to the first form of excepted hearsay in that statements proving the declarant’s present physical condition are also admissible when relevant. See, e.g., Fidelity Serv. Ins. Co. v. [580]*580Jones, 280 Ala. 195, 191 So.2d 20 (1966) (declarant complained of blackouts and sickness); Shover v. Iowa Lutheran Hosp., 252 Iowa 706, 107 N.W.2d 85 (1961) (witness testified that plaintiff said she was hurt).15 However, statements as to past physical or mental condition are not permissible under either the first or second category.
The third manner of admitting statements under Rule 803(3) is as proof of the declarant’s subsequent action in compliance with the state of mind. State v. Gangwer, 168 W.Va. 190, 198, 283 S.E.2d 839, 844 (1981). See also Mutual Life Ins. Co. of N.Y. v. Hillmon, 145 U.S. 285, 12 S.Ct. 909, 36 L.Ed. 706 (1892), superseded by rule as stated in U.S. v. Houlihan, 871 F.Supp. 1495 (D.Mass.1994) (a seminal ease for this form of statement). Under this form of statement, the declarant’s state of mind does not have to be in issue in the case; the exception extends to include statements that are “merely relevant evidence on an external fact in dispute concerning the declarant’s conduct at a subsequent time.” 2 Franklin D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 8-3(B)(3)(c) at 211. The special reliability implicit in the other forms of statements is often less in this category because “it is significantly less likely that a declared intention will be carried out than it is that a declared state of mind is actually held.” 2 John W. Strong, McCormick on Evidence § 275 at 234. For example, in a murder prosecution, a defendant’s statements that he planned on killing the victim is stronger evidence of the defendant’s malice toward the victim than that the defendant actually committed the murder. See 2 John W. Strong, McCormick on Evidence § 275 at 234.
The fourth form of statements permits admission of statements of a testator that indicate his state of mind on certain issues. Statements of memory or belief, which are excluded under the other categories,16 are admissible to prove the testator’s statements about various issues relating to the “ ‘execution, revocation, identification, or terms’ ” of a will. 2 Franklin D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 8—3(B)(3)(d) at 214. However, other forms of statements like those showing the conduct of others are inadmissible.
A statement introduced under the state-of-mind exception must also be tested under the relevancy requirements of Rule 40117 and 40218 of the Rules of Evidence before it can be admitted. See 2 Franklin D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 8-3(B)(3)(a); State v. Gangwer, supra. If the declarant’s state of mind, etc., is irrelevant to the resolution of the case, then the evidence must be excluded. United States v. Kelly, 718 F.2d 661 (4th Cir.1983).
After determining the relevancy of the evidence, a trial court must evaluate the probative and prejudicial weight of the evi[581]*581dence under Rule 403. State v. Satterfield, 193 W.Va. at 512, 457 S.E.2d at 449. Rule 403 creates a balancing test allowing the exclusion of relevant evidence if the “probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” The evaluation of the probative weight versus prejudicial weight of evidence is left to the sound discretion of the trial court and its judgment will not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion. Gable v. Kroger Co., 186 W.Va. 62, 410 S.E.2d 701 (1991); State v. Dillon, supra. Additionally, “[t]he balancing necessary under Rule 403 must affirmatively appear on the record.” State v. McGinnis, 193 W.Va. 147, 156, 455 S.E.2d 516, 525 (1994).
Testing state-of-mind evidence under Rule 403 is imperative because the failure to do so could result in the admis.sion of statements that fit within the language of Rule 803(3), but are highly prejudicial. One form of prejudice that could result is when a statement reflecting the state of mind of a declarant is used “for the truth of an event other than the declarant’s state of mind.” 3 Stephen A. Saltzburg, Michael M. Martin, and Daniel J. Capra, Federal Rules of Evidence Manual at 1399. Thus, a statement reflecting a victim’s fear of a defendant, which could permissibly show the victim was unlikely to behave in a certain manner,19 might also be misused to show the victim had reason to fear the defendant. If such a case arose, the statement would have to be challenged under Rule 403 because there is no provision in Rule 803(3) to exclude potentially prejudicial statements of this nature.
3. Admissibility of the Statements
Having reviewed the standards for the hearsay exceptions implicated in this case, we must now determine whether the trial court properly admitted any of the contested statements under Rules 803(1) or 803(3). We will discuss the testimony of the following four witnesses: Dora Clark, Vonda Abbott, Patty Isner Marsh, and Mary Phillips.20
[582]*582At trial, two of the victim’s sisters, Dora Clark and Vonda Abbott, testified that the victim, Mrs. Abbott, and others traveled to Florida to visit Mrs. Clark and her family during February of 1991. It was asserted that on February 9, 1991, the victim had a telephone conversation with the defendant. After the call, the victim became very upset and stated she believed the defendant was having an affair and, when she returned to West Virginia, she would divorce him and seek half of the marital assets. The prosecution sought a ruling in limine regarding Mrs. Clark’s testimony. During both of the hearings, the prosecution offered the same justification for the admission of this testimony:
“[PROSECUTION]: Yes, Your Honor, I believe that testimony about Dora Clark in Florida will be also relevant for under number 803(1). The testimony and foundation for that will be there was a telephone call received from Mr. Phillips while she [the victim] was at her sister’s house in Florida, and upon receiving the telephone call she was very upset, and in the presence of Dora Clark, her sister, Vonda Abbott, her sister, and Alvin Abbott, her brother-in-law, she made those statements. They included ... the plan that she was going to come home and tell Craig [the defendant] she was going to get a divorce. ...
“THE COURT: Do you know how long after she received this phone call?
“[PROSECUTION]: Immediately. When she [the victim] came out — when I say immediately within five minutes, Your Honor. My understanding is the foundation for this will be that she came out of the bedroom where she received the call into — maybe passing into the living room into the kitchen where the ladies were.”
Defense counsel objected to Mrs. Clark’s testimony based mainly upon relevancy. The trial court admitted the evidence under Rule 803(1), present sense impression, and/or Rule 803(3), state-of-mind:
“THE COURT: The Court is of the impression that the hearsay testimony expected to be elicited by the defendant is an exception to the hearsay rule under 803(1) assuming that the statement made by the declarant was made shortly after a phone call between her and her husband, and will be admitted as a hearsay exception. The Court further believes that the statement is relevant to show overall motive concerning that crime of which the defendant stands accused. Show the objection of the defendant to the ruling of the Court.”
At trial, the prosecution asked both witnesses a few preliminary questions about the victim answering a telephone call from the defendant and the victim’s emotional state following the call. Both witnesses confirmed the fact the victim was upset and crying after talking on the phone to the defendant. The prosecution specifically asked both the witnesses whether the victim said anything about a divorce and a possible property settlement. Mrs. Clark responded “she [the victim] said she was at her wits end, and she wanted to get a divorce” and the victim wanted half of the marital assets to care for her son who suffered from diabetes and because she deserved half since she had worked hard for the property.
Mrs. Abbott’s response to the prosecution’s questions was nearly identical. In her testimony, Mrs. Abbott stated that the victim said “she was going to get a divorce * * * [and that] ... [s]he only wanted half of what she worked so hard to get.” Unlike the prosecution’s proffer during the hearings, neither of the witnesses admitted at trial that the victim planned to confront the defendant.
The Phillips’ housekeeper, Patty Isner Marsh, testified the couple had marital problems and that the defendant had extramarital affairs. Ms. Marsh testified the victim told her the defendant “hadn’t touched her physically since she came back from Hawaii ... [and that] [i]n fact she said he hadn’t made love to her[.]” Ms. Marsh also indicated this fact concerned the victim. The prosecution then asked Ms. Marsh whether she was aware of a relationship between the defendant and Linda Hedrick. The witness responded she knew the defendant was having an affair with someone prior to the victim’s death, but did not know who it was until after the victim died. Ms. Marsh also answered “yes” when the prosecution asked her whether she knew if the defendant had prior [583]*583affairs. Upon request, Ms. Marsh proceeded to discuss other affairs. However, the defense quickly objected. The trial court ruled Ms. Marsh could testify only about affairs of which she had personal knowledge and instructed the jury to disregard any statements regarding affairs with people other than the one in which Ms. Marsh had personal knowledge. She also implied that when the defendant would finish an affair, he would give his wife a ring, which the wife then nicknamed after each paramour.
Mary Phillips testified that three days before the shooting, the victim came into a store where Ms. Phillips was working and appeared to be upset. Ms. Phillips testified she asked the victim why she was upset and the victim told her she had found a receipt for an expensive ring. The prosecution then asked the witness whether the victim said anything about the ring and what the victim actually said. In response, Ms. Phillips testified the victim stated “that there had been one [ring] purchased at a Elkins jewelry "'store ... and that she [the victim] was going to go to try to find out who it was purchased for. And if she did find out, and could get evidence, I guess, then she was going to file for a divorce.” These statements were ad•mitted under Rule 803(B), the state-of-mind exception.
The prosecution contends the trial court properly admitted the statements, allowing it to prove the victim was contemplating divorce because of the defendant’s longstanding affair with another woman. The resultant disharmony coupled with the. valuable assets of the couple offered a motive for the defendant to murder his wife. The prosecution argues that if the admission of this evidence was improper, it did not have a prejudicial effect upon the jury sufficient to warrant reversal. We disagree and find the trial court erred in admitting the aforementioned statements as exceptions under Rule 803(1) or Rule 803(3).
First, the inapplicability of Rule 803(1) is obvious. None of the disputed testimony describes or explains any particular event or condition. Second, without focusing on a particular event or condition, the statements are unable to satisfy the requirement of contemporaneity. Although a startling event is not required under Rule 803(1), it is necessary that the statement describing a particular event or condition be made at the time the event or condition is occurring or very shortly thereafter. Far from describing or explaining an event or condition, the victim’s comments to the witnesses were only narrative statements of what the victim knew from past information and what future action she intended to take based on her husband’s past infidelities. For example, the victim’s comments to her sisters after the telephone conversation were not an attempt to describe or explain the conversation, but were rather a revelation of her marital relationship with the defendant. Similarly, her statements to Ms. Marsh and Ms. Phillips were merely descriptions of past .experiences and future plans. Rule 803(1) guarantees of trustworthiness are entirely absent in these conversations.
As stated by the Pennsylvania court in Commonwealth v. Farquharson, 467 Pa. 50, 68, 354 A.2d 545, 554 (1976), citing Commonwealth v. Coleman, 458 Pa. 112, 117, 326 A.2d 387, 389 (1974):
“Under this exception the necessity for the presence of a startling occurrence or accident to serve as a source of reliability is not required. The truthfulness of the utterance is dependent upon its spontaneity. It must be certain from the circumstances that the utterance is a reflex product of immediate sensual impressions, unaided by retrospective mental processes. Restated, the utterance must be ‘instinctive, rather than deliberate.’”
Here, the evidence failed to establish the declaration of the victim was “‘instinctive, rather than deliberative — in short, the reflex product of the immediate sensual impression, unaided by retrospective mental action.’” Municipality of Bethel Park v. W.C.A.B., 161 Pa.Commw. 274, 280, 636 A.2d 1254, 1257, appeal granted, 538 Pa. 617, 645 A.2d 1320 (1994). (Citations omitted). It was, rather, an expression based on the victim’s past knowledge of the defendant. As suggested earlier, a statement that is only evoked by an event but does not describe it is inadmissible under Rule 803(1).
[584]*584The argument for admissibility under Rule 803(3) is more persuasive considering the victim’s statements could have indicated her state of mind; but, even here, there are several problems preventing the admissibility of the statements under this exception. Although the declarant’s state of mind does not have to be directly in issue for the statement to be admissible under Rule 803(3), where a statement is introduced to show the declarant subsequently acted in compliance with this state of mind, the state of mind must be relevant.21 In this ease, the declarant’s state of mind was not directly in issue and was only remotely related to the issues in this case. The issue before the jury was whether the shooting was accidental. When standing alone, it was of no consequence to the jury’s task whether the victim believed her husband had been unfaithful and she intended to pursue divorce proceedings.
In some criminal cases, the state of mind of the victim may be relevant to show such things as the victim’s probable behavior in cases where the defendant is claiming self-defense or that the victim voluntarily behaved in a certain manner.22 In this case, the defendant is contending his wife’s death resulted from an accident. None of the statements admitted would have been useful in refuting this defense.23 The contention that the testimony was relevant to prove motive is too tenuous. Even if we analyze the evidence under the more liberal Rule 104(b),24 we do not believe the evidence introduced by the prosecution is sufficient to support a finding that the defendant’s motive to kill his wife was because of her efforts to get a divorce. In fact, the closest case we can find to the facts in this case is People v. Lang, 106 Ill.App.3d 808, 815, 62 Ill.Dec. 510, 516, 436 N.E.2d 260, 263 (1982). There, the court held the victim’s state of mind was relevant to rebut the defendant’s claim that the marriage was a happy one and that the shooting of the wife was accidental. The defendant attempted to establish that on the night of the shooting he and the victim attended a family gathering. The prosecution was permitted to introduce evidence that the wife made several statements to her friends in regard to the rotten relationship she had with her husband. The court found in light of this evidence the victim’s state of mind was relevant:
“The statements were relevant to the case because of the defendant’s testimony on behalf of the defense.... [T]he defendant also testified that he had a good marriage [585]*585and believed that the decedent was happy in the marriage.
* * * * * *
“... The rebuttal testimony as to the decedent’s state of mind was relevant to rebut the defense testimony concerning the marital accord between the defendant and the decedent, to respond to the defendant’s version of how his wife was shot and to suggest a possible motive for the defendant’s crime.” 106 Ill.App.3d at 815, 62 Ill.Dec. at 516, 436 N.E.2d at 266. (Emphasis added).
Of course, the key to that case was that the testimony concerning the wife’s state of mind came in rebuttal to the defendant’s claim of a happy marriage. In the case sub judice, the prosecution initiated the evidence in its casein-chief. No door had been opened by the defense.
There are other difficulties with the trial court’s ruling that must be addressed. First, there are two components to the victim’s statement: (a) She intended to get a divorce and to seek half of the marital assets; and (b) she was going to do take this action because the defendant had or was -engaging in extramarital affairs. Even if the declarations were relevant to show the state of mind of the wife, the statements as suggested above go much further and reveal details about extramarital affairs. The latter statement is not reflective of future intentions, but is a fact remembered and is specifically excluded from the exception. We recently adopted the hearsay analysis of the United States Supreme Court in Williamson v. United States, — U.S. -, 114 S.Ct. 2431, 129 L.Ed.2d 476 (1994), when dealing with narrative extrajudicial statements. In State v. Mason, 194 W.Va. at 229-230, 460 S.E.2d at 44-45, we stated:
“Using the broad definition of ‘statement’ articulated in Rule 801(a)(1) — ‘an oral or written assertion’ — as a point of departure, Williamson went on to explain the significance of the term for purposes of Rule 804(b)(3). Williamson, — U.S. at -, 114 S.Ct. at 2434, 129 L.Ed.2d at 482. Specifically, the Supreme Court concluded that the word ‘statement’ means ‘ “a single declaration or remark,” ’ rather than ‘ “a report or narrative,”’ reasoning that this ‘narrower reading’ is consistent with the principles underlying the rule. — U.S. at -, 114 S.Ct. at 2434-35, 129 L.Ed.2d at 482, quoting Webster’s Third New Internar tional Dictionary 2229, defn. 2(a) and (b) (1961). Thus, when ruling upon the admission of a narrative under this rule, a trial court must break down the narrative and determine the separate admissibility of each ‘ “single declaration or remark.” ’ This exercise is a ‘fact-intensive inquiry’ that requires ‘careful examination of all the circumstances surrounding the criminal activity involved[.]’ — U.S. at -, 114 S.Ct. at 2437, 129 L.Ed.2d at 486.”
Had the trial court dissected each part of the hearsay statements of each witness, it is clear that all the conversations of the victim could not qualify under either of the exceptions. Second, the trial court, when confronted with a relevancy objection, failed to comply with any of the standards we established in State v. McGinnis, supra, and its progeny.25 In addition to not being within the Rule 803(3) exception, these statements when admitted without judicial control and supervision became very detrimental to the defendant because of their potential for misuse by the jury.
Because we find the admission of these statements error, we must now determine whether their admission constituted reversible error. When dealing with the wrongful admission of evidence, we have stated that the appropriate test for harmlessness is whether, after stripping the erroneous evidence from the whole, we can say with fair [586]*586assurance that the remaining evidence independently was sufficient to support the verdict and the jury was not substantially swayed by the error. State v. Atkins, 163 W.Va. 502, 261 S.E.2d 55 (1979), cert. denied, 445 U.S. 904, 100 S.Ct. 1081, 63 L.Ed.2d 320 (1980).
After excluding all the impermissible evidence, we cannot say the jury would have arrived at the same result considering the pervasive nature of the evidence admitted. There is no direct evidence as to what happened that fateful morning, and the State relied on circumstantial evidence of the victim’s state of mind and her intention to seek a divorce to set the scene for the incident. Despite the prosecution’s attempts to downplay the importance of the contested testimony, it is clear the statements constituted a significant portion of the State’s theory of the defendant’s motive. We, of course, do not know what the jury found persuasive. However, it is not improbable to believe the jury found the evidence of marital infidelity extremely compelling. For these reasons, we cannot find the wrongful admission of this evidence to be harmless error.
B.
Jury Panel
The defendant asserts two jurors should have been struck for cause. During individual voir dire, both of these potential jurors admitted that evidence of adultery might have a negative impact on their determination of the defendant’s guilt. Under this theory, the defendant makes two arguments: (1) He was denied an impartial jury panel; and (2) because the defendant was required to use two of his peremptory challenges on the two allegedly disqualified jurors, he was denied his statutory right to six peremptory challenges. The prosecution argues the trial court did not err in refusing to strike the two jurors for cause because neither said that their dislike of adultery alone would dictate their verdict.
The defendant made a pretrial motion for individual voir dire of the jury, and the trial court granted this motion. The individual voir dire of the prospective jurors was conducted in the judge’s chambers after the preliminary disqualification of five jurors and the dismissal of fourteen more jurors for bias or personal relationships. During the voir dire questioning, two of the jurors, Nancy Mayle and Pat Hollen, indicated their general dislike of adultery. After thorough questioning by the trial court and counsel, the defendant objected to both the jurors for cause, arguing the jurors would not be able to separate their bias against adultery from the determination of the defendant’s guilt.
The first part of the defendant’s argument is that the presence of the two biased jurors on the jury panel denied his right to an impartial jury under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Section 14 of Article III of the West Virginia Constitution. We find the defendant’s reliance on an accused’s constitutional right to an impartial jury is misplaced.
In Ross v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 81, 108 S.Ct. 2273, 101 L.Ed.2d 80 (1988), the defendant asserted he was denied his constitutional right to an impartial jury because he was forced to use one of his peremptory challenges when the trial court failed to remove a juror for cause. The Supreme Court agreed that the juror should have been dismissed for cause. However, affirming the defendant’s conviction, the Supreme Court specifically held that the loss of a peremptory challenge because of a trial court’s improper failure to grant a challenge for cause does not amount to a violation of a constitutional right without a showing of prejudice. The Supreme Court reasoned that even though the defendant was forced to use a peremptory challenge to cure the trial court’s error, the loss of a peremptory challenge did not impair his right to an impartial jury. The Supreme Court also repeated its long held opinion that “peremptory challenges are not of constitutional dimension.” 487 U.S. at 88, 108 S.Ct. at 2278, 101 L.Ed.2d at 90. Thus, “[s]o long as the jury that sits is impartial, the fact that the defendant had to use a peremptory challenge to achieve that result does not mean the Sixth Amendment was violated.” 487 U.S. at 88, 108 S.Ct. at 2278, 101 L.Ed.2d at 90. We [587]*587concur with this part of the Ross opinion.26
The mere presence of a biased prospective juror on a jury panel, although undesirable, does not threaten a defendant’s constitutional right to an impartial jury if the biased panel member does not actually serve on the jury that convicts the defendant. Although a defendant may be forced to use a peremptory challenge to remove a juror that should have been removed for cause does not alone invalidate the fact “the juror was ‘thereby removed from the jury as effectively as if the trial court had excused him for cause.’” U.S. v. Cruz, 993 F.2d 164, 168 (8th Cir.1993), quoting Ross v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. at 86, 108 S.Ct. at 2277, 101 L.Ed.2d at 88. Peremptory challenges are merely a means of achieving an impartial jury. They are “neither mandated by the [United States or the West Virginia] Constitution nor of constitutional dimension” and we will not permit the loss of a peremptory challenge to establish the breach of a constitutional guarantee in this context. U.S. v. Toume, 870 F.2d 880, 885, cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1101, 109 S.Ct. 2456, 104 L.Ed.2d 1010 (1989). See also Ross v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. at 89, 108 S.Ct. at 2278-79, 101 L.Ed.2d at 90-91; Gaskins v. McKellar, 916 F.2d 941, 949 (4th Cir.1990), cert. denied, 500 U.S. 961, 111 S.Ct. 2277, 114 L.Ed.2d 728 (1991).
Thus, we now hold that a trial court’s failure to remove a biased juror from a jury panel does not violate a defendant’s right to a trial by an impartial jury as guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and by Section 14 of Article III of the West Virginia Constitution. In order to succeed in a claim that his or her constitutional right to an impartial jury was violated, a defendant must affirmatively show prejudice.
In the present case, the defendant removed the prospective jurors with peremptory challenges. He does not assert that the jury which finally tried the case was biased or prejudiced. There is no evidence the defendant challenged any of the remaining jurors for cause. Consequently, he has not shown any prejudice from the trial court’s denial of his challenges for cause as required by Ross.
Our analysis of this assignment of error cannot end here. The second part of the defendant’s argument raises two questions: (1) What effect does a trial court’s erroneous ruling on a challenge for cause have on a defendant’s statutory right to a bias-free panel; and (2) does the dilution of peremptory challenges from such error entitle a defendant to a reversal?
Although peremptory challenges may be only a means to an end in a constitutional setting, they are still ““‘one of the most important of the rights secured to the accused.” ’ ” Ross v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. at 89, 108 S.Ct. at 2278, 101 L.Ed.2d at 90. (Citations omitted). However, “it is for the State to determine the number of peremptory challenges allowed and to define their purpose and the manner of their exercise.” 487 U.S. at 89, 108 S.Ct. at 2279, 101 L.Ed.2d at 90. Therefore, it is necessary to resort to our statutory and case law to determine whether a defendant’s “ ‘right’ to peremptory ehal-[588]*588lenges is ‘denied or impaired[.]’” Ross v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. at 89, 108 S.Ct. at 2279, 101 L.Ed.2d at 91.
Unlike Ross, our State law does not make a specific qualification that peremptory challenges be used to cure a trial court’s errors.27 In fact, pursuant to W.Va.Code, 62-3-3 (1949), a defendant is entitled to a panel of twenty jurors, free from exception, before he or she is called upon to exercise peremptory challenges.28 We have found “if proper objection is raised at the time of impaneling the jury, it is reversible error for the court to fail to discharge a juror who is obviously objectionable.” State v. West, 157 W.Va. 209, 219, 200 S.E.2d 859, 866 (1973). Furthermore, in State v. Wilcox, 169 W.Va. 142, 144, 286 S.E.2d 257, 259 (1982) (per curiam opinion), citing W.Va.Code, 62-3-3, and various cases, we specifically noted that denying a valid challenge for cause of a jury panel member is reversible error “even if the disqualified juror is later struck by a peremptory challenge.” We reaffirm the rule in Wilcox and find that the language of W.Va. Code, 62-3-3, grants a defendant the specific right to reserve his or her peremptory challenges until an unbiased jury panel is assembled. Consequently, if a defendant validly challenges a prospective juror for cause and the trial court fails to remove the juror, reversible error results even if a defendant subsequently uses his peremptory challenge to correct the trial court’s error.
Apart from the defendant’s failure to show prejudice in the constitutional sense, the trial court determined that Ms. Mayle and Mr. Hollen could serve impartially. Thus, the only remaining question is whether the jurors should have been removed for cause because of bias. Because we have decided to reverse on other grounds, we need not make a definitive decision of this issue. We do believe, however, that we should offer some guidance.
The true test of whether a juror is qualified to serve on the panel is whether he or she can render a verdict solely on the evidence without bias or prejudice under the instructions of the court. State v. White, 171 W.Va. 658, 301 S.E.2d 615 (1983); State v. Neider, 170 W.Va. 662, 295 S.E.2d 902 (1982); State v. Beck, 167 W.Va. 830, 286 S.E.2d 234 (1981). When a defendant seeks the disqualification of a juror, the defendant bears the burden of “rebut[ting] the presumption of a prospective juror’s impartiality[.]” Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 723, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 1642-43, 6 L.Ed.2d 751, 756 (1961).
A trial court’s ruling on a challenge for cause is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. See State v. Derr, 192 W.Va. 165, 451 S.E.2d 731 (1994). Because “ ‘determination[s] of impartiality, in which demeanor plays such an important part, ... [are] within the province of ... [a] trial judge,”’ an appellate court should not disturb a trial court’s decision to deny challenges for cause without a showing of abuse of discretion or manifest error. Ristaino v. Ross, 424 U.S. 589, 595, 96 S.Ct. 1017, 1020, 47 L.Ed.2d 258, 263 (1976). (Citation omitted).
[589]*589Utilizing the above standard of review, the prosecution contends the trial court did not clearly abuse its discretion in refusing to strike these jurors for cause. It asserts it would be proper for the jurors to consider evidence of the defendant’s infidelity under Rule 402 of the Rules of Evidence when deciding the defendant’s guilt because the infidelity evidence is relevant to motive and credibility but not determinative of the defendant’s guilt.
Although it is permissible for a jury to review evidence of infidelity as long as it satisfies the requirements of the Rules of Evidence, if it is apparent during voir dire that a prospective juror would misuse or place improper weight on potentially prejudicial evidence, then that juror should be excluded for bias. In this case, both jurors gave some indication that if evidence of infidelity was presented at trial, then that fact alone might prejudice them against the defendant.
The responses of Ms. Mayle, the first juror challenged for cause by the defendant, were especially equivocal. During voir dire, Ms. Mayle admitted she would be immediately prejudiced against the defendant, irrespective of the facts, if evidence of infidelity was admitted at trial. When questioned whether she “could separate the fact you don’t like what he was doing from the fact your deciding whether or not he murdered his wife[,]” Ms. Mayle could only reply “I think probably would. I would have to think about it. I don’t think I would separate it, you know. If it was on going. If it happened three or four years and then this happened — might not be.” After a thorough attempt by the trial court to rehabilitate this juror, there was still evidence Ms. Mayle would be unable to separate her own bias from her evaluation of the defendant’s guilt. This fact is especially apparent when Ms. Mayle stated towards the end of her examination: “Not that I disapprove of adultery. I am saying it probably would influence me if I heard somebody had an affair and somebody got killed. You just assume, you know.” (Emphasis added). Finally, when asked whether she would listen to the remainder of the evidence before deciding upon the defendant’s guilt, Ms. Mayle stated she would “[t]ry to.”
The responses by this juror clearly indicated she had serious misgivings about her ability to separate her own assumptions regarding infidelity from the evidence of the case. If the juror was uncertain of her impartiality, we are also. Of course, it is proper to continue to question a juror to ascertain whether he or she understands his or her thoughts about a certain issue. However, when the juror can only say he or she would “try to” render an impartial verdict, the trial judge should seriously question the juror’s actual ability to do so.
Mr. Hollen’s bias was not as evident. However, we are still concerned that this juror admitted immediately that evidence of extramarital affairs would influence him. The juror did suggest that he could separate the infidelity from other evidence in the case. Even here we question if this actually would have been possible considering that Mr. Hol-len consistently maintained such evidence could “tilt the scales” or “have some influence.”
In cases of “grave” doubt, our recent cases would require the disqualification of the prospective juror. See Davis v. Wang, 184 W.Va. 222, 400 S.E.2d 230 (1990) (any doubt regarding a juror’s impartiality must be resolved in favor of the party challenging the prospective juror). In this case, the jurors admitted it would be difficult to be “fair” and only reluctantly suggested they would listen to all the evidence. These circumstances certainly would have justified the trial court’s sustaining the challenges for cause. State v. Bennett, 181 W.Va. 269, 382 S.E.2d 322 (1989); State v. Matney, 176 W.Va. 667, 346 S.E.2d 818 (1986). Barring equal protection considerations, see generally Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986), it cannot be overemphasized that no error is committed even when a qualified juror is struck as along as the remaining panel members are qualified. Rather, our cases demonstrate that a trial court risks error only when it refuses to strike jurors whose impartiality is questionable.
Nevertheless, the defendant bears the burden of showing that the prospective [590]*590jurors were actually biased or otherwise disqualified and that the trial court abused its discretion or committed manifest error when it failed to excuse them for cause. Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. at 723, 81 S.Ct. at 1643, 6 L.Ed.2d at 756. Because of the nature of the questions asked, we have some reservation as to whether the defendant met his burden.29 Giving deference to the trial court’s determination, because it was able to observe the prospective jurors’ demeanor and assess their credibility, it would be most difficult for us to state conclusively on this record that the trial court abused its discretion.
III.
CONCLUSION
For the forgoing reasons, we find the defendant’s conviction should be reversed and a new trial granted. Therefore, we remand this ease to the Circuit Court of Barbour County for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Reversed and remanded.
Related
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
461 S.E.2d 75, 194 W. Va. 569, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-phillips-wva-1995.