SHORT ANSWER SECTION

All the short answer questions are based on the following trial:

Defendant Jason Kimball is on trial for the murder of his neighbor, Amanda Goodwin. Early in the trial, certain facts were demonstrated by evidence offered without objection: Amanda Goodwin was found dead by her husband, Ricky Goodwin, when he got home from work at approximately 6pm on August 5^th. Medical evidence showed she had been killed with a blow to her head with a blunt object.

The prosecution proposes to call as a witness defendant's wife Norma. She would testify that one night, approximately 2 weeks before Amanda was killed, Jason had said to her "Norma, if I do anything terrible, I hope you can forgive me." In addition, Norma wants to testify that on August 5^th, Ricky came home from work agitated and "freaked out" and refused to talk to her

Question 1: In rough draft, discuss the admissibility of Norma's testimony

The prosecution wishes to introduce a diary found in the nightstand drawer next to defendant's bed. The diary contains the following handwritten statements:

"Secret lunch today with lovey. Afraid RG getting suspicious." "Great time today with lovey. She's what I have been missing in my life." "Lovey upset - wants to break it off. So angry I could kill her!"

Ricky Goodwin, the victim's husband, testifies for the prosecution that he is familiar with defendant's handwriting from having seen him write grocery lists on one or two occasions, and that in his opinion the writing in the diary is defendant's. He further testifies that defendant often called him by the nickname "RG."