Read: Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, assume the following facts:
After leaving a bar, a woman enters her car in a darkened parking garage. She is confronted by
her ex-husband, against whom she has a domestic no-contact order. She attempts to dial 911
from her cellular telephone but is unable to make a connection. Amazingly, she can take a
photograph with her phone and send an accompanying text message, asking for assistance to a
law enforcement friend. The officer and woman exchange text messages about who is
assaulting her and where she is located until the ex-husband flees. The woman is unable to
appear at trial and the defendant moves to suppress the “statements” at his trial for felony
violation of the no-contact order.
• Given the above facts and using the Court’s rationale for distinguishing
“testimonial” and “non-testimonial” statements, state whether the text message
and photograph should be admitted as evidence at trial and why.
• According to Deuteronomy 19:15, “One witness is not enough to convict a man
accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be
established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (NIV 1984). In light of
that scripture, elaborate how you would change or not change your answer.