The defendant was on trial for possession of methamphetamine…
The defendant was on trial for possession of methamphetamines. Charges against the drug dealer who sold the pills to the defendant were dropped in exchange for his testimony against the defendant. The defendant denied knowing that the pills he purchased were illegal drugs. At trial, the drug dealer testified that he told the defendant before the sale that the pills were illegal methamphetamines. The drug dealer died on the stand, prior to the defense counsel’s opportunity to cross-examine him. The defense counsel moved for admission of the drug dealer’s testimony at the defendant’s pretrial hearing that he told the defendant that the pills were not illegal. The prosecutor had an opportunity to cross-examine the drug dealer during the hearing. Should this testimony be admitted?