People v. Leach

This case presents issue as to whether trial court properly admitted autopsy findings of forensic pathologist, who did not testify at defendant’s murder trial. Appellate Court, in affirming trial court, rejected defendant’s argument that said testimony violated his confrontation rights as set forth in Crawford, 541 US 36, since autopsy reports are not testimonial in nature and were properly admitted under business record exception to hearsay rule. Moreover, said report was not offered to prove truth thereof, but rather, was used to explain basis of pathologist’s expert opinion.