police in aa meetings

[ronnietoon]

can the police obtain evidence from anything you say at an aa meeting and use it in court

[hc4361]

Surely anything you said anywhere is classed as hearsay if somebody else repeats it?
AA meetings aren't recorded, either in writing or by tape.

[FredPuli43]

Not necessarily hearsay and inadmissible, hc, and often not hearsay at all.

Hearsay is a statement which is adduced to prove the fact stated in it and not merely that it was said. If I saw that a red car passed down the street, I can give that fact in evidence to prove that it did, for I am the witness to it. If I am told that a red car passed down the street I cannot give that as evidence to prove that it did, for I did not witness it; it is mere hearsay, what I have been told.

There are exceptions to the rule against hearsay. The one most commonly found is a statement against the interest of the person saying it. A witness who heard Fred Smith say " I have just killed Joe Bloggs because he called me a fool" may give that in evidence tending to prove that Fred Smith killed Joe Bloggs, since it is highly unlikely that the fact given, the killing, is untrue, for no sane man would make such an admission unless it was true.It is against his interest to say it. It is also proof of what motive Fred Smith gave for the killing.

Statements made by people in AA meetings may be, usually are , statements against interest, confessions and the like, and could be admitted in evidence against them. Statements about feelings are not treated as hearsay and are admissible. And any statement whatsoever is admissible if it is adduced only to show that it was said by the person and not to prove any fact stated in it is true.