term:

Excited Utterance

excited utterance n

: a statement that concerns a startling event (as a physical assault) and that is made by a person while under stress caused by the event see also res gestae spontaneous declaration at declaration compare dying declaration at declaration NOTE: Excited utterances are an exception to the hearsay rule. They may be admitted as evidence even if the declarant is available as a witness.

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.