The judge and/or jury is free to give the statements over a phone call as much weight as they think they deserve. But they are not anything even remotely related to "proof".
The judge and/or jury is free to give the statements over a phone call as much weight as they think they deserve. But they are not anything even remotely related to "proof".
Such recordings ARE "evidence," however. Evidence that would be submitted in an attempt to prove some element of the offense, I imagine.
Not saying they aren't evidence. The OP evidently believed, however, that they constitute proof which cannot be denied. They do not.