Court: Victim’s dying words may be used at trial
Law • February 2011 • Views: 822
Prosecutors may use victim statements given at the crime scene even if the victim dies before testifying at trial, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.
The decision is a step back from the court’s recent decisions that the Constitution demands that the witness be present and available for cross-examination. A majority of the court drew a distinction between statements made during an emergency created by a crime event and statements made when police are investigating the crime.