Legal News

Discovery of videotape trove may lead to sex-abuse conviction challenges

By Richard Binder

Santa Clara County prosecutors have learned of the existence of an estimated 3,000 videotapes of medical examinations in child sex-abuse cases dating to 1991 that never were provided to defense attorneys. In many of the cases, this new evidence could provide a basis to challenge convictions.

Prosecutors said the trove of tapes came to light after medical experts hired by two convicted defendants belatedly discovered videotapes in their cases and concluded they contradicted medical findings that sexual abuse had occurred.

In those cases the new evidence proved crucial: one conviction has been overturned, and the second is in jeopardy. Although prosecutors say they do not expect the new videotapes to raise doubts in many cases, the case files must be located and reviewed.

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Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on December 08, 2008 (boomark / email).