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Why Florida Jurors Are Rarely Allowed to Hear Evidence of Previous False Accusations

By Ron Chapman

          In many criminal cases, the evidence presented at trial boils down to one witness accusing the person on trial of committing an illegal act.  For example, in some rape cases, the prosecution's main evidence consists of the alleged rape victim's testimony that the accused individual is the man who raped her.  It sometimes happens, though, that the person making the accusation has previously made false accusations against either the person on trial or against other people.  When that happens, it would seem only right that the jury deciding the case should be allowed to hear about those previous false allegations so that it can better judge the credibility of the person making the accusation...continue to full post

Full post as published by Palm Beach Criminal Defense Blog on February 23, 2009 (boomark / email).