Criminal Law

SCOTUS to Hear Admissibility Case Concerning Out of Court Statement from murder Vic to Police
From latimes.com: The Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear a Los Angeles murderer's appeal to decide a legal question that sounds like a macabre joke: The man argues that his victim's statements to police shouldn't be admissible, because the dead...

Murder Victim's Family Rejects Death Penalty
A former police chief who was convicted of murdering his ex-wife has been spared the death penalty. After listening to the wishes of the victim’s family, Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini withdrew his plan to seek the death penalty and recommended the defendant receive life imprisonment without parole for murdering his ex-wife...

"Can murder victim's statements be used at trial"
"Can murder victim's statements be used at trial?" Mark Sherman of The Associated Press provides this report. And Law Professor Richard D. Friedman -- author of "The Confrontation Blog" -- has a preview of the case headlined "Does an Accused Forfeit the Confrontation Right by Murdering a Witness, Absent a Purpose to Render Her Unavailable?"

Dog appears as witness in murder trial
Dog appears as witness in murder trialA dog nicknamed "Scooby" has become the first animal in the world to appear as a witness in a murder trial. The animal is believed to have been with his 59-year-old owner when she was found hanging from the ceiling of her Paris flat...

Murder victim's dad lunges at daughter's killer
From Matt Campbell: A death penalty hearing in Wyandotte County was disrupted today when the father of the murder victim lunged at the defendant. The sentencing hearing for Gary Kleypas, convicted of murdering 20-year-old Pittsburg State University student Carrie Williams...

Man surrenders to police after killing family www.privateofficer.com
Man surrenders to police after killing family www.privateofficer.com Mobile Alabama March 7 2008 A Mobile County man surrendered to police early Wednesday morning after shooting his 2-year-old son and wife to death at a mobile home park off Schillinger Road, authorities said...

$15 Million Settlement Awarded to Family of Plane Crash Victim
$15 Million Settlement Awarded to Family of Plane Crash Victim

New York City
$1.5 million settlement after a family of four was killed by an off duty drunken police officer.

Fatal Drug Bust
City of Louisville awards family a $250,000 wrongful death settlement after a police officer shot a 19-year-old boy.

Man Awarded $21 Million for Wrongful Imprisonment for Murder
Man Awarded $21 Million for Wrongful Imprisonment for Murder

Christopher Fairchild
guilty verdict for helping Tommy Baldridge murder James Mollette.

Austin Car Accident Victim Awarded $470,000
$470,000 Awarded to Austin Car Accident Victim