Supreme Court rules dead man's accusations can be used at trial
The Supreme Court rules that statements given to authorities during an emergency may be introduced as evidence in a trial even if the source dies before the trial.
Washington
The US Supreme Court on Monday ruled that statements made to authorities during an ongoing emergency may later be introduced as evidence in a criminal trial – even if the source of the statements dies prior to the trial.
The 6-to-2 ruling creates a significant exception to the Sixth Amendment’s right of charged criminals to confront their accusers during their trial, countering a recent trend in Supreme Court rulings.
Since 2004, the high court, led by Justice Antonin Scalia, has sought to reinvigorate the so-called confrontation clause. It has done so by eliminating many of the judge-created exemptions that allowed introduction of hearsay statements even though there would be no opportunity for the defendant to challenge their veracity through cross examination.
Monday’s decision in Michigan v. Bryant (09-150) involves a dispute over whether statements made to police by a man with a fatal gunshot wound could be presented as evidence at the trial of the alleged shooter.
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