Is there any reason to exclude evidence of sexual assault prior to the trial of defendant in his sexual assault case?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Loy, S076175 (Cal. 2011):

Defendant complains the evidence bolstered an otherwise weak prosecution case. We disagree that the prosecution case was weak. The overall evidence of guilt was reasonably strong. But even if defendant were correct, the argument would not aid him. The supposed weakness of the rest of the case would be relevant to the question of prejudice if there were error, but it provides no reason to exclude this particularly probative evidence. Evidence of previous sexual offenses is relevant on the question of identity. (People v. Britt, supra, 104 Cal.App.4th at p. 506.) This remains true whatever the strength of the rest of the evidence.

Defendant relies heavily on two decisions. In one, People v. Abilez (2007) 41 Cal.4th 472, 501-502, we found no abuse of discretion in the trial court's exclusion of certain evidence under section 1108. That decision does not aid defendant. Because of the "broad discretion" trial courts have under section 1108

Page 20

(People v. Falsetta, supra, 21 Cal.4th at p. 919), a finding of no abuse of discretion in one court's exclusion of evidence has no bearing on whether a different court abused its discretion in admitting evidence in a different trial.

Other Questions


In a sexual assault case, is there any evidence that the victim was afraid of defendant prior to the sexual assault in her bedroom or on the living room couch? (California, United States of America)
Is evidence of sexual assault against a defendant in a sexual assault case not inadmissible? (California, United States of America)
For the purposes of section 1108.2(1) of the California Criminal Code, is there any constitutional error in a trial court's decision to instruct the jury in a sexual assault case to consider the use of sexual assault evidence admitted under Section 1108? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a defendant's claim that the exclusion of evidence in the trial of a defendant in a sexual assault case violated his federal constitutional right to present a defense? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for admitting prior sexual assault evidence in a sexual assault case? (California, United States of America)
In a sexual assault case, what is the test for a plaintiff's claim that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding evidence of the victim's other sexual conduct? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for admissibility of evidence of prior sexual assault in a sexual assault case? (California, United States of America)
Is there any case law where evidence of domestic violence, sexual abuse, or sexual assault was not excluded from a jury trial? (California, United States of America)
In a sexual assault case, how have the courts dealt with claims that the trial court abused its discretion in excluding evidence of the victim's other sexual conduct? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for allowing evidence of a prior sexual assault in a sexual assault case? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.