People v. Ujaama Confrontation
– Closed Circuit TV
Facts: A jury convicted Mr. Ujaama of 1˚ murder and auto
theft. During trial, the prosecution sought and the trial court allowed the step-daughter to testify by closed circuit TV. The prosecution filed a motion alleging that the girl would suffer emotional distress if forced to testify in front of Mr. Ujaama.
Issue: Whether the trial court abused its discretion in
allowing the daughter to testify by closed circuit TV?
Held: No.
Reasoning:
Relying on Maryland v. Craig, 497
U.S. 836 (1990), the
Court of Appeals held that allowing the testimony by TV did not violate Mr.
Ujaama’s right to confront witnesses. In Craig, the
U.S. Supreme Court held, “So long as a trial court makes ... a case specific finding of necessity, the Confrontation Clause does
not prohibit ... using a one-way closed circuit television procedure for the
receipt of testimony by a child witness.” (quoting the Court of Appeals recitation of the holding in Craig) Opinion by Judge Bailey with Judges Taubman and Fox concurring.
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