Criminal
May 12, 2012
When is a hearsay statement against penal interest admissible?
A recent decision helps clarify what a "sufficiently reliable" statement is. By Richard La Fianza and Frank Loo
"Me, I always tell the truth, even when I lie." - Al Pacino as Tony Montana in the movie Scarface.
From our personal experience, we know that people often lie to avoid getting into trouble. So if someone admits to something that could get him or her into trouble, it is more likely than not to be true. This is even more evident if a person takes responsibility for a criminal act.
Evidence Code Secti...
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