Title: The Confrontation Clause And Forensic Autopsy Reports — A 'Testimonial'
Abstract: The forensic autopsy report is an important component of a criminal homicide prosecution. The report constitutes a significant phase of the death investigation. The trial testimony of the forensic pathologist and the reference to the forensic autopsy report implicate significant evidentiary issues. First, the forensic autopsy report is a document prepared subsequent to the autopsy, out of court, and is offered in court for the truth of the matter it asserts. The examining pathologist is the out-of-court declarant. Therefore, the forensic autopsy report is classic hearsay, which is inadmissible unless it fits within a recognized exception of the hearsay rule.
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 4
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