-Caveat Lector- We may all *look* alike to Reptiloids...but do we all *taste* the same? ======================================= Court: Witnesses Have Troubles Identifying Members of Other Races AP 15-APR-99 TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that juries in some mixed-race criminal cases should be told that witnesses have a tougher time identifying defendants of another race. Prosecutors had argued there isn't enough scientific evidence to prove witnesses have more difficulty identifying members of another race. But the court rejected the argument Wednesday, saying there have been ample studies and that most jurisdictions accept the concept. "Indeed some courtroom observers have commented that the ordinary person's difficulty of 'cross-racial recognition' is so commonplace as to be the subject of both cliche and joke: 'they all look alike,"' the court wrote. The court ordered a new trial in the rape case of a white Rutgers University student who identified a black man, McKinley Cromedy, as her attacker. The court said the jury should have been given a "cross racial instruction" alerting jurors to pay close attention to the possible influence of race in identifying defendants. The woman had not recognized a photograph of Cromedy that she was shown a few days after the rape. However, she alerted police eight months later when she spotted Cromedy on a street corner. She identified him as the rapist after he had been taken into custody. No forensic evidence was admitted during the trial. Court documents said it was not possible to link Cromedy to the rape through blood and sperm samples, and no fingerprints were taken by police at the scene. The trial court did not allow the jury to be advised that "cross racial identification" could affect the victim's ability to identify her assailant, a decision upheld by an appeals court and overturned this week. "It's an important decision," said Sylvia Orenstein, who argued the case on behalf of Cromedy. "Science has shown, unfortunately, that most people tend to better recognize people of their own race. This is another factor a jury should be alerted to consider." The court said a cross-racial instruction to juries should only be given when identification is critical to the case, and there are no other eyewitnesses to back up the victim's charges. Copyright 1999& The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
