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IA SUPCO: Child abuse survivors will be required to face alleged abusers in person during trials, not remotely
(RI Photo)
(Des Moines, Iowa [KCCI] – Children will be required to testify in person to face their alleged abusers during child abuse trials, according to a new ruling the Iowa Supreme Court handed down Friday.
In the State of Iowa v. Derek Michael White, the court ruled White’s original criminal trial violated his constitutional right to confrontation by allowing the two children to accuse him of harming them to testify remotely using a closed circuit television.
The right to confrontation guarantees that those accused of a crime are allowed to confront the person alleging their guilt in court, even if that person is a child. White will have his case retried, this time requiring the children to testify in person.
However, people who work with survivors of abuse say that requirement could have disastrous effects for victims. Urbandale-based attorney and child therapist Annie von Gillern said she is also concerned about how having a child testify in court could complicate cases.
