Commonwealth v. Twitchell
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
617 N.E.2d 609 (1993)
David and Ginger Twitchell (defendants), Christian Scientists, relied on spiritual healing rather than medical care for their son Robyn's peritonitis after a church official read them a publication quoting a state statute exempting spiritually treated children from neglect findings; Robyn died, and the Twitchells were charged with involuntary manslaughter based on wanton and reckless conduct. The trial judge excluded the statute's language from evidence, the jury convicted the Twitchells, and they appealed, arguing they were entitled to present a reliance-based defense.
Whether a defendant in a criminal case is entitled to raise an affirmative defense that he relied on an official statement incorrectly interpreting a statute issued by a government official responsible for enforcing the statute.