Giles v. California
United States Supreme Court
554 U.S. 353 (2008)
Relevant factsFree
Giles (defendant) shot and killed his ex-girlfriend Avie, claiming self-defense, and the prosecution introduced Avie's earlier police statements from a domestic violence report describing prior choking, punching, and death threats; the trial court admitted these testimonial statements and convicted Giles, and the California Supreme Court affirmed, reasoning Giles forfeited his confrontation right by killing Avie and thereby causing her unavailability. The U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari.
IssueFree
Whether a defendant always forfeits his Sixth Amendment right to confront a witness against him when a wrongful act of the defendant made the witness unavailable to testify at trial.