State v. DeLawder
Maryland Court of Special Appeals
344 A.2d 446 (1975)
Relevant factsFree
Lee Franklin DeLawder (defendant) was convicted of having sexual intercourse with a girl under 14, but the trial judge refused to let his counsel introduce evidence that the girl believed she was pregnant by other men, feared telling her mother she had been voluntarily sexually active, and had fabricated her accusation against DeLawder to explain her situation. DeLawder later sought post-conviction relief, arguing this exclusion violated his Sixth Amendment confrontation rights.
IssueFree
Whether a defendant has a Sixth Amendment right to cross-examine his accuser and introduce evidence establishing bias, prejudice, or an ulterior motive to undermine her credibility.