State v. Fernandez

LEMMON, Justice.

This case involves a conviction of aggravated crime against nature allegedly committed against an eight-year old girl. We granted certiorari to determine whether a new trial is required because the trial judge refused to allow defense counsel to impeach the mother of the alleged victim with a prior inconsistent statement. We conclude that the exclusion of impeaching evidence which tended to show a basis for bias on the part of the child’s primary authority figure warrants the granting of a new trial.

Defendant was charged with committing the crime against Kathryn Rutley between…