State v. Walker

GLASSMAN, Justice.

Morris B. Walker appeals from the judgment of the Superior Court, Franklin County, entered on a jury verdict finding him guilty of gross sexual misconduct involving a victim under age 14 in violation of 17-A M.R.S.A. § 253(1)(B) (Supp.1985-1986). On appeal Walker contends that the court abused its discretion in finding the victim competent to testify and committed error in instructing the jury and in denying his motion to suppress his oral statement. Because we hold that the instructions constituted obvious error, we vacate the judgment.

I

We first address the adequacy of the…