United States v. Fisher

KASTL, Senior Judge:

In United States v. Melvin, 26 M.J. 145 (C.M.A.1988), the Court of Military Appeals illuminated the degree of independent evidence needed to corroborate an accused’s confession. No mathematical formula was possible, Judge Sullivan explained, but the amount of corroboration generally required by Federal courts was not great; consequently, the “amount needed in military courts may be very slight.” Id. at 146. Today, we examine a case where there is insufficient admissible independent corroboration to sustain a conviction.

Factual Setting

Sergeant Fisher was convicted of…