United States v. Paige

Judge ERDMANN

delivered the opinion of the court.

Lance Corporal Manasses A. Paige entered a not guilty plea to the offense of rape. A general court-martial with members found him guilty.1 At trial, the Government’s theory was that the victim was incapable of consent as a result of alcohol intoxication. Both parties presented witnesses to describe the victim’s condition on the night of the incident. During closing argument, trial counsel argued that evidence of the victim’s condition at the time of the rape and immediately following the rape was uncontradicted. Arguably, Paige himself was the…