State v. Gregg

HARRIS, Justice.

We granted discretionary review to consider a challenge to a pretrial ruling which would allow introduction of the victim’s deposition at trial in substitution for his live testimony. The case requires us to accommodate the conflicting demands of two important rights. They are the fundamental right of an accused criminal defendant to a fair trial and the right of a child sex abuse victim to protection from any unnecessary rigors of the trial process. We reverse and remand.

Defendant Melvin Shane Gregg was originally charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Iowa…