State v. Ball

REYNOLDSON, Justice.

This appeal requires us, as a matter of first impression, to review a trial court’s application of our “rape shield” law, § 782.4, The Code, 1975, now rule 20(5), Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Defendant was charged with rape, a violation of § 698.1, The Code, 1975. There was ample evidence to support a jury finding that the victim, a hitchhiking University of Northern Iowa coed, was forcibly raped on February 1, 1977, after being picked up by defendant and three other male occupants of a van.

Defendant filed a timely § 782.4 motion to admit evidence of the victim’s sexual…