{"id":530,"date":"2019-07-28T18:27:15","date_gmt":"2019-07-28T22:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tampacriminallawyer.net\/?p=530"},"modified":"2026-01-08T09:00:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T14:00:40","slug":"florida-court-discusses-the-impact-of-recantation-of-testimony-in-sex-crime-cases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.criminalattorneytampa.net\/blog\/florida-court-discusses-the-impact-of-recantation-of-testimony-in-sex-crime-cases\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Court Discusses the Impact of Recantation of Testimony in Sex Crime Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many Florida sex crime cases there is no direct evidence that a crime was committed. Instead the State relies on circumstantial evidence and victim and eyewitness testimony to establish its case against a defendant. Thus, if a witness in a sex crime case recants his or her testimony, it may necessitate a new trial. A Florida appellate court recently analyzed when the recantation of testimony is grounds for a new trial in a case<\/a>\u00a0in which the defendant was convicted of multiple sex crimes. If you are a Tampa resident charged with any sex crime, including sexual battery, it is vital to engage a skillful Tampa sex crime defense attorney to aid you in formulating a defense.<\/p>\n

Factual and Procedural Background<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Reportedly, the defendant was charged with several sex crimes, including indecent assault, sexual battery, and lewd and lascivious molestation. Following a trial, he was convicted on all charges. The alleged victim\u2019s older sister, who was one of the State\u2019s witnesses, recanted her testimony by stating in an affidavit that she advised a third sister the defendant was innocent. The third sister also signed an affidavit in which she stated that the recanting witness advised her that the defendant was innocent, but she was being pressured by detectives to testify on behalf of the State. The defendant subsequently filed a motion for post-conviction relief, based on numerous grounds including the recanted testimony. The trial court denied his motion. The defendant then appealed.<\/p>\n

Impact of Recantation of Testimony<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Under Florida law, the recantation of testimony is regarded as exceedingly unreliable. Thus, if a witness for the State recants his or her testimony, a new trial is only required if the court finds that the recantation is truthful and that the witness\u2019s testimony will change so drastically that it would likely cause a different verdict to be rendered.
\n Continue Reading \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In many Florida sex crime cases there is no direct evidence that a crime was committed. Instead the State relies on circumstantial evidence and victim and eyewitness testimony to establish its case against a defendant. Thus, if a witness in a sex crime case recants his or her testimony, it may necessitate a new trial. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1607,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-evidence","category-sex-crimes"],"yoast_head":"\nRecanted Testimony in Sex Crime Cases<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how Florida courts handle recanted testimony in sex crime cases and when a witness taking it back can change the outcome.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.criminalattorneytampa.net\/blog\/florida-court-discusses-the-impact-of-recantation-of-testimony-in-sex-crime-cases\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" 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