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  1. #1
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    Dec 2013
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    Default What Happens if a Crime Victim Lies About Knowing the Suspect

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Florida

    What are the implications if a victim lies in a statement to the police during the identification of a burglary suspect? E.g. if during the both the photo lineup and the statement, the victim picks out a suspect and states that they have never seen a picture of the suspect or met the suspect before. If it then comes out that the suspect and the victim have met previously, is that bad for the overall case? Or, is the fact that they successfully identified the suspect enough since it's possible that the victim may have just forgotten that they met?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    18,340

    Default Re: Lying in a Witness Statement - Denying Previous Knowledge of Suspect

    Depends on dozens, maybe hundreds, of details that you haven't seen fit to reveal.

    In other words, it might have implications, it might not.

    If you are the one being prosecuted you should be asking your lawyer that question.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Lying in a Witness Statement - Denying Previous Knowledge of Suspect

    It would definitely throw the veracity of the victim into question. Any time a victim lies about material facts it can jeopardize the prosecution of the defendant. A lying witness/victim can kill a prosecution.

    A situation such as you describe could mean the victim/witness made an incorrect ID as a person would more likely to implicate a person they recognized their face. Just as well the identification could be the result the witness/victim seeking to punish the person they identified as the person who committed the crime.

  4. #4
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    Mar 2013
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    Default Re: What Happens if a Crime Victim Lies About Knowing the Suspect

    Quote Quoting Zine
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    Or, is the fact that they successfully identified the suspect enough since it's possible that the victim may have just forgotten that they met?
    Which is it, did they lie or did they forget? There's a big difference between the two.

    I've run into people I apparent met before and failed to remember having done so. My inability to remember was certainly not a lie.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
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    8

    Default Re: What Happens if a Crime Victim Lies About Knowing the Suspect

    Thanks for the helpful input, jk and L-1.

    To answer your question L-1, I'm not entirely sure if the witness lied or forgot. I guess what I was trying to get at is how hard would be to prove either since there is almost no way to be entirely sure. As you said, you've met and forgotten people so it is a common enough occurrence. To give more of a background - the witness is identifying his brother's ex-gf as the suspect and claims he has never met her or seen a picture of her. If the defense provides proof to the contrary, is this damaging to the case since there it's also possible that he really did just forget?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: What Happens if a Crime Victim Lies About Knowing the Suspect

    That won't be known until it arises. It could literally destroy a prosecution or it may cause absolutely no issues.

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