Lower Court Ruling Regarding Child's Testimony In Sex Case Will Stand
DETROIT (AP) - After hearing arguments, the Michigan Supreme Court says it won't upset a lower court decision that allowed a child to testify behind a screen at a sexual-assault trial.
The case involves Ronald Rose, an Allegan County man who's in prison for at least 25 years for sexually assaulting a young girl.
During a 2008 trial, a one-way screen was used to keep the 8-year-old from seeing Rose while she testified. Rose claimed the screen violated his constitutional right to face a witness.
Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly says Rose deserves a new trial for a different reason.
She says the screen branded Rose with an unmistakable mask of guilt in front of jurors.
