Woman Accused Of Offering Rape Victim $30K Not To Testify In San Jose Case
SAN JOSE (CBS/AP) -- A San Jose rape case took a bizarre turn when a woman was arrested in the middle of the trial on suspicion of flying to Detroit and offering the victim $30,000 not to testify.
The woman who offered the alleged bribe won't be charged until after Geoffrey Chambers' rape trial.
But the judge decided that jurors should be told that the witness declined the alleged bribe and that there is no evidence that anyone in the trial was involved.
Chambers, now 53, is accused of raping a 19-year-old female relative.
The defense has argued that the woman made up the story because she was embarrassed about the encounter.
Prosecutors hope the fact that the alleged victim refused the $30,000 could help persuade jurors that her account is credible.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
