Examen Condicional de Testigos en Juicios

Explicación Simple

A veces, las personas que pueden ayudar en un juicio no pueden estar presentes. Esta ley permite que esas personas, como ancianos o enfermos, sean escuchadas antes del juicio para que su testimonio sea válido.

Es como cuando en un partido de fútbol, un jugador se lesiona y no puede jugar, pero su entrenador graba sus jugadas para que se puedan mostrar durante el partido.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan está acusado de un delito, y su testigo, la señora Pérez, tiene 70 años y sufre de problemas de salud. Juan puede solicitar que se le tome el testimonio a la señora Pérez antes del juicio, para asegurarse de que su versión de los hechos se escuche.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Penal Code - PEN PART 2. OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE [681 - 1620] ( Part 2 enacted 1872. ) TITLE 10. MISCELLANEOUS PROCEEDINGS [1268 - 1424.5] ( Title 10 enacted 1872. ) CHAPTER 4. Examination of Witnesses Conditionally [1335 - 1345] ( Chapter 4 enacted 1872. ) 1336. (a) When a material witness for the defendant, or for the people, is about to leave the state, or is so sick or infirm as to afford reasonable grounds for apprehension that he or she will be unable to attend the trial, or is a person 65 years of age or older, or a dependent adult, the defendant or the people may apply for an order that the witness be examined conditionally. (b) When there is evidence that the life of a witness is in jeopardy, the defendant or the people may apply for an order that the witness be examined conditionally. (c) As used in this section, “dependent adult” means a person, regardless of whether the person lives independently, who is between the ages of 18 and 65, who has physical or mental limitations which restrict his or her ability to carry out normal activities or to protect his or her rights, including, but not limited to, persons who have physical or developmental disabilities or whose physical or mental abilities have diminished because of age. “Dependent adult” includes any person between the ages of 18 and 65, who is admitted as an inpatient to a 24-hour facility, as defined in Sections 1250, 1250.2, and 1250.3 of the Health and Safety Code. (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 70, Sec. 4. (AB 1934) Effective January 1, 2019.)