Obligaciones de los testigos en casos penales y civiles en Virginia

Explicación Simple

En Virginia, si te llaman como testigo en un juicio, tienes que ir, incluso si no te pagan. Si no vas, pueden tomar acciones en tu contra.

Es como si te invitan a una fiesta de cumpleaños. Aunque no te paguen por asistir, se espera que vayas. Si no vas, el cumpleañero podría molestarse y buscarte para que llegues.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan es testigo en un juicio donde se acusa a su amigo Pedro de un robo. Aunque no le paguen por ir, Juan está obligado a presentarse. Si no lo hace, podría enfrentar problemas legales por no asistir.

Penalidades

Si un testigo no se presenta, puede enfrentar acciones legales, pero no se especifican penalidades concretas en la ley.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 19.2-267 - Provisions applicable to witnesses in criminal as well as civil cases; obligation to attend; summons. Sections 8.01-396.1 , 8.01-402 , 8.01-405 , 8.01-407 , and 8.01-408 to 8.01-410 , inclusive, shall apply to a criminal as well as a civil case in all respects, except that a witness in a criminal case shall be obliged to attend, and may be proceeded against for failing to do so, although there may not previously have been any payment, or tender to him of anything for attendance, mileage, or tolls. In a criminal case a summons for a witness may be issued by the attorney for the Commonwealth or other attorney charged with the responsibility for the prosecution of a violation of any ordinance or by the attorney for the defendant; however, any attorney who issues such a summons shall, at the time of the issuance, file with the clerk of the court the names and addresses of such witnesses except to the extent protected under § 19.2-11.2 . Code 1950, § 19.1-262; 1960, c. 366; 1962, c. 374; 1975, c. 495; 1977, c. 624; 1991, c. 38; 1994, c. 543 ; 2007, c. 552 ; 2008, c. 124 ; 2014, c. 744 .