THE SUGGESTIBILITY OF CHILD TESTIMONY AS A LIMIT TO CRIMINAL EVIDENCE: LESSONS FROM THE MCMARTIN CASE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/1pqhrn97Keywords:
Criminal procedural law; Evidence system; Testimony; Special testimony; Suggestibility.Abstract
This article seeks to understand suggestibility in child testimony and how it can affect criminal evidence, in an interdisciplinary way, between law and psychology focused on suggestibility, discussing what authors say about the topic, as well as examining the lessons of the McMartin case. The research is based on bibliographic sources, books and scientific articles, aiming to understand how the subject is discussed among academics and professionals. It is highlighted that testimonial evidence has great relevance to the process, especially when it comes to children who are witnesses or victims of some type of violence, considering their greater vulnerability to external influences, and this can compromise the truth of the accounts. In this sense, Law 13.431/2017 represents an advance for the collection of testimonies by establishing specific procedures for interviewing children, instituting special testimonies, carried out in appropriate locations and by trained professionals. Finally, the article also analyzes the McMartin preschool case, highlighting how incorrect techniques contributed to the weakness of the evidence produced and led to jury doubt regarding the conviction or acquittal of the accused. It also examines the Brazilian context, especially concerning the risks of contamination of children's testimony due to suggestibility.
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