TV Chat

Ilsa

(61,695 posts) Thu Mar 19, 2015, 08:09 PM Mar 2015

Any one else bothered by the court stuff on Broadchurch?

Apparently, there is no spousal exception for testifying if the spouse is in the police dept that arrested the husband /perp. The judge allowed it, counting on the jury to distinguish what is testimony about being a spouse vs being a cop.

Yet the defense lawyer was allowed to ask her detailed questions about her marriage's sex life and other aspects of the marriage, and less about her professional duties. No objections or anything to grant her an exception to testifying about her marriage.

4 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Any one else bothered by the court stuff on Broadchurch? (Original Post) Ilsa Mar 2015 OP

That's the difference between US and UK courts... truebrit71 Mar 2015 #1

Also wigs shenmue Mar 2015 #2

Then I don't understand why there was a challenge Ilsa Mar 2015 #3

In England and Wales Wolf Frankula Mar 2015 #4

truebrit71

(20,805 posts)

1. That's the difference between US and UK courts...

Reply to Ilsa (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2015, 08:17 PM

Mar 2015

... much more adversarial...

shenmue

(38,506 posts)

2. Also wigs

Reply to truebrit71 (Reply #1)

Thu Mar 19, 2015, 08:31 PM

Mar 2015

They have them.

Ilsa

(61,695 posts)

3. Then I don't understand why there was a challenge

Reply to truebrit71 (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 20, 2015, 08:21 AM

Mar 2015

to exclude her as the defendant's wife. Does the UK have spousal privilege exclusion, or it it just an "iffy" exclusion? I thought discussing something as private as sex life would be off limits.

Wolf Frankula

(3,601 posts)

4. In England and Wales

Reply to Ilsa (Original post)

Tue Mar 31, 2015, 02:35 PM

Mar 2015

Spousal testimony may be compelled by the prosecution in cases of domestic abuse, or violence or sexual offenses against a person under 16. Defense may compel spousal testimony in any case.

Wolf

Reply to this discussion