95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0708

 

Introduced 2/8/2007, by Sen. Matt Murphy

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
725 ILCS 5/115-10.6 new

    Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that a statement of a witness is not excluded at the trial or hearing of any defendant by the hearsay rule or as a violation of any right to confront witnesses if the witness was killed, bribed, kidnapped, secreted, intimidated, or otherwise induced by a party, or one for whose conduct such party is legally responsible, to prevent the witness from being available to testify at such trial or hearing. Provides that the party seeking to introduce the statement shall disclose the statement sufficiently in advance of trial or hearing to provide the opposing party with a fair opportunity to meet it. Provides that the disclosure shall include notice of an intent to offer the statement, including the identity of the declarant. Provides that prior to ruling on the admissibility of a statement under this provision, the court shall conduct a hearing outside the presence of the jury. Provides that except in cases where a preponderance of the evidence establishes that the defendant killed the declarant, the party seeking to introduce the statement shall be required to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the party who caused the unavailability of the witness did so with the intent or motive that the witness be unavailable for trial or hearing. Provides that the court is not required to find that the conduct or wrongdoing amounts to a criminal act. Provides that nothing in this provision shall be construed to prevent the admissibility of statements under existing hearsay exceptions. Effective immediately.


LRB095 04835 RLC 24896 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0708 LRB095 04835 RLC 24896 b

1     AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
5 amended by adding Section 115-10.6 as follows:
 
6     (725 ILCS 5/115-10.6 new)
7     Sec. 115-10.6. Admissibility of prior statements of an
8 unavailable witness whose absence was wrongfully procured.
9     (a) Legislative intent. The Illinois General Assembly
10 finds that no party to a criminal case who wrongfully procures
11 the unavailability of a witness should be allowed to benefit
12 from such wrongdoing by depriving the trier of fact of relevant
13 testimony.
14     (b) A statement of a witness is not excluded at the trial
15 or hearing of any defendant by the hearsay rule or as a
16 violation of any right to confront witnesses if the witness was
17 killed, bribed, kidnapped, secreted, intimidated, or otherwise
18 induced by a party, or one for whose conduct such party is
19 legally responsible, to prevent the witness from being
20 available to testify at such trial or hearing.
21     (c) The party seeking to introduce the statement shall
22 disclose the statement sufficiently in advance of trial or
23 hearing to provide the opposing party with a fair opportunity

 

 

SB0708 - 2 - LRB095 04835 RLC 24896 b

1 to meet it. The disclosure shall include notice of an intent to
2 offer the statement, including the identity of the declarant.
3     (d) Prior to ruling on the admissibility of a statement
4 under this Section, the court shall conduct a hearing outside
5 the presence of the jury. During the course of the hearing the
6 court may allow the parties to proceed by way of proffer.
7 Except in cases where a preponderance of the evidence
8 establishes that the defendant killed the declarant, the party
9 seeking to introduce the statement shall be required to show by
10 a preponderance of the evidence that the party who caused the
11 unavailability of the witness did so with the intent or motive
12 that the witness be unavailable for trial or hearing. The court
13 is not required to find that the conduct or wrongdoing amounts
14 to a criminal act.
15     (e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent
16 the admissibility of statements under existing hearsay
17 exceptions.
 
18     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19 becoming law.