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2023 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 54 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 961 - Trial and Proceedings after Conviction
Section 54-83. - Testimony in case where crime is punishable by death or life imprisonment without possibility of release.

Universal Citation: CT Gen Stat § 54-83. (2023)
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No person may be convicted of any crime punishable by death or life imprisonment without the possibility of release without the testimony of at least two witnesses, or that which is equivalent thereto.

(1949 Rev., S. 8799; P.A. 80-313, S. 47; P.A. 12-5, S. 29.)

History: P.A. 80-313 substituted “may” for “shall”; P.A. 12-5 added provision re crime punishable by life imprisonment without possibility of release, effective April 25, 2012.

Not necessary that there should be two witnesses to every material fact; true rule stated. 49 C. 385; 77 C. 274; 78 C. 18; 93 C. 246; 97 C. 465; 103 C. 467; 106 C. 705; 122 C. 533; 126 C. 57. Whether requirement is met is for the jury to say. 81 C. 27; 90 C. 126; 93 C. 246; 97 C. 465; 103 C. 467. Charge embodying rule approved. 97 C. 465. Cited. 123 C. 673. If testimony of one or more witnesses tends to prove that a murder has been committed, testimony of only one other witness implicating defendant is sufficient to satisfy statute. 139 C. 475. The proof of all the essential elements of a capital crime charged shall not depend upon the testimony of one witness. 142 C. 113. Cited. 147 C. 95. One witness may testify to some of the essential facts and another to the rest of the essential facts and the statute may be satisfied. Id., 194. Adoption of Wigmore definition of “corpus delicti”; previous cases defining “corpus delicti” overruled. 152 C. 15. Cited. 182 C. 511; 229 C. 125; 230 C. 183; 233 C. 813; 235 C. 206. Confession and independent circumstantial evidence satisfied the two witness rule. 251 C. 285. Death penalty unconstitutional under Art. I, Secs. 8 and 9 of Connecticut Constitution. 318 C. 1.

Evidentiary burden imposed by section is not constitutionally compelled. 121 CA 699.

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