Proposed N.H. Bill Would Change Sex Assault Burden of Proof

Lebanon — Advocates for victims of sexual assault are organizing opposition to a bill in the New Hampshire House that would require more than a victim’s testimony as evidence to convict a defendant of a sexual assault.

The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill in Concord this morning. The legislation would increase the burden of proof that is needed to find someone guilty of sexual assault by requiring prosecutors to present corroborating evidence that an attack occurred, according to the language.

“We all view it as a very dangerous bill,” said Peggy O’Neil, the executive director of WISE, the Upper Valley’s support agency for sexual and domestic assault survivors. “This bill raises the burden of proof for a victim of sexual assault to an unrealistic level.”

Although the bill, at this stage, doesn’t define what constitutes corroborating evidence, O’Neil and other advocates said such evidence likely would include DNA testing or an eyewitness account.

Read more: http://www.vnews.com/Burden-of-Proof-Could-Change-in-N-H-Sex-Assault-Cases-7504746