State Can’t Comment on Silence When Police Question Defendant State v. Andrey Chuprinov (Division 1, October 5, 2024, 85145-4-1)

Mr. Chuprinov was charged and convicted at trial of Rape of a Child in the First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree and Incest in the First Degree, involving his half-sister. Mr. Chuprinov’s half-sister disclosed significant abuse to local law enforcement. An interrogation of Mr. Chuprinov followed, wherein he admitted to having sexual intercourse with his Read More…

State v Helkenn (Unpublished) SA Victim’s Testimony Needs No Corroboration (Trend? Round II)

Another Division I case upholding a ‘noncorroboration’ jury instruction. This may be a trend, as a published opinion, State v Zwald, came out one week before Helkenn, and appeared to be inviting a stronger constitutional due process challenge, while ultimately affirming the use of the instruction in Mr. Zwald’s appeal. (See my discussions of State Read More…