If I passed a message from a defendant in a murder case to a witness in the same case, can I be charged with tampering with evidence?
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If I passed a message from a defendant in a murder case to a witness in the same case, can I be charged with tampering with evidence?
Someone approached my nephew, who witnessed a murder last week, and
delivered a message from one of the accused murderers wanting to meet
together with him and discuss the case. Can the messenger be charged with a
crime?
Asked on August 12, 2018 under Criminal Law, Alabama
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
If you knew, or had reason that you *should* have known, that the message from one of the accused murders or an associate, friend, or relative of theirs, then yes, in that case you could be charged--you intentionally or knowingly passed on a message to a witness that any reasonable person would know would likely be intended to alter his/her testimony.
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