Section 11.6 Rebuttal by Prosecution

• Library: Evidence 2017

2. (§11.6) Rebuttal by Prosecution

In a criminal case, the prosecution cannot introduce evidence of the defendant’s bad reputation for a relevant character trait unless the defendant first introduces evidence of good character for that particular trait. See State v. Miner, 703 S.W.2d 73, 74–75 (Mo. App. E.D. 1985) (“It is impermissible for the state to attack the character of the defendant unless he first injects the issue by offering evidence of his good character.”), appeal after remand, 748 S.W.2d 692 (Mo. App. E.D. 1988); see...