Can a district attorney cross-examine a defendant's testimony?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Smith, 134 Cal.Rptr.2d 1, 30 Cal.4th 581, 68 P.3d 302 (Cal. 2003):
Defendant contends that the trial court erroneously permitted the district
[134 Cal.Rptr.2d 28]
attorney to cross-examine him in certain respects. "When a defendant voluntarily testifies, the district attorney may fully amplify his testimony by inquiring into the facts and circumstances surrounding his assertions, or by introducing evidence through cross-examination which explains or refutes his statements or the inferences which may necessarily be drawn from them." (People v. Cooper (1991) 53 Cal.3d 771, 822, 281 Cal.Rptr. 90, 809 P.2d 865.) Under this standard, we find no error.[134 Cal.Rptr.2d 28]
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