Is an informant a material witness in a criminal case?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Vargas, B252005 (Cal. App. 2015):

[Citation.] An informant is a material witness if there appears, from the evidence presented, a reasonable possibility that he or she could give evidence on the issue of guilt that might exonerate the defendant." (People v. Lawley (2002) 27 Cal.4th 102, 159; accord, Davis v. Superior Court (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 1272, 1276.)

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