You give me too much credit, sir. JAG is my initials, not my occupation.57Coastie wrote:Likewise, as your signature tells me you know, Jaguar, in some, if not most, U. S. jurisdictions, bringing in a self-serving statement by the defendant can be considered a waiver of his 5th Amendment rights, making him subject to cross-examination, in which case he might be compelled (through the contempt-power of the judge) to be subject to cross, or, should he refuse to be crossed, his silence may be held against him.
As it has been well-put, "the 5th Amendment is a shield, not a sword."
Jim
