Crawford and his wife went to a man's

apartment, where a fight broke out between

Crawford and the man. The man was stabbed

during the fight, after which he called the

police. Crawford was arrested later that night.

The police interrogated him and his wife sepa-

rately. Crawford claimed that the man had

attempted to rape his wife and that he acted

in self-defense. His wife's story, which the

police tape-recorded, did not match his.

Crawford was eventually tried and convicted

of attempted murder. State law where he

lived did not allow one spouse to testify in a

"criminal case against the other spouse without

that spouse's consent. Crawford did not agree

to have his wife testify at his trial. However,

the prosecutor played a tape-recording of

what she told police. On appeal, Crawford

argued that use of this tape recording violated

his Sixth Amendment right to confront a

witness against him because there was no

way to cross-examine the recording."

CHAPTER 14 Criminal Justice Process: The Trial

Problem 14.3

"The tape-Recorded Witness Statement on page 169."

a. What are the strongest arguments for Crawford?

b. What are the strongest arguments for the state?

c. How should this case be decided?