The Requirement of Corroboration in Sex Offences

Abstract

Under Israel law a person cannot be convicted for a sexual offence unless there is corroborative evidence. This means that if the accused denies that he has committed the offence, he cannot be convicted solely on the basis of the complainant's evidence. Under English law the requirement is somewhat less rigorous: the judge must merely warn the jury of the danger of convicting without corroboration in such cases. The jury may convict in the absence of corroboration provided such a warning is given. There are, however, even in England, certain statutory offences where the more exacting requirement found in the Israel law is applied (i.e. that corroborative evidence be actually submitted).