Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.latimes.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Nation IN BRIEF NEW JERSEY Spouse's Testimony No Longer Banned Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 07:09:49 EST Message-ID: HEADLINE: Nation IN BRIEF NEW JERSEY Spouse's Testimony No Longer Banned Publication Date: Wednesday November 18, 1992 BYLINE: A legal barrier to prosecuting crimes was removed when New Jersey Gov. James J. Florio signed a bill ending spousal privilege. That was the doctrine rooted in common law that prevented the prosecution from using a wife's testimony against her husband, or vice versa. The bill was prompted by the case of Arthur Seale, charged with the kidnap-murder of Exxon executive Sidney Reso. The testimony of Seale's wife would have been crucial had Seale not pleaded guilty. Reso had a history of heart disease and died in captivity while bound and gagged inside an unventilated box. This article is copyright 1992 The Los Angeles Times Home Edition. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM