Testimony and evidence: A scientific case study of memory for child sexualabuse

Although case studies can provide insight into children's eyewitness memory , the typical lack of objective record limits evaluation of accuracy. In co ntrast, in this 'scientific case study', a detailed record of child sexual assault, documented by a 'sex ring' leader and confiscated by police, was a vailable. In police interviews and courtroom hearings, four girls (8 to 15 years old at time of report) testified about sexual exploitation that invol ved eight adult men. The girls' allegations were compared with evidence con tained in photographic and audiotaped records of the abuse. Overall, there was supportive evidence for about 80% of the allegations (85.6% of the alle ged sexual acts; 42.9% of the alleged coercive acts; and 82.5% of the alleg ed preparatory acts). Levels of support for sexual act allegations were sim ilar for all four girls, regardless of age, but the younger child made more unsupported allegations of coercive behaviour. Additionally, there were hi gh levels of omission errors. Findings are discussed in the context of rese arch on eyewitness testimony and child sexual abuse. Copyright (C) 2000 Joh n Wiley ge Sons, Ltd.