Why do victims of violent crimes have to testify in front of their attacker?

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I watch a lot of true crime shows and there appears to be a lot of cases where victims decide not to follow through with testifying against their attackers, merely because of their fear of being in the room with them. This seems to be particularly common in cases of sexual assault. Can’t they just not have the accused attacker not appear in court when the victim testifies?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

That unfortunately would violate the 6th amendment of the US constitution:

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; **to be confronted with the witnesses against him;** to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

You have the right to face your accuser in court

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