Opinion ID: 2294886
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Accomplice Testimony

Text: When a witness has a strong motivation to lie, the trial court's failure to give a cautioning instruction when requested is reversible error. United States v. Kinnard, 150 U.S.App.D.C. 386, 465 F.2d 566 (1972). Indeed, the better practice is for trial judges to caution the jury about the unreliability of an accomplice who testifies on behalf of the government, even in the absence of a request. United States v. Leonard, 161 U.S.App.D.C. 36, 494 F.2d 955 (1974). The failure to give an accomplice instruction, however, is not plain error when the testimony of the accomplice is corroborated by other evidence. Id. In this case, Wright's testimony was corroborated by the testimony of the victim, Kearney. Accordingly, the failure to instruct the jury on the necessity to receive with caution and scrutinize with care the accomplice's testimony was not plain error.