A Reversal of Hypnotically “Refreshed” Testimony:A Brief Communication

Abstract

A case is briefly presented in which questioning under hypnosis led to a positive identification of an accused rapist when the victim had previously been uncertain. During the trial, the victim was first certain, then reverted to her prehypnotic uncertainty. An appeal from the conviction of the defendant was denied on the grounds that the witness' uncertainty meant that the hypnotic intervention was harmless error. It is possible that this decision may not be entirely justified.