Criminal Law Keyed to Dressler
People v. Williams
Facts
Williams (D) was convicted of forcibly raping Deborah. Deborah and Williams had gone together to a hotel room, according to Deborah’s testimony, to watch television. In the room they had intercourse after Williams, who was much larger and heavier than her, hit her and prevented her from leaving, threatening her if she refused to have sex with him. Williams testified that Deborah had willingly come with him to the hotel room, had initiated sexual contact and demanded money, which he refused to pay, resulting in her becoming angry. Both parties asked for the jury to be instructed to find the defendant had reasonable and good faith but mistaken belief that the victim had consented, but the trial court refused to give such instruction. The state intermediate court of appeals reversed the verdict, holding that there was substantial evidence to support the request for such jury instruction regarding mistake-of-fact.
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