State v. Raymond Lynch

Summary

The court affirmed the defendant's convictions for three counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault. It held that the victim was competent to testify, several evidentiary rulings were within or outside the trial court's discretion but any errors were harmless, and unpreserved jury-instruction claims were waived. The court also upheld the denial of a new trial because the trial justice independently assessed the victim's credibility and did not overlook material evidence. Justice Flanders concurred on alternative grounds concerning the admissibility of the juvenile's statement, while Justice Flaherty, dissenting, would have reversed because the improperly admitted hearsay was not harmless.