GroundRules
← Search the law
West Virginia · Through as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session · Newer source version available

W. Va. Code § 57-3-3: Testimony of husband and wife in criminal cases.

Read at publisher ↗
Where this section sits in the code
  1. CHAPTER 57. EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES.
  2. ARTICLE 3. COMPETENCY OF WITNESSES.

In criminal cases husband and wife shall be allowed, and, subject to the rules of evidence governing other witnesses, may be compelled to testify in behalf of each other, but neither shall be compelled, nor, without the consent of the other, allowed to be called as a witness against the other except in the case of a prosecution for an offense committed by one against the other, or against the child, grandchild, father, mother, sister or brother of either of them, or minor, as defined in §2-2-10 of this code, or any person deemed incompetent by mental disease, defect, or other disability. The failure of either husband or wife to testify, however, shall create no presumption against the accused, nor be the subject of any comment before the court or jury by anyone.

Collected 2026-09-06T00:31:07Z. Source file · JSON

Browse this collection