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Missouri Senator Marvin Singleton says he wants to change the statute of limitations on Missouri rape law

December 5, 2001
By: Sharra Klug
State Capital Bureau

Anchor: The only doctor in the Missouri State Senate wants to change Missouri law to help catch rapists even years after their crime was committed.

Sharra Klug has more from Jefferson City

3-2-1

Missouri has a three-year statute of limitations on prosecuting rape cases.

A statute of limitations states that a case must go to trial before a certian amount of time after the crime has passed.

Senator Marvin Singleton of Seneca says he wants to pass a bill to eliminate the statute.

According to Singleton, DNA testing technology has imporved and now the law must catch up.

Actuality:Rape5
RunTime: 0:13
OutCue:
Contents: Senator Singleton discusses how DNA testing is better grounded and can be admited to court in criminal cases.

Last year, the Missouri Court of Appeals said a 1979 law contained the statute but Singleton says the statute should not be applied.

In Jefferson City, Sharra Klug, KMOX-News

Anchor: Senator SIngleton, the Public Health and Welfare chair, says he wants to change law so that rapists can be prosecuted years after they committed their crimes.

Sharra Klug has the story from the state capitol.

3-2-1

A three-year statute of limitations sometimes prevents rape cases from going to court.

A statute of limitaions requires that a case be brought to court by a certian time after a crime has occurred.

Senator Marvin Singleton from Seneca says he wants to pass a law to eliminate the statute to help Missouri attorneys.

Actuality:Rape2
RunTime: 0:14
OutCue:
Contents: Senator Singleton talks about how attorneys have to give John Doe indictments to get rape cases to court.

The Missouri Court of Appeals said the statute comes from a 1979 law which was written before DNA technology became as reliable as it is today.

In Jefferson City, Sharra Klug, KMOX-News

Anchor: The chair of the Senate Helth and welfare committee wants to change Missouri law concerning rape cases because of a 30-year-old Michigan rape case which was recently solved.

Sharra Klug has the story from Jefferson City.

3-2-1

Senator Marvin Singleton of Seneca says that a three-year statute of limitations on rape cases should be eliminated.

A statute of limiations says there is a short period of time in which a court case must begin in rape cases.

Singleton says he would like to eliminate the statute because it does not account for modern technology.

Actuality:Rape3
RunTime: 0:13
OutCue:
Contents: Senator Singleton says that rape and murder should not have statutes of limitation because they are both violent crimes.

The 30-year-old case was solved due to DNA testing of cigarette butts found in the suspects trash and samples taken from the victim's body.

In Jefferson City, Sharra Klug, KMOX-News

A recently solved 30-year-old rape case in Michigan has made a Missouri senator decide to change Missouri law.

The Senate Health and welfare committe chair says a three-year statute of limitaions on rape cases should be eliminated.

A statute of limitations requires that court cases for certian crimes begin before a designated amount of time has passed.

Senator Marvin Singleton of Seneca says that modern technology makes the statute outdated.

Actuality:Rape1
RunTime: 0:16
OutCue:
Contents: Senator Singleton talks about how easy it is now to get DNA testing done in criminal cases.

Singleton's bill will be rpesented in the legislative session in January.

Sharra Klug, Missouri Capitol Caucus