Harold B. Wright v. State Delaware

Following a jury trial, Harold B. Wright, Jr. was convicted of first degree rape, attempted first degree rape, first degree kidnapping, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, and possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited. On appeal, the defendant argues that he was denied his constitutional right to confront and cross-examine the complainant because the trial Judge refused to allow evidence of the complainant's past sexual behavior to be admitted into evidence. The defendant also argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel at trial, but did not raise that claim at the trial court level. We conclude that the trial Judge's decision not to conduct an in camera hearing to consider admissibility of the evidence of the complainant's past sexual behavior and his decision to bar such evidence at trial is not reversible error. The defendant's conviction is, accordingly, affirmed. I