TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A Cumberland County man who was
prevented from testifying in his burglary trial has had his conviction
reversed.
Rodney Cullen and two other people were arrested and charged with a burglary
in Millville.
At Cullen's trial, he initially said he didn't want to testify on his own
behalf but changed his mind the next day and asked the judge if he could
testify.
The defense had already rested, and the judge barred Cullen from
testifying
In a decision released Tuesday, a state appeals court overturned Cullen's
conviction and ordered a new trial.
The appellate panel wrote that the judge placed too much importance on moving
the trial along at the expense of Cullen's constitutional right to
testify.
