By LOLLY BOWEAN
Capital News Service
March 1, 2000

ANNAPOLIS - The Court of Special Appeals Wednesday overturned the rape conviction of a Prince George's County man, ruling that a written statement taken by police officers was hearsay and was improperly used during a trial where the chief witness could not remember details of the crime.

The case is the first in Maryland that outlines how judges and lawyers must handle witnesses that claim they don't remember details of a crime, according to the court.y, saying the girl remembered the events but did not want to testify.