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Question
In a criminal case for murder, the prosecution presents a medical examiner as the sole witness who testifies that the victim died from multiple stab wounds and identifies the accused as the assailant based on the wounds' location and trajectory. The defense moves to cross-examine the medical examiner about (i) whether the autopsy followed standard procedures and whether the tissue samples were properly preserved (chain of custody), and (ii) whether there was a second independent examination that reached a contrary conclusion. The trial court denies both requests, ruling that cross-examination on these technical aspects is not essential to credibility and that the second examination is not admissible to impeach credibility. The medical examiner testifies; the accused is convicted. (a) Identify the central doctrine tested by this scenario. (b) Analyze whether the accused’s right to confrontation and cross-examination at trial was violated and why. (c) If a violation occurred, state the proper remedy and rationale.