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Appeals court hears dispute over fingerprint evidence and untranslated Spanish notebook in drug conviction
Summary
Commonwealth v. Luis Guillermo: At oral argument before the Massachusetts Appeals Court, defense counsel argued a latent fingerprint identification and a Spanish-language notebook were improperly admitted at trial and urged reversal; the prosecution said the fingerprint testimony was properly authenticated and that any error was harmless in the context of the full record.
Commonwealth v. Luis Guillermo: At oral argument before the Massachusetts Appeals Court, defense counsel argued that a latent fingerprint identification and a Spanish-language notebook used at trial were admitted in violation of the rules of evidence and that those errors require a new trial. The defense told the court the Commonwealth “concedes that the fingerprint was inadmissible hearsay,” and urged the panel to reverse on preservation and prejudice grounds. The Commonwealth replied it did not concede the expert testimony comparing known and latent prints and said the courtroom evidence supports the conviction.
Why it matters: The case raises recurring appellate issues about (1) how courts authenticate AFIS/known-print records and latent-print comparisons, (2) when an uncertain objection at trial preserves an evidentiary claim on appeal, and (3) the admission of untranslated foreign-language writings and any resulting prejudice to a defendant.
What the defense told the court: Attorney Murat Arakan argued the prosecution introduced a print card and identified it as the…
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