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People v. Williams, 167 N.W.2d 358 (Mich. 1969)

Case (cite)
People v. Williams, 167 N.W.2d 358 (Mich. 1969)
Year
1969
State
Michigan
Type of proceeding
Appellate
Type of claim
Evidentiary
Type of claim (second claim)
Expert evidence ruling reversing or affirming on appeal:
Admitted
What was the ruling?
Correct to Admit
Type of evidence at issue:
Firearms identification
Defense or Prosecution Expert
Prosecution
Name of expert(s) who were the subject of the ruling
Does not name
Summary of reasons for ruling
The testimony stated that the casings from the first and second robbery were fired from the same gun, but did not identify the gun and did not link the bullets recovered from the victim to the casings. Defendant argued reversable error because of a lack of connecting evidence between the murder and the other crimes. "[W]e notice a dearth of Michigan or other decisions concerning a trial like the present, in which shell casings rather than bullets were involved and the weapon was not produced in evidence. Nevertheless, we are convinced that the evidence was admissible if there was shown a connecting link between the evidence of the second crime and the murder that engendered defendant's trial. The testimony included an uncontested identification of the defendant as the assailant who shot the second robbery victim. The shell casings found at the scene of the second robbery were of the same caliber and fired by the same gun which fired the shell casing found at the scene of the first robbery, in which the decedent was killed. We agree that these facts establish a direct connection between defendant and the two crimes, and that the jury's conclusion that defendant fired the fatal shot in the first robbery was reasonable. Therefore, the evidence was properly admitted, and there was no reversible error committed."
The jurisdiction’s standard for expert admissibility at the time – list all that apply: (Frye), (Daubert), (Post-2000 Rule 702), (Other)
Second standard
Did lower court hold a hearing
Names of prosecution expert(s) two testified at hearing
Names of defense expert(s) who testified at hearing (or None).
Discussion of 2009 NAS Report (NAS2009)
Discussion of 2016 PCAST report (PCAST)
Discussion of error rates / reliability
N
Frye Ruling
N
Limiting testimony ruling
Language imposed by court to limit testimony
Ruling based in prior precedent / judicial notice
N
Daubert ruling emphasizing – which factors – (list 1-5)
Ruling on qualifications of expert
N
Ruling on 702(a) – the expert will help / assist the jury
N
Ruling on 702(b) – the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data
N
Ruling on 702(c) – the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods
N
Ruling on 702(d) – reliable application of principles and methods to the facts of the case
N

Notes