Case Name: Commonwealth vs. Brenda Malone
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1978-12-29
Citations: 376 Mass. 931
Docket Number: 
Parties: Commonwealth vs. Brenda Malone.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 376
Pages: 931–931

Head Matter:
Commonwealth vs. Brenda Malone.
December 29, 1978.
Priscilla Labovitz (Philip Weinberg with her) for the defendant.
Stephen M. Needle, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

Opinion:
As in Commonwealth v. Vitello, ante 426 (1978), the defendant in this case excepted to- the admission of polygraph evidence as part of the Commonwealth's case in chief. As in that case, therefore, we order a new trial. As an afterthought, the Commonwealth contends that the ViieZ-Zo decision should be limited to prospective application, but we impose no such limitation. Also as an afterthought, the Commonwealth contends that the error was harmless, but we are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt.
Judgments of the Superior Court Department reversed.
Verdicts set aside.