Opinion ID: 2332719
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Evidence Pertaining to Use of Gloves

Text: The Commonwealth theorized that Appellant wore surgical gloves during the commission of the crimes, thus accounting for the lack of fingerprints police found in the Williamson residence. In fact, police recovered a box of surgical gloves from Dawn Godsey's residence. The day before trial, defense counsel learned that some types of surgical gloves are lubricated with cornstarch and that the Commonwealth had conducted testing on a box of gloves similar to those found in Godsey's residence. The Commonwealth sought to introduce a photograph of the gloves found in Godsey's residence, a laboratory report indicating that cornstarch was found in Williamson's car and on her wallet, and photographs of Williamson's car depicting the white smears. Thereafter, the defense moved to exclude any evidence relating to cornstarch. Due to the lateness of the Commonwealth's tests, the trial court ruled that the report was inadmissible, and that the prosecution was prohibited from presenting expert testimony concerning the use of cornstarch to lubricate surgical gloves. However, the court ruled that the photograph of the gloves and the photograph of Williamson's car depicting the white residue were admissible. Appellant thereafter moved to exclude the photographs on the grounds that no testing had been conducted on the actual gloves found in Godsey's residence, and that no other evidence connected those particular gloves to the crime scene. The motion was denied. At trial, Detective Rolfson testified that he processed the crime scene for fingerprints but found none that were identifiable. He further informed the jury that he found a white substance smeared on the console of Williamson's car and on her wallet. Appellant argues that photographs were improperly admitted because there was no evidence that he wore gloves during the commission of the crimes and further, there was no evidence that the gloves found in Godsey's residence had any connection to the crime scene. We find no error. The prosecution's theory was that the absence of any identifiable fingerprints was reasonably attributed to the use of gloves. Appellant had access to such gloves and, in fact, residue found in Williamson's car and on her wallet was similar to that found on surgical gloves. Certainly, the testimony of Detective Rolfson along with the fact that Appellant had access to surgical gloves was relevant circumstantial evidence. Although the Commonwealth was properly precluded from making any reference to cornstarch, the jury could still infer that the lack of fingerprints and the presence of a white substance smeared on areas at the crime scene indicated the use of gloves during commission of the crimes. Nor do we find the prosecutor's reference to the gloves during closing arguments erroneous. During closing argument a prosecutor may draw reasonable inferences and propound his explanation of the evidence and why it supports a finding of guilt. Tamme, supra at 39.