Opinion ID: 2613258
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Shoe Comparison Testimony

Text: Tilden argues that the trial court erred in admitting expert shoe print comparison testimony on Tilden's shoes and prints found at the scene of the murder. He argues specifically that the state failed to show that shoe print comparisons have been recognized and have gained general acceptance in any field of science. This argument is foreclosed by State v. Coleman, 122 Ariz. 99, 593 P.2d 653 (1979) and State v. Kelly, 111 Ariz. 181, 526 P.2d 720 (1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 935, 95 S.Ct. 1143, 43 L.Ed.2d 411 (1975). Tilden also argues that the state's shoe print witness was not qualified to testify as an expert. But the witness, Ms. Inta Meya, had spent over five years in the comparative analysis section of the City of Phoenix Police Department crime laboratory. She was trained by the senior criminalists, had studied all available literature in the area of footprint comparison, and had analyzed over fifty shoe prints and impressions while at the laboratory. The court did not abuse its discretion in allowing this expert to testify. Rule 702, Ariz.R.Evid. Tilden next contends that the expert testimony did not assist the trier of fact and argues that the jury could have made its own comparison of the photographs from the crime scene and the defendant's shoes. Shoe print comparisons are hardly ordinary and are quite beyond common experience. Given the nature of the evidence, the various examinations of shoe orientation, and class comparisons, it is hard to imagine that Ms. Meya's opinion could not have helped the jury. Although she could not conclude that Tilden's shoe made the print, she did opine that the shoe and the print were similar and that she could not exclude the shoe as having made the print. Tilden next argues that the shoe print comparison testimony was not relevant. Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make the existence of any material fact more or less probable. Rule 401, Ariz.R.Evid. The similarity of the pattern on the soles of Tilden's shoes to the partial bloody shoe prints at the scene had a tendency to make his presence more probable. The evidence was relevant. Finally, Tilden contends that the probative value of the shoe print evidence was substantially outweighed by its unfairly prejudicial effect under Rule 403, Ariz. R.Evid. Tilden fails to point to any specific prejudicial effect. Thus, there was nothing to weigh against probative value. The trial court did not err. DISPOSITION We have examined the record for fundamental error as required by A.R.S. § 13-4035 and find none. We therefore affirm Runningeagle's and Tilden's convictions and sentences. FELDMAN, C.J., MOELLER, V.C.J., and CORCORAN and ZLAKET, JJ., concur.