Court Opinion

ID: 9533166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:29:09.024016+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:56.342882
License: Public Domain

DIXON, Justice
(dissenting).
I must respectfully dissent.
This court goes too far in admitting evidence of other offenses offered under- color of proving “system” and “intent.” Such evidence is admissible only when the'.offense charged is one of a system, or when guilty knowledge and intent is “an ess.cn-, tial part of the inquiry.” R.S. 15:446. ..
The majority finds that the testimony'o'f other offenses was not offered to provc’the guilt or innocence of the accused, but “to prove a system of wrong doing.” Evidence of other offenses is not admissible to prove that the defendant was engaged in a’-.system of wrongdoing, and it is not -admissible to prove that the defendant is a bad person.
In addition, I cannot agree that Co l'c of Criminal Procedure article 778 is .un.cpnstitutional in any respect.