Court Opinion

ID: 9452140
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 17:31:19.373447+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:33:05.193772
License: Public Domain

*507BAZELON, Chief Judge (concurring):
I agree with the result reached by Judge Prettyman. I find it unnecessary, however, to decide whether the weakness of the fingerprint evidence alone is enough to require reversal since I rely on an additional infirmity, namely, the prejudice suffered by appellant in presenting his defense.
The alleged offense occurred on November 24, 1964. According to police testimony, appellant’s fingerprints were matched with the prints on the vent window on January 30. Although he was taken into custody on another charge on February 7, he was not indicted until April 13. This unexplained delay may have substantially prejudiced appellant’s alibi, his sole defense, for his only witness, his employer during the period in question, was unable to recall whether appellant was at work on the day or at the time of the robbery.1

. I note but do not rely upon the delay ■which resulted from the government’s successful motion to postpone trial from May 28 to July 14 because appellant was to be tried on unrelated charges on June 7. It does not appear why the May 30th trial should be delayed because of another trial a week later.