PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona court must review an evidence issue in an appeal of a Tucson man convicted of a 2000 homicide.
Joseph Javier Romero was linked in 2010 to the killing of Skeets A. Matthews after cold-case investigators examined a cellphone near Matthews’ body. A firearms expert then linked a gun allegedly dropped by Romero about a month after the 2000 killing with shell casings found near Matthews’ body.
The state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a trial judge erred by not allowing a defense expert to testify about scientific criticisms of firearms identifications.
The justices said the defense testimony would have helped jurors understand the firearms expert’s testimony.
The justices said Romero’s conviction can stand if prosecutors prove to the state Court of Appeals that the judge’s error was harmless.
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