PEOPLE V. COLLINS
68 Cal.2d 319, 438 P.2d 33, 66 Cal.Rptr. 497 (1968)
NATURE OF THE CASE: Collins (D) appealed his conviction for second degree robbery in
violation of Cal. Penal Code 211, 211(a), and 1157, claiming that reversible error was
committed through the use of mathematical theory as evidence in his trial.
FACTS: Mr. and Mrs. Collins (D) fit the description that an eyewitness gave of a purse
snatcher. The eyewitness described viewing a blond haired white girl with a ponytail and a
bearded black male in a yellow car. The prosecutor called a mathematics as a witness to
establish the probability that the crime was committed by the accused couple. The expert
explained the use of the product rule to determine the probability of a joint occurrence
from a number of mutually independent variables. The prosecutor then had the witness assume
certain probability factors for the various characteristics which the prosecutor said the
guilty couple shared. The professor gave the chance of any couple having the same
characteristics as one in 12 million. The prosecutor claimed that this data meant that there
was only one chance in 12 million that D were innocent. D were convicted of second degree
robbery, etc.).
ISSUE:
RULE OF LAW:
HOLDING AND DECISION:
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
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