Serratore v. People ( 1972 )

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE PRINGLE

concurring in result only.

I concur in the result only in this matter.

In my view, it was absolutely improper for the People to introduce into evidence the defendant’s fingerprint card taken by the Denver Police Department in 1959. Clearly, the inference that had to be drawn by the jury was that the defendant had been arrested at a prior time and this in view of the universal rule that prior arrests are not admissible for any purpose whatsoever. There was no impediment to the taking of fingerprints of the defendant in connection with this case after his arrest. It was, therefore, reversible error, in my view, to submit the 1959 Denver Police fingerprint record to the jury.

I am authorized to say that Mr. Justice Lee and Mr. Justice Erickson concur in the views herein expressed.