Commonwealth v. Cardoza

This case comes to us after two trials, and involves a dispute over the exclusion of comparison evidence of a foreign pubic hair. In the first trial, in which the trial judge admitted the evidence, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. In the second trial, in which the trial judge excluded the evidence, the defendant was found guilty of indecent assault and battery and assault and battery. He appeals, arguing — we think persuasively — that the exclusion of the evidence in the second trial deprived him of the opportunity to present a complete defense. We reverse the convictions.

Although the…