Commonwealth v. Lykus

In this case of first impression in this Commonwealth, the single issue argued by the defendant concerns the judge’s allowing in evidence, from an expert witness introduced by the Commonwealth, opinions as to voice identification based in part on visual analysis of spectrograms, commonly referred to as “voiceprints.” We conclude that the evidence was properly admitted.

The defendant was convicted, after a jury trial, on three indictments charging him with the kidnapping and first degree murder of Paul Cavalieri, and extortion from the victim’s father.1 The appeal is under G. L. c. 278, §§…