State v. MacHado

OPINION

HURWITZ, Vice Chief Justice.

¶ 1 This ease requires us to apply the Arizona Rules of Evidence to “third-party culpability” evidence — evidence offered by a defendant to show that someone else committed the crime. We conclude that the evidence at issue should have been admitted.

I

¶2 On October 25, 2000, sixteen-year-old Rebecca R. drove home alone from a church party. After Rebecca pulled into the driveway of her mother’s house, a neighbor heard her arguing with a male, stating that she did not want to go with him. A shot rang out and Rebecca died shortly thereafter from a gunshot wound.

¶…