Commonwealth v. Walker

This case presents the question whether a defendant in a criminal case may introduce polygraph evidence to impeach the credibility of a witness. For reasons which appear below, we conclude that the results of a nonparty witness’s polygraph examination are not admissible in evidence in a criminal case, even if there is an agreement concerning the admission of those results.

The case, reported to the Appeals Court by a judge of the jury-of-six session of the Boston Municipal Court, was transferred to this court on our own motion. Facts stipulated by the parties, and the proceedings below, may be…