TICNAG, EVAN JUSTIN D.

Frye VS United States and OJ Simpson

a. Facts of the Case

Appellant was charged with and put on trial for murder. At his trial, Appellant attempted to call an
expert witness to testify that Appellant had taken a systolic blood pressure deception test, and to
further testify as to the results of the test. The expert testimony was held inadmissible by the lower
court, Appellant was convicted of second-degree murder.

b. Claim of the Defendant

The defendant claimed at trial that his confession was false and that he had an alibi. The reason he
confessed, he said, was that he had planned to share the reward money with the detective. The alibi
failed, leaving the question of the reliability of the confession. Defense attorney Richard Mattingly
tried to suppress the statement, claiming it was involuntary because Mr. Frye did not know his
rights.

c. Use of Polygraphy in the Case

A polygraph commonly known as a “lie detector” is designed to detect deception and false
statements. The polygraph test was used in the OJ Simpson case in which OJ Simpson took the
polygraph test to show only his lawyers that he was not guilty in the murder of his ex-wife, but
ended up failing the test.

d. Decision of the Court

The court affirmed defendant's conviction. The court held that defendant failed to establish that the
test was demonstrative and not merely experimental. The systolic blood pressure deception test
had not gained the requisite standing and scientific recognition among psychological and
physiological authorities at the time of trial to justify the introduction of expert testimony regarding
the test.

e. Give your insight on how did polygraphy examination affects the case. In your own opinion, should
the polygraph examination results be admissible as evidence in the court.

The polygraph examination affects the case by nearly ruining the truth of the case. Polygraph
examination was inadmissible in the court for the reason that such test at that time has not gained
scientific recognition from psychological and physiological authorities. Although Simpson himself
was eventually found not guilty in the murder, he allegedly failed the polygraph test which would
have probably turned the table if the test was not rejected. In my opinion, though more courts
weigh merits of Polygraph test after the OJ Simpson trial, it seems to me that Polygraph examination
is unreliable when used as evidence in court. I agree that lie detectors can alter anyone’s responses
if he/she is very emotional. Moreover, psychologist has even claimed that the science behind
 polygraphs can be "controversial" and innocent people can sometimes respond like guilty people,
depending on how they react under stress and the types of questions asked. Real culprits can
likewise beat the test in their advantage if they know how to control their answers and reactions.
Thus, it is better to use more tangible and reliable evidences when defending people in the court.

REFERENCES:

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, January 24). O.J. Simpson trial. Encyclopedia
Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/O-J-Simpson-trial
Cowan, G. & Fairchild H. (1997, September). The O. J. Simpson trial: Research and theory on the
dynamics of ethnicity - Introduction to the issue.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286862573_The_O_J_Simpson_trial_Resear
ch_and_theory_on_the_dynamics_of_ethnicity_-_Introduction_to_the_issue
D.C. Cir. (1923), Frye v. United States.
https://nij.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh171/files/media/document/frye-v-US.pdf