Opinion ID: 2287329
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: failure to object to the cross-examination of character witness

Text: Appellant claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the Commonwealth's cross-examination of appellant's mother, whom appellant had offered as a character witness. We find that appellant's ineffectiveness claim fails, as trial counsel's failure to object to the cross-examination could not have affected the outcome at trial. Ordinarily, the scope of cross-examination of an adverse witness is limited to matters brought out on direct examination. Commonwealth v. Cessna, 371 Pa.Super. 89, 537 A.2d 834 (1988), citing Commonwealth v. Lore, 338 Pa.Super. 42, 487 A.2d 841 (1984); Commonwealth v. Katsafanas, 318 Pa.Super. 143, 464 A.2d 1270 (1983). On direct examination, appellant's mother, Ms. Ennis, testified that appellant is eighteen and a half years old, that appellant currently lives with her and was living with her at the time of the incident, that she does not know appellant's accomplice, and that appellant has a reputation among members of the community for being a truthful, peaceful and law-abiding citizen. On cross-examination, the Commonwealth questioned appellant's mother on appellant's ownership of cars, appellant's ability to buy a car, and whether she ever saw him use other people's cars. Thus, the inquiry on cross-examination exceeded the scope of matters brought out during the direct examination. The aim of the questioning was to establish a link between appellant and a blue Cutlass he allegedly drove on the night of the attack on DeShields and to connect appellant with a white Cadillac seen parked in the driveway to Ms. Ennis' house on the afternoon that the police went to her home to arrest appellant. Although trial counsel could have successfully lodged an objection to the Commonwealth's questioning of appellant's mother as to matters which exceeded the scope of cross-examination, appellant has not identified any prejudice suffered by him as a result of counsel's failure to object. We fail to see how the information elicited from Ms. Ennis during cross-examination could have had an adverse effect on the outcome at trial. Her testimony on cross-examination could not have contributed to the finding of appellant's guilt, because her testimony did not show that appellant had access to a blue Cutlass, and appellant did not deny ownership of the white Cadillac. The Commonwealth's case rested on the testimony of the victim, Mr. DeShields, and Christopher Hightower, appellant's accomplice. We find that trial counsel's failure to object to the cross-examination of appellant's mother did not prejudice appellant.