Opinion ID: 2374146
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Did the Trial Court Err in Admitting into Evidence the Holster and Ammunition Pouch which Appellant was wearing at the Time of His Arrest?

Text: When appellant surrendered to the police he was wearing a shoulder holster with an attached ammo pouch. The Commonwealth sought to introduce testimony pertaining to the holster and the holster itself into evidence. Appellant objected both to the testimony and the introduction of the holster. (N.T. Trial, pp. 3.51, 3.146) The prosecution contends the holster was probative as appellant was seen entering the residence with a weapon in the holster. Police subsequently located a hand gun inside the house; as it fit the holster, the Commonwealth argues it indicates that the gun belonged to appellant. The victim of the robbery identified this gun as being similar to the one used in the robbery, pointing to appellant as the perpetrator of the crime. Appellant disagrees, contending the holster lacked probative value and was therefore irrelevant and prejudicial. A weapon shown to have been in a defendant's possession may be properly admitted into evidence even though it cannot be identified positively as the weapon used in committing a crime; it may tend to prove that the defendant had a weapon similar to the one used. Any uncertainty that the weapon is not the actual weapon used in the crime, goes to the weight of such evidence. Commonwealth v. Coccioletti, 493 Pa. 103, 425 A.2d 387 (1981); Commonwealth v. Royster, 472 Pa. 581, 372 A.2d 1194 (1977); Commonwealth v. Yount, 455 Pa. 303, 314 A.2d 242 (1974). Similarly, testimony and demonstrative evidence which may identify a defendant as having possession of a particular firearm is admissible. Commonwealth v. Evans, 488 Pa. 38, 410 A.2d 1213 (1980). In the current case the holster and ammo pouch [5] tended to confirm, that appellant had robbed the real estate broker. Compare, Evans. Therefore, it was properly admitted into evidence.