Opinion ID: 1973245
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Proffered Rebuttal Evidence

Text: Appellant first contends that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to permit his sister to testify in rebuttal to impeach the credibility of prosecution witness Timothy Johnson, and to establish both bias and a motive for Timothy Johnson to falsely accuse her brother. The actual proffer is detailed in the opinion of the trial court, and may be charitably summarized as follows. Sometime in later 1980 appellant's sister heard Timothy Johnson berate Rhonda White for seeing appellant and becoming pregnant by appellant while he (Timothy Johnson) was away at school. Counsel sought to have it inferred that Timothy Johnson had a revenge motive to falsely accuse appellant. Appellant argues that the trial court improperly focused upon the possibility that the evidence was perjurious, that the best evidence rule did not apply, and that even though the evidence was hearsay, motive and bias are usually proved by hearsay testimony. (Appellant's Brief at 8-12).  The Commonwealth responds that the trial court in no way abused its discretion. The Commonwealth argues that the evidence was not relevant, was almost certainly perjurious, and was comprised entirely of inadmissible hearsay. The Commonwealth argues further that if there was error, it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial court agreed with the Commonwealth that the evidence was properly excluded because it was not relevant, it was almost certainly perjurious, and it was comprised entirely of inadmissible hearsay. It is well-settled that an accused has a fundamental right to present defense evidence, so long as such evidence is relevant and not excluded by an established evidentiary rule. Commonwealth v. Uhrinek, 518 Pa. 532, 542, 554 A.2d 947, 952 (1988); Commonwealth v. Eubanks, 511 Pa. 201, 209-10, 512 A.2d 619, 624 (1986); Commonwealth v. Greene, 469 Pa. 399, 405, 366 A.2d 234, 237 (1976). The question here is whether the evidence was relevant and not excluded by an established evidentiary rule. With regard to relevance, it is well-settled that the defense is entitled to broad latitude to present even arguably attenuated evidence designed to impeach, discredit, or rebut the testimony of a prosecution witness as biased or being the product of a motive to testify falsely. See Commonwealth v. Borders 522 Pa. 161, 165, 560 A.2d 758, 759-60 (1989); Commonwealth v. Simmon, 521 Pa. 218, 219-25, 555 A.2d 860, 861-64 (1989); Commonwealth v. Peetros, 517 Pa. 260, 272-76, 535 A.2d 1026, 1032-34 (1987). It must be noted however, that each of those cases involved attempts to impeach on cross-examination, or to offer in rebuttal plainly admissible evidence. The issues decided in those cases concerned the balancing of alleged relevance against countervailling privilege or potential prejudice, and not fundamental reliability or admissibility under settled evidentiary rules. We note initially that we agree with appellant that the evidence was not excludable because other evidence  rendered it so incredible as to be irrelevant, or because the evidence was almost certainly perjurious. While the witness may expose himself or herself to perjury charges by offering incredible testimony, the conflicts and inconsistencies in such evidence are for the jury to resolve as finder of fact, and not the trial court in determining admissibility. Cf. In re Investigating Grand Jury (Petition of Lees), 518 Pa. 485, 490, 544 A.2d 924, 926 (1988) (though the judge may have reasonably believed the witness had lied, the only sanction available was a perjury charge, not contempt sanctions); Commonwealth v. Mascitti, 368 Pa.Super. 454, 464, 534 A.2d 524, 529 (1987) (while a witness whose testimony was expected to be perjurious was properly required to testify in narrative form when counsel decline to aid in the perpetration of a fraud on the court, nontheless, the testimony was not excluded), reversed on other grounds, 519 Pa. 235, 546 A.2d 619 (1988). In the trial court and here on appeal appellant conceded that the evidence excluded was technically inadmissible hearsay. That concession is fatal, as the law plainly requires that the defense evidence offered for impeachment (or any other purpose) not be excludable by an established evidentiary rule. Commonwealth v. Uhrinek, supra . In point of fact, however, appellant conceded too much, as the proffered evidence actually fell within the accepted exception to the hearsay rule for evidence of prior inconsistent statements of a testifying witness. See generally Binder, Hearsay Handbook, §§ 32.04 (1983 & 1989 supp.). On cross-examination, Timothy Johnson specifically denied even knowing appellant's girlfriend Rhonda. The prior statement alleged to have been overheard by appellant's sister was materially inconsistent with Timothy's testimony. Thus, appellant's sister's proffered testimony consisted of an alleged prior inconsistent statement by a testifying witness which was relevant as to credibility and as to potential bias. As such, it was at least arguably admissible.  Nonetheless, even if an ineffectiveness claim had been presented on this issue, counsel could not be deemed ineffective in this respect. Upon careful review of the entire record, we agree with the Commonwealth that the evidence proffered was wholly incredible and of minimal impeachment value given its staleness, while the other evidence against appellant was so overwhelming that any error in this respect would have to be deemed harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no reasonable likelihood that admission of the proffered rebuttal evidence would have altered the verdict in any way. Hence, we find no merit in the first contention on appeal.