Opinion ID: 2069678
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Denial of Continuance Request

Text: Appellant next claims that the trial court abused its discretion and prejudiced his right to a fair trial when it denied defense counsel's request to continue the trial based on the unavailability of a missing witness. According to Appellant, documents provided to the defense by the Commonwealth during discovery showed that a Maria Fielding gave a statement to the police that named someone other than him as the shooter. The grant or denial of a continuance to secure a witness is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court and an appellate court will not reverse a trial court's ruling unless there has been prejudice to the defendant or a showing of palpable and manifest abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Williams, 537 Pa. 1, 640 A.2d 1251 (1994). We consider the following factors when reviewing a trial court's decision to deny a request for a continuance: (1) the necessity of the witness to strengthen the defendant's case; (2) the essentiality of the witness to the defendant's defense; (3) the diligence exercised to procure his or her presence at trial: (4) the facts to which he or she could testify; and (5) the likelihood that he or she could be produced in court if a continuance were granted. Commonwealth v. Scott, 469 Pa. 258, 365 A.2d 140 (1976). The record demonstrates that the defense had been aware of Fielding since March of 1994, when it received discovery from the Commonwealth. The defense subpoenaed her for Appellant's first trial in October of 1994, but she did not appear in court and the trial court issued a bench warrant for her. Fielding never testified at the first trial, but, after both parties rested in that trial, she did appear in court and then left without speaking to the attorneys. The bench warrant for Fielding remained outstanding. On February 13, 1995, eight days before the scheduled beginning of the second trial, defense counsel informed the court that his investigators were unable to find Fielding and he asked the trial court to direct the Commonwealth to attempt to locate her. The trial court issued a second bench warrant for Fielding and the Commonwealth agreed to look for her. Trial commenced without either party locating Fielding. At the conclusion of the Commonwealth's case-in-chief, defense counsel informed the court that they had not found Fielding, and he requested the court admit into evidence her statement to the police. The trial court denied that request, [6] and the defense asked for a missing witness instruction, which the trial court also denied. After reviewing the entire record, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied defense counsel's request for a continuance. The only time that defense counsel actually requested a continuance was on February 13, 1995, which still allowed the defense eight days before the start of trial to locate Fielding. We are satisfied that defense counsel was diligent in his attempts to secure Fielding's presence in court. Even if we assume that Fielding would have offered exculpatory testimony, it appears that Fielding was avoiding the police because she was wanted for welfare fraud. ( See N.T. 2/13/95, pp. 3-11). Based on these facts, it is unlikely that granting the defense a continuance would have resulted in Fielding testifying at trial. In addition, we note that on November 30, 1995, when the trial court formally imposed the judgment of sentence, there was no indication that either the Commonwealth or the defense had succeeded in finding Fielding. Accordingly, we hold that Appellant has not established that the trial Court abused its discretion when it denied a request for a continuance. [7]