Opinion ID: 2377254
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Jury Charge Burden of Proof

Text: Appellant's third challenge in case No. 1372 is an attack on counsel's failure to object to the jury charge on the burden of proof. However, appellant failed to preserve this claim in a written post-verdict motion and, consequently, it is waived. Pa.R.Crim.P. 1123(a): See Commonwealth v. Gravely, 486 Pa. 194, 198-99, 404 A.2d 1296, 1298 (1979); Commonwealth v. Beckham, 349 Pa.Super. 430, 433, 503 A.2d 443, 444 (1986). We note parenthetically that this claim is meritless. At one point the trial court misstated the burden of proof and charged the jury to convict appellant even if they were not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant threatened George Douglas. (N.T. No. 1372, June 1-2, 1981, at 103.) We have carefully examined the entire charge and are satisfied that the court subsequently cured its misstatement and clarified the burden of proof for the jury.