Opinion ID: 2301860
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pathologist's Testimony During Penalty Phase

Text: During the penalty phase, the Commonwealth recalled the pathologist to testify victim would have felt severe pain from appellant's assault. Appellant argues the pathologist should not have testified at the penalty phase, as expert testimony was not necessary for the jury to understand victim's injuries were painful. He further suggests the pathologist's opinion was unnecessary, as there was already evidence presented, from mother's testimony that victim was crying, that victim suffered pain. Appellant claims this testimony was cumulative of evidence entered in the guilt phase and tended to inflame the jury's passions. He contends any probative value of the pathologist's testimony was outweighed by the prejudicial effect of the pathologist recounting victim's injuries. The Commonwealth submits the pathologist's penalty phase testimony was limited to the pain victim suffered, which is relevant to establishing the torture aggravator. The Commonwealth contends this testimony was not cumulative, as it focused on victim's pain and suffering. The trial court ruled the pathologist's expert testimony regarding victim's pain and suffering was admissible. As explained in Part IV, infra, when the Commonwealth asserts the torture aggravator, it carries the burden of proving the defendant acted with `an intent to cause pain and suffering in addition to the intent to kill.' Sherwood, at 506 (quoting Powell, at 425). Thus, the pathologist's testimony was not merely cumulative of guilt phase evidence, as his penalty phase testimony was probative of the extent of the pain victim suffered, not whether appellant specifically intended to kill victim. The pathologist also testified the beating took at least 45 minutes, which is relevant to show the duration of the beating, one of the factors in determining whether the torture aggravator applies. See Montalvo, at 110. [11] Appellant also claims the pathologist's testimony was unnecessary, as the jury could have already determined victim endured pain. However, appellant merely argues the jury would have inferred victim was in pain by her injuries and her crying. Nonetheless, the pathologist's testimony is useful in explaining the type of pain such injuries actually caused, instead of requiring the jury to infer the injuries were painful. [12] As the pathologist's testimony was probative of the torture aggravator, we find his testimony was relevant and not unduly prejudicial, and thus properly admitted.