Court Opinion

ID: 9765257
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 03:57:28.457354+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:07.379462
License: Public Domain

CONCURRING AND DISSENTING OPINION BY
MUSMANNO, J.:
¶ 1 The majority presents an excellent, well-reasoned and cogent analysis of the rule against hearsay, as applied to the letter written by the decedent, Mr. Sandt. I wholeheartedly agree with my esteemed colleague that Mr. Sandt’s letter constituted inadmissible hearsay and no exception applied. However, I am constrained to conclude that the improper admission of the letter at trial was not harmless error, beyond a reasonable doubt.
¶ 2 An error will be deemed harmless where the appellate court concludes beyond a reasonable doubt that the error could not have contributed to the verdict. Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 585 Pa. 547, 889 A.2d 501, 528 (2005). “If there is a reasonable possibility that the error may have contributed to the verdict, it is not harmless.” Id.; see Commonwealth v. Story, 476 Pa. 391, 383 A.2d 155, 164-66 (1978) (stating that the factors to be considered in weighing harmlessness of error include (1) whether error was prejudicial, and if so, whether it was de minimus; (2) whether erroneously admitted evidence was merely cumulative of other untainted evidence that was substantially similar to erroneously admitted evidence; and (3) whether evidence of guilt was so overwhelming, as established by properly admitted and uncontradicted evidence, that prejudicial effect of error was insignificant).
¶ 3 At trial, the Commonwealth presented strong evidence of Appellant’s involvement in Mr. Sandt’s death. However, the prejudicial impact of Mr. Sandt’s letter was, in my view, insurmountable. The letter was so damning that there clearly is a reasonable possibility that its improper *33admission contributed to the verdict. On this basis, I would conclude that the error was not harmless, and accordingly, I would reverse the judgment of sentence and remand for a new trial.