Court Opinion

ID: 9641214
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:25:22.918559+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:35.814959
License: Public Domain

*356POMEROY, Justice
(dissenting).
I do not condone much less approve, the remarks by the District Attorney in his closing address which form the basis of the reversal in this case. I agree, however, with the trial court that these particular statements, viewed in the context of the total summation, were not “sufficiently prejudicial, in light of the overwhelming evidence against the defendant, to constitute reversible error”. (Opinion of Judge Williams for the court en banc, appellees brief at 36). That is to say, I view the error as harmless in the constitutional sense, viz., beyond a reasonable doubt. See Commonwealth v. Camm, 443 Pa. 253, 277 A.2d 325 (1971); Commonwealth v. Henderson, 456 Pa. 234, 317 A.2d 288 (1974); United States v. Benson, 487 F.2d 978 (C.A. 3, 1973). I therefore respectfully dissent.