Court Opinion

ID: 9643512
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 20:31:50.350973+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:11:01.133807
License: Public Domain

CASTILLE, Justice,
concurring.
I agree with the majority that the verdicts and sentences of death should be upheld as to both appellants. I write separately because I disagree with the majority’s conclusion that the aggravating circumstance of torture was not properly placed before the jury. Although Dr. Mihalakis’ expert testimony on the issue of whether the victim experienced fear and terror while being suffocated was improperly admitted, I *377would find this error to be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Here, the trial court erred by allowing Dr. Mihalakis to proffer expert testimony on a matter of common knowledge. By tying the victim’s hands behind his back and slowly suffocating him until the life finally ebbed out of him, appellants subjected the victim to a degree of terror and fear in the waning moments of his life which a juror does not require an expert to explain. In other words, Dr. Mihalakis did not tell the jurors anything which they did not already know by telling them that a human being would experience fear and terror as he is brutalized and suffocated. However, the same fact which renders the admission of Dr. Mihalakis’ testimony erroneous also renders such admission harmless. While an expert should generally not be permitted to testify as to a matter of common knowledge, allowing an expert to testify about truths as transparent as those at issue here should not be deemed prejudicial. To the extent that Collins v. Zediker, 421 Pa. 52, 218 A.2d 776 (1966) holds to the contrary, I believe that case should be overruled.
Thus, I disagree with the majority’s conclusion that, due to the improper admission of Dr. Mihalakis’ testimony, the aggravating circumstance of torture was not properly before the jury. I concur with the remainder of the majority’s reasoning and with the result reached thereunder.