Court Opinion

ID: 9705288
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 01:01:22.147354+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:09.651175
License: Public Domain

*260COLINS, Judge,
concurring and dissenting.
I, as does Judge Kelley, agree with the majority that a reversal and remand for a new trial are warranted. I further wish to indicate that I join with Judge Kelley in his concurring and dissenting opinion, insofar as it would require the trial court to instruct the jury on assumption of risk.
However, I wish to further express my belief that the trial court erred in its granting of a Motion in Limine to exclude any evidence relating to the fact, as noted by the majority, that at the time of the pursuit and accident, Jodzis was in possession of a handgun, stolen from the Office of the District Attorney of Westmoreland County, controlled substances and “hollow point” ammunition.
It is true that Jodzis admitted that he fled from the police initially and, at the time of his attempted circumvention of the second police car, that he was fully aware that it was a police vehicle, the purpose of which was to make him stop, and that he intentionally did not stop. However, Jodzis contends that the police car intentionally moved forward and struck him. The police deny this. Therefore, there exists a further motive to testify falsely regarding whether the police car was moving.
Since the testimonies of the witnesses were at odds concerning this portion of the chase, the jury should not be deprived of evidence which would underscore and amplify Jodzis’ desire to escape from the police and, therefore, further reflect upon his credibility.
The jury should not be allowed to hear this case in a vacuum, knowing only a portion of the facts surrounding this controversy. Since these additional facts would relate to Jodzis’ credibility and also his need or desire to incur incredible risk in his effort to escape apprehension at all cost, the mention of the contraband would not only be relevant, but would also provide the jury an additional tool in assessing the credibility of the parties.