Court Opinion

ID: 9747713
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 15:28:37.055805+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:25.914525
License: Public Domain

NIX, Justice
(dissenting).
While I agree that it was error to prevent the defense from introducing the testimony of Thomas Kane, 1 do not believe that it reaches the magnitude to justify the reversal of the judgment of sentence. I therefore dissent.
Concededly, the introduction of evidence which, if believed, would provide an independent basis for hostility by the officers of District 19 directed towards the victim, Mr. Joseph Yablonski, might support the appellant’s contention that this crime was conceived and carried out without his participation or knowledge. However, this testimony also is susceptible to the equally strong (or possibly even stronger) inference that the fear of disclosure of the mismanagement of the funds of the Local made the members thereof more susceptible to Boyle’s urgings. It is quite probable that one who seeks an accomplice in a heinous deed such as this would look to another who shared the feeling of enmity towards the intended victim.
In my judgment the introduction of this testimony had at best a tenuous connection with the ultimate finding of *362guilt or innocence and was of such a nature that its impact was more likely to have been adverse to the appellant’s position rather than helpful. The mere fact that two individuals’ dislike for a third person stems from different motives in no way refutes the possibility that those individuals will act in concert in giving vent to this feeling. In such a posture the exclusion of this testimony, although improper, could hardly be considered reversible error.
Mr. Chief Justice JONES joins in this dissenting opinion.