Court Opinion

ID: 9697080
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 19:05:23.723705+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:29.016924
License: Public Domain

HUTCHINSON, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent. I agree with the majority that witnesses’ unrelated indictments for other crimes may be admissible on cross-examination to show bias or motive for testifying in particular cases. However, I do not believe that a black letter rule is appropriate. The decision should be left to the sound discretion of the trial judge. In this case, I see no abuse of discretion. To my mind, the rule announced by the court today will lead to unnecessary investigation of collateral matters and needlessly distract and slow the trial process.
The view I express accords with-the general rule that the scope of cross-examination is within the discretion of the trial judge. Commonwealth v. Sisco, 484 Pa. 85, 398 A.2d 955 (1979). He is in the best position to balance the probative value of introducing prior unrelated charges against the prejudicial effect of their introduction and to determine when their introduction would embroil the trial in collateral issues. In this case, the witness Crater categorically stated that he had received no promises of favorable treatment from the police or the district attorney. The trial judge permitted defense counsel to specifically cross-examine him about pending charges stemming from the incident on trial as well as two related burglaries and then instructed the jury that his testimony came from a “polluted source.” Finding no merit in appellant’s other issues, I would affirm.