Court Opinion

ID: 9698162
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 19:43:46.745112+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:38.970848
License: Public Domain

Concuebing Opinion by
Me. Justice Nix :
While I am in agreement with the resolution of the instant appeal, I am compelled to concur only in the result. I differ with the Court’s finding that the lower court committed no error in denying defense counsel’s request, prior to trial, for permission to perform polygraph and narco-synthesis testing upon appellant. The majority reasoned that the information gathered from the two requested tests would not be admitted in the trial of the case. Admitting the accuracy of this conclusion under present law, it does not provide an answer to the issue raised. These requests were made not for the purpose of offering the results as evidence at trial but rather to aid in the preparation of the defense. It was asserted that these tests would better enable defense counsel to evaluate the evidence with regard to appellant’s intent and capacity in determining his criminal responsibility. The question presented is whether there was any basis for refusing these procedures in the preparation of the defense.
The request for these tests was clearly reasonable under the circumstances. The extensive use of the tests by the prosecution in criminal investigation indicates that they are recognized investigatory tools. Furthermore where, as here, the state would not be put to any *581expense in the administration of the tests, and there was no claim of unreasonable disruption of the prison routine or threat to prison security, there is, in my judgment, no basis for denying the request. Had appellant been released on bail, this testing would have been available to him. I can only conclude that the denial of access to these investigatory tools resulted solely from the fact of his status as a detainee.1
While I believe that the court’s ruling was error, I would not disturb the judgment of sentence in absence of a showing of prejudice resulting from the error.
I am in accord with the majority’s resolution of the assignment of error charging prosecutorial misconduct. At the core of the complaint is the assertion that the statement during the closing argument for the Commonwealth, “this man has just committed murder,” is an expression of a personal belief as to the guilt of the accused. The distain for this practice which has been expressed from the early decisions of this Court, Commonwealth v. Ronello, 251 Pa. 329, 96 A. 826 (1916) is based upon a recognition that this unsworn evidence conveys to the jury the unwarranted inference that the prosecutor possesses by virtue of his office additional information which removes any question of doubt as to the guilt of the accused. See Commonwealth v. Shoemaker, 240 Pa. 255, 87 A. 684 (1913). The essence of this particular assignment of error is not its inflammatory character but rather its suggestion of an improper and unwarranted inference.
*582Reading the statement objected to herein, in context,2 I am satisfied that it did not convey an expression of the prosecutor’s personal belief. In my judgment this statement was no more than an argument that appellant’s behavior at the scene of the accident with the Zerbys was consistent with the actions of one who had just committed the crime charged. There was no insinuation of other information which conclusively proved guilt. It was clear that the basis for the conclusion, at that point, that appellant was guilty as charged, flowed from the facts that had been recited immediately before the statement. While, admittedly clumsily executed, counsel did no more than attempt to urge the jury to accept the legitimate inferences which he believed flowed from the Zerbys’ version of the encounter.
Mr. Justice Pomeroy joins in this opinion.

 The only legitimate purpose served by holding in jail those who are unable to make bond is to make certain they are present for arraignment and trial. Incursions on other rights are only permissible where they are related to behavior which poses a clear danger to prison security or fosters significant breaches of prison discipline or constitutes substantial interference with orderly institutional administration. See National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, Bights of Pretrial Detainees, Standard 4.8 (1973).

 The majority opinion fully set forth the discussion during which the statement was made.