217 Pa. Super. 406 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1970
Concurrence Opinion
Concurring Opinion by
Appellants were tried before a jury on indictments charging aggravated robbery, assault and battery with intent to murder and burglary. During the trial appellant Jainlett took the stand in his own defense and presented the alibi that during the period when the
During cross-examination of the detective, defense counsel attempted to point out inconsistencies and deletions between the rough notes and the submitted report. To dispel any inference of inconsistency, on redirect examination the prosecutor asked the detective to explain the relationship between the rough notes and the “49”. The detective explained that the report at issue was a “52” and that the “49” was the report of the original investigation prior to arrest. On recross-examination defense counsel established that the “49” was available and asked to see it. This request was objected to and the objection sustained. An exception was taken.
Appellants were convicted of burglary and aggravated assault and battery. From judgment of sentence this appeal followed.
The question here is whether defense counsel has a right to see a readily available police report, for the purposes of cross-examination of an officer, where that report was prepared by the officer and is thought to contain prior statements of the officer on the subject about which he has just testified. Commonwealth v. Smith, 417 Pa. 321, 208 A. 2d 219 (1965) and Commonwealth v. Kubacki, 208 Pa. Superior Ct. 523, 224 A. 2d 80 (1966), clearly established the law in Pennsylvania that defense counsel are entitled to access to prior statements made by Commonwealth witnesses to investigative officers. This principle was reaffirmed in Commonwealth v. Swierczewski, 215 Pa. Superior Ct.
The Commonwealth argues that the “49” was totally irrelevant to the issues raised on direct examination, and thus “[t]here was no reason for defense counsel to review the ‘49’. It was prepared prior to the arrest of defendant and could contain nothing whatever regarding any statement made by Jainlett which was the entire issue of [the detective’s] rebuttal testimony.” However, we have only the district attorney’s opinion that the “49” was irrelevant to the issues brought out on rebuttal. Defense counsel and the trial judge may have been able to discern a more significant connection. Since the “49” was admittedly available, the Commonwealth should have submitted the report to the judge so that he could independently decide the basic issue of relevance. This procedure would protect the Commonwealth’s interest in preserving confidential information while insuring defendant’s right of access to all available, relevant material necessary for the defense.
If the information allegedly contained in the “49” was crucial to appellant’s case and would have been a significant factor influencing the jury, a new trial should be required. However, since the detective’s testimony was offered only in rebuttal as to appellant
Lead Opinion
Opinion
Judgments of sentence affirmed.
