Commonwealth v. Todd

MANDERINO, Justice,

concurring and dissenting.

The majority finds no merit in appellant’s claim that the trial court erred when it admitted into evidence the preliminary hearing testimony of a prosecution witness who at trial invoked his privilege against self-incrimination. Ante at 532 n.2. In my view, the fact that the witness was cross-examined at the preliminary hearing does not, standing alone, justify admitting the testimony into evidence. See, Commonwealth v. Rodgers, 472 Pa. 435, 463-65, 372 A.2d 771, 784 (1977) (Manderino, J., dissenting); Commonwealth v. Velasquez, 449 Pa. 599, 605-08, 296 A.2d 768, 771-73 (1972) (Manderino, J., dissenting). For the reasons stated in my dissenting opinions in Rodgers and Velasquez, I would exclude, on the present record, this witness’ testimony given at the preliminary hearing.

I agree that the judgment of sentence on the firearms conviction should be reversed and the appellant discharged as to that charge.