Maria I. Sanutti-Spencer v. Pennsylvania
Does excluding evidence of another's motive, of the decedent's drug addiction, drug dealing, his physical abuse of the defendant and the defendant's significant health issues violate the right to present a complete defense when this evidence suggests another person committed the crime for which the defendant was charged and convicted?
Does excluding evidence of the decedent's motive, intent, bias, ill-will, malice and the nature of the marital relationship violate the defendant's Constitutional right to confront the decedent, when his out-of-court- statements, regarding his fear of the defendant, are offered into evidence at her trial.?
Does a lay witness, such as a police officer, exceed the scope of lay opinion tewtimony when he testifies that he believes a certain set of yellow cleaning gloves, found in the kitchen (later found to have the defendant's DNA in them) were used to drag the body?
Should a trial court strike testimony when a witness admits to viola ting a sequestration order which impacted his testimony?
Was it error for the trial court to read, as a non-responsive answer to a jury question, the criminal information as fact (not an allegation) prefaced by "attention-getting words" of "in order to avoid any confusion about the charges in this case I am going to read the following to you" and then after reading the criminal information, the words "That is all I have to say on that issue. Again, I hope it hopes (sic) clarify the -issues for you."
Does excluding evidence of another's motive, of the decedent's drug addiction, drug dealing, his physical abuse of the defendant and the defendant's significant health issues violate the right to present a complete defense?