Com. v. Ribot, A.

• Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: August 15, 2017
• Docket: Com. v. Ribot, A. No. 1190 EDA 2015
• Status: Published

Opinion

J-A31017-16

2017 PA Super 262

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA Appellant : : : v. : : : ANGEL RIBOT : No. 1190 EDA 2015

Appeal from the Order March 27, 2015 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0009168-2014

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., MOULTON, and FITZGERALD*, JJ.

CONCURRING STATEMENT BY FITZGERALD, J.: FILED AUGUST 15, 2017

I agree with the majority that the best evidence rule does not preclude

the admission of testimony that Appellant was in possession of the buy

money. However, I believe the trial court acted within its discretion when it

credited Appellant’s evidence of a written policy requiring that the buy

money be photocopied over the testimony regarding a change in policy.

Thus, there was an adequate basis for the trial court to find a violation of

departmental policy, which could give rise to a sanction. However, the

preclusion of all testimony regarding the buy money appears to be a drastic

remedy that is not supported by the circumstances of this case. Thus, I

concur in the result.

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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.