Hewitt v. Commonwealth

William Henry Hewitt was tried by a jury for possession of more than five pounds of marijuana, with intent to distribute. He was convicted and sentenced to thirty years’ confinement. The dis-positive question raised by his appeal concerns his right to cross-examine a prosecution witness for bias.

The Commonwealth,relied primarily on the testimony of Robert Talley to establish Hewitt’s knowledge and intent. Talley, who had an extensive criminal record, was acting as an undercover informant for the police. He testified that he, with Hewitt and a third man, travelled from the Tidewater area to…