Shifflett v. Commonwealth

ANNUNZIATA, Judge.

Melvin I. Shifflett (“appellant”) was convicted by jury trial of the first degree murder of Patricia E. Smith and sentenced to life imprisonment. In this appeal, appellant contends the trial court erred by: (1) admitting the testimony of Diane Kruger concerning appellant’s commission of a prior crime; and (2) admitting irrelevant testimony of John Howard. We disagree and affirm appellant’s conviction.

I

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The facts stated in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the prevailing party, establish that on the night of October 29, 1978, Smith met a group of…