State v. Joynes

BLACKWELL, Judge.

This case involves physical altercations among neighbors. The sole issue presented is whether the trial judge committed reversible error by refusing to admit evidence of a witness’s prior criminal conviction for battery, 1 where the witness was earlier convicted in connection with the same incident. Here, the defendant sought to admit the witness’s battery conviction in the subsequent trial on the grounds it constituted material evidence as to self-defense. We granted certiorari to consider the important issue raised.

Pursuant to Maryland Rule 8-501(g), the parties have…