St. Clair v. Commonwealth

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

JUSTICE NOBLE

Michael D. St. Clair was convicted of capital kidnapping and other crimes, and was sentenced to death. In this matter-of-right appeal, conducted concurrently with this Court’s mandatory review of the death sentence, he raises 35 claims of error. This Court ultimately concludes that evidence of another murder allegedly committed by St. Clair and evidence of that murder victim’s background were improperly admitted, in this prosecution for kidnap*877ping. That evidence was prejudicial, and thus St. Clair’s convictions are reversed.

I. Background

St. Clair actually…