Commonwealth v. Payne

OPINION OF THE COURT

PAPADAKOS, Justice.

This case involves the question of whether the identity of a witness to a crime, where the witness also informed against Appellant, Anthony Allen Payne, at an earlier point in time, must be revealed to the defense at the price of dismissing the charges if it is not done. Under the following facts, we hold that the witness’s identity must be revealed or the prosecution dropped.

Appellant was convicted under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act1 with delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver,2 and possession.3 The facts…