Commonwealth v. Tharp

OPINION

NIX, Chief Justice.

In this appeal we are called upon to review a per curiam order of the Superior Court which affirmed the judgment of sentence of the Court of Common Pleas of Northumberland County. The specific issue presented is whether the trial court properly permitted the Commonwealth to reopen its case and to introduce direct evidence on the issue of the defendant’s age which was critical in establishing the requisite chain of proof. For the following reasons we find that the trial court acted within its discretion.

In this case the appellant was charged with rape, 1 indecent…