Johnson v. Commonwealth

Opinion

COLEMAN, J.

In this appeal from convictions for first degree murder and robbery, we examine two rulings by the trial court. The first involves the admission of evidence which the appellant contends was of his bad character, admitted over his objection. The second challenges the court’s refusal to grant a cautionary instruction to the jury on circumstantial evidence.

The evidence presented at trial by the Commonwealth revealed that Lorraine Parsons, the victim, was last seen alive by Susan Moles at 3:30 p.m. on November 5, 1983, at the apartment they shared in Arlington. Ms. Parson’s body…