Commonwealth v. Lavern Branch

BROSKY, Judge:

Following a jury trial, Lavern Branch was convicted of third degree murder and weapons offenses. 1 Timely post-verdict motions were filed alleging, inter alia: (1) the preliminary hearing court erred in ruling that a prima facie case had been offered where the evidence introduced by the prosecution, and admitted over objection, was hearsay; 2 (2) the suppression hearing court erred in vacating its order directing the suppression of Branch’s inculpatory statement and reopening the hearing to permit the Commonwealth an opportunity to offer additional evidence; and, (3) the…