Woodward v. Commonwealth

Opinion

BARROW, J.

In this appeal of a conviction of possession of cocaine, we hold that the improper admission of a certificate of analysis was harmless in the determination of the defendant’s guilt. The certificate of analysis related to only one of two quantities of cocaine connected to the defendant by identical evidence. Evidence of the second quantity of cocaine, untainted by the improperly admitted certificate, supported the single conviction. We cannot conclude, however, that the improperly admitted certificate of analysis did not affect the defendant’s sentence. Because the matter was…