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Appeals court weighs accident instruction and expert testimony disputes in homicide-related appeal
Summary
Counsel in Commonwealth v. Stephanie Fernandez (docket 24P732) debated whether the trial court erred by refusing an accident instruction alongside self-defense and whether expert witnesses exceeded proper bounds when testifying about battered-woman syndrome and credibility; the court took the case under advisement.
The appeals panel heard extended argument in Commonwealth v. Stephanie Fernandez (docket 24P732) on whether the trial court should have given an accident instruction, and whether expert testimony and the Commonwealth's rebuttal improperly invaded the jury's province or commented on credibility.
Defense counsel argued the record contained evidence of both accident and self-defense and that the absence of an accident instruction on manslaughter was prejudicial. Counsel described trial facts in which…
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