Doneghy v. Commonwealth
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of second-degree manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident, second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, and several drug-related offenses. The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions and resulting sentences, holding, inter alia, (1) the trial court did not err by denying Defendant's motion for directed verdict on the charge of second-degree manslaughter because the Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence; (2) the trial court did not err by trying the charges against Defendant in a single trial; (3) the Commonwealth's reference to an inadmissible statement during closing argument did not constitute palpable error; (4) the Commonwealth did not impermissibly use Ky. R. Evid. 404(b) evidence to obtain a conviction; (5) the jury instruction for second-degree assault was not erroneous; (6) the Commonwealth produced sufficient evidence to support Defendant's conviction for second-degree assault; and (7) no palpable error resulted from the first-responders testifying about their relationship with the victim.
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