context: Appellant next asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to permit defense counsel to inquire into the circumstances under which Janice Steckel left her employment at the Holiday Inn, when Steckel's credibility was at issue. We disagree. It is well settled that the scope of cross examination is within the sound discretion of the trial court.
citation_a.signal: see
citation_a.identifier: 448 A.2d 609, 612
citation_a.parenthetical: credibility of witness may not be attacked by questions regarding instances of misconduct unrelated to the issue on trial
citation_a.sentence: See Commonwealth v. Gaddy, 468 Pa. 303, 311, 362 A.2d 217, 220 (1976) (“Evidence of prior misconduct unrelated to the issues at trial is admissible only insofar as it bears directly on the witness’ ‘character for truth.’ ”); Commonwealth v. Truitt, 369 Pa. 72, 80, 85 A.2d 425, 429 (1951) (“A witness cannot be contradicted on collateral matters to test credibility^]”); Commonwealth v. McGuire, 302 Pa.Superior Ct. 226, 232, 448 A.2d 609, 612 (1982) (credibility of witness may not be attacked by questions regarding instances of misconduct unrelated to the issue on trial); Herr v. Erb, 163 Pa.Superior Ct. 430, 434-45, 62 A.2d 75, 77-78 (1948) (witness can be contradict ed only on matters germane to issue at trial; no contradiction shall be permitted on collateral matters).
citation_b.signal: cf.
citation_b.identifier: 452 Pa. 554, 556
citation_b.parenthetical: prior convictions used to impeach credibility are limited to crimes involving dishonesty or false statements
citation_b.sentence: Cf. Commonwealth v. Bighum, 452 Pa. 554, 556, 307 A.2d 255, 257 (1973) , and McIntosh v. Pittsburgh Railways Co., 432 Pa. 123, 125, 247 A.2d 467, 468 (1968) (prior convictions used to impeach credibility are limited to crimes involving dishonesty or false statements).