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NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v.

JOSHUA N. CAMBRIC

Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 1601 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered July 17, 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Cambria County Criminal Division at No(s): CP

- 11

- CR

- 0001269

- 2014

BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., KUNSELMAN, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, P.J.: FILED FEBRUARY 11, 2020 Joshua N. Cambric appeals from the judgment of sentence entered in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas on July 17, 2018 following his conviction for first deg ree murder and r elated charges for his involvement in a 2014 fatal shooting. On March 30, 2014, Tony Phillips was shot and killed in the parking lot
of a bar in Johnstown, Cambria County, while sitting in the driver’s seat of his
sister’s car. At trial, the Commonwealth presented circumstantial evidence to establish that Cambric, Keith Reed, and Jeremy Woodard had formulated and carried out a plan to kill Tony Phillips. This evidence consisted of multiple witnesses and video surveillance footage from multiple locations.
P hillips’ sister , Tanya Phillips, testified that Reed called her residence looking for her brother on the day of the murder. She told Reed that her

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brother was not home , but offered sugges tions on where he might be. Tanya had loaned her brother her golden tan colored Che vrolet Malibu earlier th at day. Phillips’ aunt testified that Reed came to her sister’s house looking for Phillips and convinced Phillips to go have a drink with him.
The owner of the bar where the shooting occurred testified that while
he w as getting in his car to leave the bar that night he saw a gold

- colored vehicle pull into the parking lot

. He observed a b lack male , who he identified
as Reed 1 

# get out of the passenger side of the gold car and go into the bar. He
then saw a different b lack male , wearing glasses and gray cargo pants, come out and fire two shots from a handgun through the driver’s door windo w of the gold car . The shooter then walked to a black SUV that was waiting for him.
The owner identified Cambric as the shooter in court.
After local dispatch advised police to be on the lookout for a black SUV in connection with the shooting, they effectuated a stop of a vehicle matching the description in the parking lot of a gas station

. A passenger alighted from
the SUV before the driv er attempted to flee by driving away. The driver, identified as Woodard, was apprehended shortly thereafter. The passenger was tracked to a local motel, were he was found in a room, having checked in approximately fifteen minutes before police arrived. An officer positively identified Cambric as the passenger who fled from the black SUV.

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______
1 

# He further testified that Reed was a regular patron of the bar.

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Video evidence from the gas station showed Cambric exiting the black SUV and leaning down between the pumps, the black SUV departing, the police cruiser in pursuit, and C ambric walking toward the motel. Officers later located a firearm lodged between the gas pumps where Cambric had leaned
down. Scientific testing and analysis established that all bullets recovered had been fired by the firearm recovered at the gas station

. The Commonwealth sought to try the men jointly. However, the trial court denied the Commonwealth’s request. This Court quashed the Commonwealth’s appeal of the denial, and our Supreme Court denied review. After several scheduling issues, trial was schedu led for March 2017. Cambric filed a motion to dismiss the charges, asserting that his right to a speedy trial had been violated. After a hearing, the trial court denied the motion. Cambric then filed a motion seeking the recusal of the Cambria County
Dist rict Attorney’s office, which the trial court granted. The Office of the Attorney General assumed the responsibility for the case, and after trial, the jury convicted Cambric of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of aggravated ass ault, receiving stolen property, and tampering with physical evidence. On July 17, 2018, Cambric was sentenced to life imprisonment for first degree murder, a consecutive five to ten years’ incarceration for receiving stolen property, and a consecutive s ix months to two years’ incarceration for

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tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. 2 

# The trial court subsequently amended the sentence on the charge of receiving stolen property to thirty

three to one

- hundred and twenty months’ incarceration.
Camb ric filed timely post

- sentence motions, which were denied after a hearing. This timely appeal followed. In his first issue on appeal, Cambric challenges the sufficiency of the
evidence to sustain all charges

. Specifically, in his Rule 1925(b) statement, he contends the evidence was wholly inconsistent and speculative because the convictions were based solely on circumstantial evidence and the eyewitness ’ testimony was conflicting as to their identification of the perpetrator . Cambric is not challenging th e sufficiency of the evidence to support any of the specific legal definitions of his convictions. Rather, he is challenging the sufficiency of
the evidence to establish that he was the person who committed the crimes.
Our standard of review for a challe nge to the sufficiency of the evidence is to determine whether, when viewed in a light most favorable to the verdict winner, the evidence at trial and all reasonable inferences therefrom are
sufficient for the trier of fact to find that each element of the crimes charged is established beyond a reasonable doubt. See Commonwealth v. Dale , 836 A.2d 150, 152 (Pa. Super. 2003). “The Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt by means

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______
2 

# The charges of conspiracy to commit criminal homicide and aggravated assault merged with the charge of first degree murder for sentencing.

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of wholly circumstant ial evidence.” Commonwealth v. Bruce , 916 A.2d 657, 661 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citation omitted).
“T he facts and circumstances established by the Commonwealth need not preclude every possibility of innocence.” Id . (citation omitted). “As an appellate court, we do not assess credibility nor do we assign weight to any of the testimony of record.” Commonwealth v. Kinney , 863 A.2d 581, 584 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation omitted). Thus, we will not disturb the verdict
“un less the evidence is so weak and inconclusive that as a matter of law no probability of fact may be drawn from the combined circumstances.” Bruce , 916 A.2d at 661 (citation omitted). The trial court, in its opinion, has thoroughly reviewed this claim and disposed of the argument on the merits. We have reviewed the parties’ briefs, the relevant law, the certified record, and the trial court’s well

- written opinion. The trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law comprehensively dispose of Cambric’ s first issue on appeal, with appropriate references to the record and without legal error. We therefore adopt its reasoning and affirm on
its basis. See Trial Court Opinion, 2/5/ 20 19. It is clear there is overwhelming
evidence in support of the verdict.
Furthermore , although Cambric phrased this claim as a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we find his claim to be more properly categorized

as a challenge to the weight of the evidence

. Cambric’s argument focuses almost exclusively on his conten tion that the testimony was contradictory and

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inconsistent. This is a challenge not to the sufficiency of the evidence, but to
its weight

. 3 

# See Commonwealth v. Wilson , 825 A.2d 710, 713

- 714 (Pa. Super. 2003) (“A sufficiency of the evidence review, however, does not include an assessment of the credibility of the testimony offered by the Commonwealth.”) As Cambric has ra ised a separate weight claim in his second issue on appeal, we will address the issue on its merits

. In his challenge to the weight of t he evidence supporting the jury’s verdict, Cambric raises the same arguments he made in his sufficiency argument, specifically that the eyewitness testimony w as conflicting. Cambric contends the jury’s verdict based on solely circumstantial evidence was so contrary to the evidence that it constitutes a miscarriage of justice and require s the grant of a new trial. We do not review challenges to the weight of the evidence de novo on appeal. See Commonwealth v. Rivera , 983 A.2d 1211, 1225 (Pa. 2009). Rather, we only review the trial court’s exercise of its discretionary judgment regarding the weight of the evidence presented at trial. See id . We may only reverse the lower court’s verdict if it is so contrary to the evi dence as to shock

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______ 3 

# While challenges based on inconsistent testimony generally implicate the weight of the evidence, our Supreme Cour t has made an exception to the general rule that the finder of fact is the sole arbiter of the facts where the testimony is so inherently unreliable that a verdict based upon it could amount to no more than surmise or conjecture. Commonwealth v. K arkaria , 625 A.2d 1167, 1170 (Pa. 1993 ) . Instantly, we do not find that the verdict was based on conjecture or that the testimony was so inherently unreliable as to render the verdict unsupportable.

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one’s sense of justice.” Commonwealth v. Champney , 832 A.2d 403, 408 (Pa. 2003) (citations omitted). A verdict is said to be contrary to the evidence such that it shocks one’s sense of justice when “the figure of Justice totters on her pe destal,” or when “the jury’s verdict, at the time of its rendition, causes the trial judge to lose his breath, temporarily, and causes him to almost fall from the bench, then it is truly shocking to the judicial conscience.”
Commonwealth v. Davidson , 860 A .2d 575, 581 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citations omitted). When the challenge to the weight of the evidence is predicated on the credibility of trial testimony, our review of the trial court’s decision is extremely limited. Generally, unless the evidence is so un reliable and/or contradictory as to make any verdict based thereon pure conjecture, these types of claims are not cognizable on appellate review.
Commonwealth v. Gibbs , 981 A.2d 274, 282 (Pa. Super. 2009) (citations omitted). Cambric mainly takes issue with the eyewitness’s testimony regarding the color of the perpetrator’s pants. See Appellant’s Brief, at 28

- 29. We have to agree with the trial court that Cambric’s challenge is simply a “mere conflict in testimony” and does not constitute grounds for a new trial. Further, we agree with the trial court that the evidence in this case was voluminous, including not only the eyewitness testimony, but additionally video evidence documenting nearly every aspect of Cambric’s actions throughout the day.
The video evidence alone, if believed by the fact finder, was enough to convict
Cambric. Accordingly, we find Cambric’s weight claim is without merit.

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Next, Cambric contends the trial court abused its discretion by denying
his oral motion to recuse defense counsel for a conflict of interest. A defendant cannot prevail on a conflict of interest claim absent a showing of actual prejudice. [T]his Court [ha s held] that while it is true that prejudice is presumed when counsel is burdened by an actual conflict of interest, this is only if the defendant demonstrates that counsel actively represented conflicting interests and that an actual conflict of interest adversely aff ected his lawyer’s performance. Commonwealth v. Spotz , 896 A.2d 1191, 1231

- 32 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
Cambric takes issue with the fact that d efense counsel had previously prepared estate planning documents for a testifying detective from the Johnstown police department. Counsel also probated the detective’s parents’ estates. Finally, counsel had an informal discussion with the detective regarding a civil suit shortly before trial, but testified that no attorney cl ient relationship had been created by this conversation. Here, Cambric has failed to demonstrate that counsel “actively represented conflicting interests .” Id. Under these circumstances, we
conclude that t his is not a case of concurrent representation beca use, as alleged by Cambric, his concern regards trial counsel’s previous representation
of a Commonwealth witness in cases that were unrelated to the instant matter, and that had been concluded prior to Cambric’s trial. Because this
case involves successiv e and not dual representation, Cambric must demonstrate he was prejudiced by any potential conflict of interest. See

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Commonwealth v. Cousar , 154 A

. 3d 287, 310 ( Pa. 2014) ; see also
Commonwealth v. Karenbauer , 715 A.2d 1086, 1094 (Pa. 1998) (holding
that “[a] defendant cannot prevail on a conflict of interest claim absent a showing of actual prejudice ”). Cambric has failed to demonstrate the requisite prejudice as he provides no nexus between trial counsel’s previous representation of the
Commonwealth wi tness and counsel’s performance at Cambric’s trial. His concerns seem to be merely speculative. Additionally, the trial court took precautionary measures to protect Cambric’s due process rights, specifically engaging in a colloquy with Cambric to ensure a full and fair opportunity to

cross - examine the witness. Cambric was given the opportunity to ensure trial counsel asked all questions Cambric wanted posed to the witness and that trial counsel did not ask any questi ons Cambric did not want posed

. Cambric

o ffers no evidence that trial counsel restricted his cross

- examination of the Commonwealth witness because he was laboring under a conflict of interest. Rather, Cambric specifically testified that he was satisfied with trial counsel’s

cross - examination.
Th e trial court made the decision to deny Cambric’s motion to remove trial counsel based on an alleged conflict of interest after hearing testimony and argument from both sides. The trial court’s conclusion that Cambric failed
to demonstrate a conflict of in terest is sound. Accordingly, we find Cambric is
not entitled to relief. See Commonwealth v. Spotz , 896 A.2d 1191, 1232

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( Pa. 2006) ( rejecting claim based on counsel's representation of a client which had terminated prior to his appointment to represent the defendant because the defendant offered nothing more than bald assertions, with no evidence to suggest that counsel's conduct was due to the alleged conflict of interest ). Next, Cambric contends the trial court abused its discretion by denying
his motio n s for dismissal of charge s on Pa.R.Crim.P. 600 speedy trial grounds. Our scope and standard of review on this issue are as follows. Our standard of review relating to the application of Rule 600 is whether the trial court abused its discretion. Our scope of review is limited to the evidence on the record of the Rule 600 evidentiary hearing and the findings of the trial court. We must view the facts in the light most favorable to the prevailing party.
Commonwealth v. Robbins , 900 A.2d 413, 415 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citation omitted). Additionally, when considering the trial court’s ruling, this Court is not permitted to ignore the dual purpose behind Rule [600]. Rule [600] serves two equally important functions: (1) the protection of the accused’s speedy tri al rights, and (2) the protection of society. In determining whether an accused’s right to a speedy trial has been violated, consideration must be given to society’s right to effective prosecution of criminal cases, both to restrain those guilty of crime a nd to deter those contemplating it. However, the administrative mandate of Rule [600] was not designed to insulate the criminally accused from good faith prosecution delayed through no fault of the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth v. Hunt , 858 A.2d 1234, 1239 (Pa. Super. 2004) ( en banc ) (citation omitted; brackets in original).
Rule 600 “provides for dismissal of charges only in cases in which the defendant has not been brought to trial within the term of the adjusted run date, after subtracting all excludab le and excusable time.” The adjusted run date is calculated by adding to the

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mechanical run date, i.e. , the date 365 days from the complaint, both excludable time and excusable delay. “Excludable time” is classified as periods of delay caused by the defendant. “Excusable delay” occurs where the delay is caused by circumstances beyond the Commonwealth's control and despite its due diligence. “Due diligence is a fact

- specific concept that must be determined on a case - by

- case basis. Due diligence does not require perfect vigilance and punctilious care, but rather a showing by the Commonwealth that a reasonable effort has been put forth.” Due diligence includes, inter alia , listing a case for trial prior to the run date, preparedness f or trial within the run date, and keeping adequate records to ensure compliance with Rule 600 . Periods of delay caused by the Commonwealth's failure to exercise due diligenc e must be included in the computation of time within which trial must commence.
Commonwealth v. Moore , 214 A.3d 244 , 248

- 249 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citations omitted).
“Once a violation of Rule 600 has bee n established ... the inquiry becomes whether the Commonwealth exercised due diligence in bringing [a defendant] to trial and if the circumstances occasioning the postponement were beyond the control of the Commonwealth.” Commonwealth v. Kearse , 890 A.2d 388, 392 (Pa. Super. 2005). “The Commonwealth ... has the burden of demonstrating by a preponderance of the evidence that it exercised due diligence.” Commonwealth v. Cole , 167 A.3d 49, 71 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation and quotation marks omitted ). In its opinion, the tri al court fully stood by its order dated February 1, 2017, and its opinion dated March 9, 2017. See Trial Court Opinion, 2/12/2019, at 3. In that prior opinion , the trial court thoroughly and thoughtfully summarized and addressed Cambric’s claims concerning his Rule

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600 challenges, set forth the relevant law, and determined that, while it is regrettable that the whole process took so long, the Commonwealth had nevertheless exercised due diligence in bringing Cambric’s case to trial. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/9/2017. We affirm based on the trial court’s sound, and comprehensive, rationale with regard to this issue. See id.
In his last issue on appeal , Cambric simply makes a blanket argument that the trial court erred in denying his post sentence motions for the reasons raised in the prior four issues. As we have already addressed each issue separately, we need not address them again.
As we find none of Cambric’s issues on appeal merit relief, we affirm the judgment of sentence. Judgment of sentence affirmed. Jurisdiction relinquished. Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 2/11/2020Circulated 01/16/2020 02:35 PM IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F C A M B RI A C O UN T Y C R
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[ D e fe n d a n t ]' s P o s t - S e n t e n c e M o t i o n s . C O N C I S E S T A T E M E N T
, 

## � 1

1 - V

. T h e

t r i a l c o u rt w i ll a d d r e s s
t h e R u
l e 6 0 0

i s s u e fir
s t b e c a u s e

i t o c c u rr e d fir
s t

i n

t i m e .

L E G A L A N A L Y S I S 

### T h e
t r i a l c o u r t d i d n o t e r r

i n d e n y i n g D e f � n d a n t
' s R u l e 6 0 0 M o t i o

. n .



# I ( O n J an u a ry

7 , 2 0 1 9

, a p an e l o f
t h e S u p e n o r C o u rt 2 a f fi rm
e d

t h e
t ri a l c o u rt o n a n e ar

l y

l i d e n t i c a l R u l e 6 0 0 m o t i o n fi l e d b y a c o - d e f e n d a n t. 

### S e e C o m m o n w e a l t h v

. R e e d

, N o 6 4 1 W D A

/ 2 0 1 8

( U N P U B L I S H E D M E M O R A N D U M
F I L E D J A N

. 7 , 2 0
1 9 )

. ) O n Ja n u a r y
5 , 2 0 1 7
, D e f e n d a n t fi l e d a
" M o t i o n fo r D i s m

i s s a l o f C h ar g e s P u r s u a n t t o P e nn
s y l v an

i a R u l e o f C r i m

i n a l P ro c e d u r e
6 0 0 " ; o n Ja n u a r y

1 1 , 2 0 1 7
, D e f e n d a n t fi l e d a



# I " M o t i o n fo r D i s m

i s s a l o f

I n fo rm a t i o n fo r V i o l a t i o n o f R

i g h t

t o
S p e e d y T r i a l "

[ c o ll e c t i v e l y " R u l e 6 0 0 M o t i o n s " ] . T h e

t r i a l c o u rt

c o n d u c t e d a h e a r i n g o n

J an u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 , an d d e n i e d D e fe n d a n t' s R u l e 6 0 0 M o t i o n s b y O r d e r d a t e d F e b ru a r y

1 , 2 0 1 7

. O n M a r c h 9 , 2 0 1 7
, t h e
t r i a l c o u rt fi l e d an O p i n i o n

s u p p l e m e n t i n g

t h e d e c i s i o n
r e n d e r e d o n F e b ru ar y

I , 2 0 1 7

. D e f e n d an
t d i d n o t
r e n e w
h i s R u l e 6 0 0 M o t i o n s a t a n y
o t h e r

t i m e p r i o r

t o

t r i a l. T h e r e fo r e ,
t h e

t r i a l c o ur
t
s t a n d s b y

i t s O r d e r d a t e d F e b ru a r y

l , 2 0 1 7 , a n d

i t s O p i n i o n d a t e d M ar c h
9 , 2 0 1 7
, w h i c h
a r e
a tt a c h e d

t o

t h i s O p i n i o n
a s A p p e n d
i x A

a n d A p p e n d i x B
, r e s p e c t i v e l y

. 2 S h o g u n , J . , D u b o w

, J
. , a n d S t e p h e n s , P .J

. E

. ( Fo rm e r J u s t i c e
s p e c i a l l y a s s i g n e d
t o

t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t ) . 3 

### I.II
. D e f e n d a n t ' s c o n v i c t i o n s fo r F i r s t D e g r e e M u r d e r , C r i m
i n a l C o n s p i r a c y , A g g r a v a t e d A s s a u l t , R e c e

. i v i n g
S t o l e n P r o p e r ty
, a n d T a m p e r i n g w i t h /F a b ri c a t i n g P h y s i c a l E v i d e n c e w e r e n o t a g a i n s t
t h e w e i g h t a n d

s u ffi ci e n c y o f
t h e
e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l b y

t h e C o m m o n w e a lt h .

' D e fe n d a n t a r g u e s

t h a t h i s c o n v i c t i o n s fo r F i r s t D e g r e e M u r d e r , C r i m
i n a l C o n s p i r a c y

t o C o m m
i t C r i m

i n a l H o m

i c i d e , A g g r a v a t e d A s s a u l t
( t w o c o u n t s ) , R e c e i v i n g S t o l e n P ro p e r t y , an d T a m p e r i n g w

i t h o r F a b r i c a t i n g P h y s i c a l E v i d e n c e w e r e a g a
i n s t
t h e we

i g h t a n d

s u ffi c i e n c y
o f t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d b y

t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h a t
t r i a l. C O N C
I S E S T A T E �

· I E N T
, 

## i r �

I A N D

1 1. A s s t a t e d

i n 

### C o m m o n w e a l t h v

. W h i t e m a n .
" [ s j u f fi c i c n c y

o f

t h e

e v i d e n c e
a n d we

i g h t o f

t h e

I e v i d e n c e a r e d i s c r e t e

i n q u i r i e s .. .. " 

### C o m

.

1 • . 

### W h i t e m a n . 4 8 5 A

. 2 d 4 5 9
, 4 6 1

( P a

. S u p e r.

1 9 8 4 ) ( c i t a t i o n s o m

i t t e d ) . T h e r e fo r e , t h e
t r i a l c o u rt w
i ll a n a l y z e
t h e m

s e p a r a t e l y
. S u ffi ci e n c v o f
t h e E v i d e n c e P u r s u a n t

t o P e nn
s y l v a n
i a R u l e o f C r i m
i n a l P ro c e d u r e 6 0 6 , a d e fe n d a n t m a y c h a l l e n g e t h e
s u ffi c i e n c y o f
t h e e v i d e n c e

i n v a r i o u s w a y s ,

i n cl u d i n g a m o t i o n fo r j u d g m e n t o f a c q u i tt a l a t t h e cl o s e o f t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h
' s c a s e - i n - c h i e f o r a c h a ll e n g e
t o

t h e
s u ffi c i e n c y o f
t h e e v i d e n c e

J o n a p p e a l. P A

. R. C R
I M

. P

. 6 0 6 ( A ) ( l ) ( 7 ) .



# l D e fe n d an
t fir
s t

r a i s e d

t h i s

i s s u e in

a m o t i o n

t o
d i s m

i s s
a t

t h e cl o s e
o f

t h e C o mm

o n w e a l t h
' s
c a s e - i n - c h i e f. N. T

.

( J
l J N
.

1 3 , 2 0 1 8 ) . p p

. 4 0 - 4 3 .

S p e c i fi c a l l y
, D e fe n d an
t



# I a r g u e d

t h a t t h e C o m m o n w e a

l t h fa

i l e d

t o

i d e n t i f y D e fe n d a n t a s t h e a ll e g e d
s h o o t e r
.
I d. a t p . 4 0
. I n P e nn

s y l v a n i a
,

t h e

s t a n d a r d
o f
r e v i e w fo r a
c h a ll e n g e

t o

t h e

s u f fi c i e n c y
o f

t h e e v i d e n c e

i s a s fo ll o w s : A s a g e n e r a l m a tt e r. o ur

s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w
o f
s u ffi c i e n c y cl a i m s r e q u i r e s
t h a t w e e v a l u a t e
t h e
r e c o r d

i n th e

l i g h t m o s t fa v o ra b l e

t o

t h e v e r d i ct w
i nn e r g i v i n g t h e p ro s e c u t i o n

t h e b e n e fi t o f a ll

r e as o n a b l e

i n fe r e n c e s

t o b e d ra w n fr o m

t h e e v i d e n c e

. E v
i d e n c e w

i l l b e d e e m e d

s u f fi c i e n t

t o

s u p p o rt

t h e v e r d i c t w h e n

i t e s t a b l i s h e s
e a c h m a t e r i a l e l e m e n t o f

t h e c r i m e
c h a r g e d a n d

t h e
c o m m
i s s i o n t h e r e o f b y

t h e
a c c u s e d . b e y o n d
a

r e a s o n a b l e
d o u b t.
N e v e r t h e l e s s ,

t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h n e e d n o t e s t a b l i s h g u i lt

t o a m a t h e m a t i c a l c e r t a i n t y

.

[ T
] h e fa c t s a n d
c i r c u m s t a n c e s e s t a b li s h e d b y

t h e C o m m o n w e a lt h n e e d n o t b e a b s o l u t e l y i n c o m p a t i b le w

i t h

t h e d e fe n d a n t

' s

i n n o c e n c e . A n y d o u b t a b o u t
t h e d e fe n d an t

' s g u i lt

i s

t o b e
r e s o l v e d b y

t h e fa c t fi n d e r u n l e s s

t h e
e v i d e n c e

i s
s o w e a k
a n d 4I ' 1 I \

l 1 · 1

i n c o n c l u s i v e
t h a t , a s a m a t t e r o f

l a w

, 11 0 p ro b a b i l i t y o f fa c t c a n b e d ra w n fr o m t h e c o m b i n e d c i rc um

s t an c e s , C o m

. v
. l y n c h , 72 A

. 3 d 7 0 6 , 7 0 7 - 0 8

( P a

. S u p e r. 2 0
1 3 )

( c i t a t i o n s a n d q u o t a t i o n s o m
i tt e d ) . W

i t h r e s p e c t t o fi r s t d e g r e e m u r d e r , t h e P e nn

s y l v a n i a S u p r e m e C o u rt
e x p l a
i n e d
: I n

t h e c a s e o f fir s t - d e g r e e m ur d e r . a p e r s o n

i s g u i l t y w h e n

t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h p r o v e s
t h a t : (1 ) a h u m a n b e i n g w a s u n l a w fu

l l y k i ll e d
; (2 )
t h e p e r s o n a c c u s e d

i s r e s p o n s i b l e fo r
t h e k i ll i n g ; an d

( 3 )

t h e a c c u s e d a c t e d w
i t h
s p e c i fi c

i n t e n t
t o k i l l. A n

i n t e n t i o n a l k i ll i n g

i s a k ill

i n g b y m e a n s o f p o i s o n

. o r b y

l y i n g

i n w a i t , o r b y a n y

o t h e r
k i n d

o f w
i ll fu

l , d e l i b e r a t e

a n d

p r e m e d i t a t e d

k i l l i n g

. T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h m a y p ro v e

t h a t a
k i l l i n g w a s

i n t e n t i o n a l

s o le
l y

t h ro u g h c i r c u m
s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e . T h e fi n d e r o f fa c t m a y

i n f e r
t h a t t h e d e fe n d a n t h a d
t h e s p e c i fi c

i n t e n t t o k i ll

t h e v i c t i m b a s e d o n

t h e d e fe n d a n t
' s u s e o f a d e a d l y w e a p o n u p o n a v i t a l p a r t o f t h e v i c t i m

' s b o d y
. C o m m o n w e a l t h

v
. B a um h a m m e rs. 96 0 A

. 2 d

5 9 , 6 8

( P a
. 2 0 0 8 )

( c i t a t i o n s a n d q u o t a t i o n s e m

i t t e d ) . " T o
s u s t a i n a c o n v i c t i o n fo r c r i m

i n a l c o n s p i ra c y . t h e C o m m o n w e a
l t h m u s t e s t a b l i s h

t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t
( I ) e n t e r e d a n a g r e e m e n t t o c o m m

i t o r a i d

i n an u n l a w fu
l a c t w
i t h a n o t h e r p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s , ( 2 ) w
i t h a s h a r e d c r i m

i n a l

i n t e n t a n d ,
( 3 ) a n o v e rt a c t w a s d o n e

i n fu rt h e ra n c e o f t h e c o n s p i r a c y

. " C o m

. v
. R i o s
, s u p r a , a t

1 0 3 0

( c i t a t i o n s o m

i tt e d ) ; s e e a l s o

1 8 P a

. C. S
. § 9 0 3 ( a ) ( e ) . F o r a g g ra v a t e d as s a u l t , t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h m u s t
s h o w

t h a t
t h e d e fe n d a n t " a tt e m p t s
t o c a u s e
s e r i o u s b o d i l y

i n j u r y

t o
a n o t h e r , o r

c a u s e s

s u c h

i n j u r y

i n t e n t i o n a ll y
, kn o w
i n g l y

o r r e c k l e s s l y u n d e r c i r c um

s t a n c e s m a n i f e s t i n g e x t r e m e

i n d i ff e r e n c e t o
t h e v a
l u e o f h u m a n li fe

;

. . o r

( 4 ) a tt e m p t s
t o c a u s e o r

i n t e n t i o n a ll y o r kn o w

i n g l y
c a u s e s b o d i l y

i n j u r y
t o a n o t h e r w

i t h a d e a d l y w e a p o n

. " C o m

. v

. A l e x a n d e r , 3 8 3 A

. 2 d
8 8 7 , 8 8 8 - 8 8 9

( P a
.

1 9 7 8 ) ; s e e a l s o

1 8 P a

. C .S.

§ 2 7 0 2 ( a ) . " T o

s u s t a i n a c o n v i c t i o n fo r r e c e i v i n g
s t o l e n p ro p e rt y
. t h e C o m m o n w e a
l t h m u s t p ro v e

I b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t t h a t :

l )
t h e p ro p e rt y w a s
s t o le n
; 2 )
t h e a c c u s e d k n e w
o r h a d r e a s o n

I t o b e l i e v e

t h e p ro p e rt y w a s
s t o l e n ; an d

3 )

t h e a c c u s e d r e c e i v e d
,
r e t a i n e d
o r d i s p o s e d
o f t h e p ro p e r t y

. " C o m.

v
. B r a d y , 5 6 0 A

. 2 d
8 0 2 , 8 0 8

( P a

. S u p e r.

1 9 8 9 ) ; s e e a l s o

1 8 P a

. C

. S

. A

. § 3 9 2 5 .

5I ' ! 1

·

F o r
t a m p e r i n g w
i t h / fa b r i c a t i n g p h y s i c a l e v i d e n c e , t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h m u s t p ro v e

, ; (1 ) t h e d e f e n d a n t k n e w

t h a t a n o f fi c i a l p ro c e e d i n g o r

i n v e s t i g a t i o n w a s p e n d
i n g ;
( 2 )

t h e d e f e n d a n t a l t e r e d
. d e s t ro y e d
, c o n c e a l e d , o rr e m o v e d a n

i t e m

; an d

( 3 )

t h e d e fe n d a n t d i d

s o w

i t h

t h e

i n t e n t t o

i m p a i r

t h e

v e r i t y

o r

a v a
i l a b i l i t y

o f

t h e

i t e m

t o

t h e

p ro c e e d i n g

o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n

. " C o m m o n w e a l t h v

. M o r a l e s , 6 6 9 A. 2 d

1 0 0 3 .

1 0 0 5

( P a
. S u p e r.

1 9 9 6 ) ; s e e a l s o

1 8 P a

. C S

. A

. § 4 9 1 0 (1 )
. I n

t h e c a s e a t b ar

.
t h e C o mm

o n w e a l t h p r e s e n t e d

s u f fi c i e nt

c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e

t o p ro v e

e a c h

e l e m e nt

o f F i r s t D e g r e e M u r d e r , C r i m
i n a l C o n s p i ra c y

t o C o m m
i t C r i m

i n a l

I H o m

i c i d e , A g g r a v a t e d A s s a u lt

( t w o c o u n t s ) , R e c e i v i n g S t o l e n P ro p e rt y
, a n d T a m p e r i n g w

i t h o r

r F a b r i c a t i n g P h y s i c a l E v i d e n c e b e y o n d
a

r e a s o n a b l e
d o u b t . W it h

r e s p e c t
t o Fi r s t D e g r e e

j M ur d e r ,

t h e

c i r c u m s t an
t i a l e v i d e n c e w a s

s u ffi c
i e n t

t o
e s t a b l i s h

t h a t

( 1 ) T o n y P h i l l i p s w a s

1

; u n l a wf
u l l y k i ll e d :
( 2 ) D e fe n d a n t

i s
r e s p o n s i b le fo r

t h e k i ll i n g ; a n d

( 3 ) D e fe n d a n t a c t e d w
i t h s p e c i fi c

i n t e n t t o k i l l.
F o r C r i m

i n a l C o n s p i ra c y
, t h e c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e w a s
s u f fi c i e n t t o

i e s t a b li s h
t h a t (1 ) D e f e n d an

t e n t e r e d

i n to an
a g r e e m e n t w i t h K e i t h R e e d a n d J e r e m y W o o d a r d
t o m ur d e r T o n y P h

i l li p s ; ( 2 ) D e f e n d an
t h a d a
s h a r e d c r i m

i n a l

i n t e n t w

i t h R e e d a n d W o o d a r d : an d ( 3 ) D e fe n d a n t
s h o t P h

i ll i p s

i n f ur
t h e r an c e o f

t h e
c o n s p i ra c y

. W
i t h
r e s p e c t

t o A g g ra v a t e d A s s a u lt
, th e
c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e w a s

s u ffi c i e n t

t o
e s t a b l i s h

t h a t D e fe n d a n t

i n t e n t i o n a ll y c a u s e d

s e r i o u s b o d i l y

i n j u ry

t o P h i ll i p s w
i t h a d e a d l y w e a p o n
. F o r R e c e i v
i n g S t o
l e n P r o p e rt y , th e
c i r c u m s t a n t i a l
e v i d e n c e w a s

s u f fi c i e n t

t o

e s t a b l i s h

t h a t

( I )

t h e fir e ar m w a s
s t o l e n
;

( 2 ) D e fe n d an
t k n e w
o r h a d r e a s o n

t o b e l i e v e

t h e fir e a r m w a s s to
l e n
; a n d

( J ) D e f e n d a n t r e t a
i n e d o r d i s p o s e d o f

t h e
s t o l e n fir e a rm

. W

i t h
r e s p e c t

t o T a m p e r i n g w

i t h
o r F a b r i c a t i n g P h y s i c a l E v i d e n c e , t h e c i r c u m
s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e w a s

s u f fi c i e n t
t o e s t a b l i s h

t h a t

( I ) D e f e n d a n t k n e w
a n o f fi c i a l p ro c e e d i n g o r

i n v e s t i g a t i o n w a s p e n d i n g
;
( 2 ) D e fe n d an

t c o n c e a l e d

t h e fi r e a rm

u s e d

t o k i ll P h i ll i p s ; an d

( 3 ) D e f e n d an
t d i d

s o w

i t h

t h e

i n t e n t
t o

i m p a i r
t h e v e r i t y o r a v a i l a b il i t y o f
t h e i t e m

t o
t h e p ro c e e d i n g o r

i n v e s t i g a t i o n

.

I T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h

' s
e v i d e n c e

i n cl u d e d m u l t i p l e wi
t n e s s e s an d v i d e o

s u rv e i l l an c e fr o m M a r c h
J O , 2 0 1 4

. T h e

s ur v e i ll a n c e fo o t a g e c a p t ur e s

t h e a c t i o n s o f W o o d ar d
, R e e d
, a n d D e fe n d an t p r i o r
t o a n d a ft e r
t h e
s h o o t i n g

. T h e fo o t a g e a l s o c o r ro b o r a t e s
t h e w
i t n e s s t e s t i m o n y
. 6W

i t n e s s
S t e v e
S h u m ak e r

t e s t i fi e d

t h a t h e

r e p o rt e d h i s b l a c k

s e m

i - a u t o m a t i c n m e m
i ll i m e t e r p i s t o l , s e r i a l n u m b e r P l 5 9 4 7 6 1 ,
s t o le n o n N o v e m b e r

1 1 , 2 0
1 3
. N

. T

.
( J U N

.

1 2
, 2 0
1 8
. M O R NI N G S E S S I O N ) , p p

. 2 2 - 2 3 . H e a l s o
t e s t i fi e d

t h a t h e d i d n o t g i v e D e fe n d a n t p e rm

i s s i o n

t o h a v e
t h e fir e arm

o r b e

i n p o s s e s s i o n o f
t h e f i r e arm

. i d a t p
. 2 3 . D e t e c t i v e B r e t t H i n t e rl i t e r o f

t h e
J o h n s t o w n P o l i c e D e p art m e n t d e s c r i b e d
c o l l e c t i n g r e l e v �
t v i d e o

� u r v e i ll a n c e fr o m

t h e F a i r fi e l d A v e n u e L o u n g e

( a b a r ) a n d

t h e

J o h n s t o w n



## I H o u s in g A u t h o r i t y
. N

. T. (J U N

.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8 , A FT E R N O O :"-i

S E S S I O N ) . p p

. 5 5 - 6 8 . E x t e r i o r v i d e o

I s u r v e i ll an c e fr o m

t h e F a i r fi e l d A v e n u e L o u n g e

s h o w s

t h e

t h r e e m e n

( W o o d ar d

. R e e d
, a n d

I D e fe n d an t ) arr

i v i n g
a t

t h e b a r

t o g e t h e r

i n
a b l a c k

s p o r t - ut

i l i t y
v e h i c l e

( S U V ) d r i v e n b y W o o d a r d
. I d. a t p p
. 5 9 - 6 0 ; C O M M

. E X H I B
I T 4 8
. T h e

i nt e r i o r v i d e o
s u r v e i ll a n c e
s h o w s
t h e

t h r e e

i t m e n

i n

t h e b a r a r e a fo r a s h o rt p e r i o d o f t i m e
. N

. T. (J U N

.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8 , A F T E R N O O N
S E S S I O N ) . p
. 6 0
;



### I C O M M

. E X H IB

I T 4 8 . B e fo r e le a v i n g
, R e e d b u y s a
s i x - p a c k a n d a 4 0 - o u n c c b o tt
l e o f b e e r

. N

. T

.



### I i (J U N

.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8 , A F T E R N O O N

S E S S I O N ) , p

. 6 1 ; C O M M

. E X H I B I T
4 8 .
T h e
e x t e r i o r v i d e o

f s u r v e i l l a n c e

t h e n

s h o w s
t h e

t hr e e m e n le a v i n g

i n

t h e
s a m e b l a c k S U V
a t 6

: 5 3 P

. M

. N

. T

. (J U N

.

:

, i 1 2
, 2 0 1 8 A F T E R N O O N
S E S S I O N ) , p p
. 6 1 - 6 2 ; C O M

1 v l. E X H

I B

I T 4 8 . T h e v i c t i m

' s

s i s t e r , T a n y a P h
i l l i p s

l .. T an y a " ] .
t e s t i fi e d

t h a t
s h e a n d h e r b ro t h e r
. T o n y



## I I P h i ll i p s

[ " T o n y " ] , s p e n t p ar t o f M a r c h
3 0 , 2 0 1 4 , t o g e t h e r a t h e r m o t h e r

' s h o u s e . N

. T.

( .I LJ N

.

1 2
, 2 0

I 8 . M O R N
I N G S E S S J O i\ ) , p

. 3 3 . T a n y a

l o an e d T o n y h e r g o l d e n - t an

- c o l o r e d C h e v ro

l e t M a l i b u t o p i c k u p

t h e i r m o t h e r , w h o w a s n e ar b y a t
t h e i r a u n t' s h o u s e
.

i d
a t p p
. 3 4 - 3 5
. W h i l e T o n y w a s g o n e , R e e d c a ll e d T a n y a ,

l o o k i n g fo r h e r b ro
t h e r. I d.
a t p
. 3 6
. T an y a h a d k n o w n R e e d fo r y e a r s b e c a u s e h i s g ra n d p ar e n t s w e r e h e r fo s t e r p a r e n t s w h e n

s h e w a s

1 1 y e ar s o l d
.

I d

. T an y a r e p o rt e d

t h a t R e e d h a d n e v e r
c a ll e d h e r b e fo r e . s o

s h e

t h o u g h t

i t w a s
" w e i r d

. " I d.
a t p
. 3 7 . T a n y a

t o l d R e e d
t h a t T o n y
" m

i g h t b e a t m y m o t h e r ' s o r h e m

i g h t b e d o w n
t h e
s t r e e t. " I d. a t p p
. 3 6 - 3 7

. A t
t h e
t i m e , T o n y w a s

l i v i n g wi
t h h i s m o t h e r. I d. a t p . 3 3 . T o n y P h i l l i p ss m a t e rn a l a u n t , L e s s i e P e rr y ,
t e s t i fi e d

t h a t s h e w a s w

i t h T o n y o n

t h e a ft e rn o o n a n d e v e n i n g o f M a r c h
3 0 , 2 0 1 4

. I d.
a t p

. 4 4
. P e rry w a s a t h e r
s i s t e rs

h o u s e w

i t h

I T o n y a n d T o n y
' s m o t h e r
( h e r s i s t e r ) w h e n R e e d c a m e
t o
t h e h o u s e .
l o o k i n g fo r T o n y . I d

. a t p p
. 7! ' I ' l I I 4 4 - � 5 .

. P e rr y e x p l a i n e d
s h e � d k n o w n

_ R e e

. ct fo r a

l o n g

t i m e
.

' ' a t p
. 4 J _

. . P e r ry

t e s t i fi e d
t h a t

I R e e d ur g e d T o n y

t o g o

_ o u t d ri n k i n g w

i t h h i m

. I d. a t p
. 4 4
. E v e n t u a l l y

.

l o n y

l e f t w

i t h R e e d .

I l d. a t p

. 4 7
.

l I T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h p r e s e n t e d

t h r e e w
i t n e s s e s fr o m E d d e rs
D e n
.

i n c l u d
i n g

t w o e y e w

i t n e s s e s
t o

t h e
s h o o t i n g

. E d w a r d G a w e l.
t h e o w n e r o f E d d e rs D e n
, e x p
l a
i n e d

t h a t h e a n d

I h i s g i rl fr

i e n d , R u t h H a s t i e , w e r e a t t h e b a r o n M a r c h
3 0 , 2 0 1 4

. N

. T. (J U N
.

1 L 2 0 1 8 ) , p p

. 8 5 - 8 6

. , A t a p p ro x i m a t e l y 7

: 0 0 P

. M

, G a w e l an d H a s t i e

l e ft

t h e b a r a n d w a l ke d

t o H a s i i es

c a r

i n

t h e

I � a r k i n g

l o t . I d.
a t p p

. 7 6 - 7 8
. F ro m

t h e

. f � o n t p � s s e n g e r
s e a t G a w e l n o t i c e d a g o l d v e h i c l e p u ll

I m t o

t h e
s p o t n e x t t o h i m

. c l o s e

t o H a s t i e
s v e h i c l e . I d. a t p p
. 8 8 - 9 1 . G a w e l

t e s t i fi e d h e c o u l d n o t s e e
t h e

i n d i v i d u a l s

i n
i t i a l l y b e c a u s e

t h e c a r w
i n d o w s we
r e

t i n t e d
. I J.
a t p p
. 9 0 - 9 1 . G a w e l o b s e rv e d a b l a c k m a l e e x i t
t h e p a s s e n g e r s i d e o f

t h e g o l d v e h i c le
a n d w a l k b e h i n d H a s t i e
' s c a r i n t o

t h e b a r.

i d.
a t p . 9 1. G a w e l

i d en
t i fi e d

t h e b l a c k m a l e a s R e e d
, w h o w a s a p a t ro n o f E d d e rs D e n
. i d. G a w e l

t e s t i fi e d

t h a t a s H a s t i e w a s b a c k
i n g u p h e r c a r , a d i ff
e r e n t b l a c k m a l e w

i t h g l a s s e s a n d g r a y
c ar g o p a n t s w a l k e d

i n fr o n t o f

t h e i r v e h
i c l e w

i t h a h a n d g u n

i n h i s r i g h t h a ri d

I I a l o n g h i s " "

I d

. a t p p
. 92

- 9 3 . T h e b
_ l a c k m a l e

s h o t o u �
t h e w

i n d o w
a n d

t o o k a
s e c o n d

s h o t

I i n t o
t h e v e h i c l e

t hr o u g h
t h e s h a tt e r e d w
i n d o w. I d. a t p
. 9 .J . T h e b l a c k m a l e
t h e n w a l k e d a w a y

I fr o m

t h e z o l d c a r
t o a b l a c k S U V

t h a t w a s w a i t i n g fo r h i m
o n

t h e
s t r e e t b e s i d e E d d e rs D e n

. i d

. 0

- a t 9 4
. G a w e l

t e s t i fi e d

t h a t

t h e

s h o o t e r h a d

s h o rt h a i r w
i t h n o fa c i a l h a i r ; G a w el

i d e n t i fi e d

I I H a s t i e c o n fi rm
e d G a w el
' s v e r s i o n o f e v e n t s . i d.
a t p p

.

1 1 4 - 1 3 6

. L
i k e w

i s e , H a s t i e w a s a b l e
t o

i d e n t i f y R e e d a s

t h e b l a c k m a l e w h o e x i t e d

t h e g o l d v e h
i cl e .
I d

. a t p p

.

1 2
1 - 1 2 2 . H a s t i e w a s fa m
i l i a r w

i t h R e e d a s a p a t ro n o f
t h e b ar

.
I d
a t p
.

1 2 2 .

I m m e d i a t e l y a ft e r

t h e

s h o o t i n g
, H a s t i e d ro v e h e r c a r a c ro s s
t h e

s t r e e t b e s i d e E d d e rs D e n
. I d.
a t p
.

1 2 6

. W h e n

t h e y w e r e a c ro
s s t h e
s t r e e t , H a s t i e
s t o p p e d h e r v e h i cl e a t G a w e ls

r e q u e s t. I d. G a w e l ra n o v e r
t o

t h e g o l d c a r a n d H as t i e w e n t

i n t o

t h e b a r .
I d. a t p

.

J 2 7

. H a s t i e
s a w R e e d

l e a n i n g a g a i n s t a p o o l t a b l e

i n t h e fr o n t o f t h e b a r . I d. a t p .

1 2 8 . H a s t i e
t e s t i fi e d

t h a t R e e d d i d n o t h a v e a d r i. n k

' m h

· t s h an c\ , 8

D e f e n d a n t a s t h e s h o o t e r

i n c o ur
t , I d. a t p p
.

l 0 9 - 1

I O

.I I a n d h e d i d n o t p ur c h a s e a n y t h i n g a t
t h e b a r. I d

. W h e n w o r d r e a c h e d
t h e b a r p a tr o n s

t h a t
t h e r e

j h a d b e e n a
s h o o t i n g

i n
t h e p a r k i n g

l o t , H a s t i e w a t c h e d R e e d w a l k

i n fr o n t o f h e r a n d

l e a v e

t h e b a r
. I d a t p

.

1 2 9 . H a s t i e

l o s t s i g h t o f R e e d a f
t e r t h a t.

I d

. A

t h i r d b a r p a t ro n

. D e b ra M

i c k e n s ,
t e s t i fi e d

t h a t
s h e h a s k n o wn
R e e d fo r a t

l e a s t 2 0 y e a r s . I d. a t p

.

1 3 9
. S h e
r e c a l l e d
s e e i n g R e e d a t E d d e r' s D e n o n M a r c h
3 0
, 2 0
1 4

. I d.
a t p
.

] 4 0
. W h e n h e a r r i v e d
t h a t d a y , R e e d h a d a b r i e f c o n v e r s a t i o n w
i t h M

i c k e n s , w h o w a s
s e a t e d a t
t h e b a r

t w o o r
t h r e e

s e a t s a w a y fr o m

t h e fr o n t d o o r.

I d. R e e d a n d M
i c k e n s w e n t o u t s i d e " Io r a m
i n u t e , m a y b e
t w o m

i n u t e s " b e fo r e
s h e w a l k e d b a c k

i n t o

t h e b a r

. I J

. M
i c k e n s w a t c h e d G a w e l a n d H a s t i e

l e a v e

t h ro u g h

t h e b a c k o f

t h e b ar

. I d.
F ro m

t h e w
i n d o w

, M
i c k e n s w a t c h e d H a s t i e a n d G a w e l l p u l l a c ro s s

t h e
s t r e e t a n d

t h e n ru n b a c k

. I d. G a w e l w a s
" h e a d i n g

t o w ar d s

t h e p a r k i n g

l o t

. "

I d. G a w e l
s a i d , " [ S j o rn e b o d y g o t
s h o t

i n

t h e p a r k i n g

l o t , c a l l 9 1 1.

S o m e b o d y j u s t g o t s h o t

i n

t h e p a r k i n g

l o t

. " I d. T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h o ff e r e d a d d i t i o n a l v i d e o

s u r v e i l l a n c e fr o m

J o h n s t o w n H o u s i n g A u t h o r i t y a n d E d d e r

' s D e n

s h o w

i n g E d d e rs D e n ,
t h e p a r k i n g

l o t , a n d

t h e
s u rr o u n d i n g a r e a
. N

. T.

( J U N
.

1 2
, 2 0
1 8 , M O R N

l 7' 0 S E S S I O N ) . p p

.

1 1 3 - 1 1 5 ; C O � I. E X

l

· l l B

I T
3 3 � N .T.

( .1 U 1'
.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8 , M O R N
I N G
S E S S

I O N ) , p p

.

1 3 2 - 1 4 0 ; C 0'.\

· 1. E X H

I B

I T

3 4

. T h e fo o t a g e c o rr o b o ra
t e s

t h e w
i t n e s s e s · t e s t i m o n y
. A l t h o u g h
t h e v i d e o s d o n o t c a p t u r e
t h e s h o o t i n g
. t h e y d e p i c t
t h e e v e n t s

i m m e d i a t e l y b e fo r e a n d

i m m e d i a t e l y a ft e r

i t : T o n y P h
i ll i p s a n d R e e d p u ll i n g

i n t o

t h e p a r k i n g

l o t a t E d d e r
' s D e n

i n T an y a P h
i ll i p s

" s c ar

, R e e d e nt e r i n g E d d e rs D e n
, D e fe n d a n t w a l k i n g

t o w ar d

t h e p a r ki n g l o t o f E d d e r ' s D e n , H a s t i es

v e h i cl e p u l l i n g o u t. D e fe n d a nt

r un n i n g a n d r e - e n t e r i n g

t h e b l a c k S U V
, G a w e l! r un n i n g

t o w ar d E d d e r

' s D e n , a n d R e e d c a l m

l y e x i t i n g
t h e b a r a n d w a
l k i n g a w a y
. N

. T

. ( J U N

. 12

, 2 0 1 8
. M O R N I N G S E S S T O � ) . p p
.

1 1 3 - 1 1 5 ,

1 3 2 - 1 4 0
. T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h
p r e s e n t e d

t h e

t e s t i m o n y
o f

t h e n - S e r g e a n t

J o s e p h E c k c n r o d , a

I fo r m e r s h i ft

s u p e rv

i s o r w

i t h

t h e
J o h n s t o w n P o l i c e D e p a rt m e n t .
I d a t p p
. 5

1 - 5 2
. O n M a r c h
3 0
, 2 0
1 4
, E c k e nr o d
r e s p o n d e d

t o
a c a ll
r e g a r d i n g a g u n s h o t v i c t i m

i n a v e h i cl e o u t s i d e E d d e r ' s D e n

. I d.
a t p
. 5 2
. A ft e r E c k e nr c d a rri v e d a t
t h e
s c e n e a n d a s s e s s e d

t h e
s i t u a t i o n
, h e r e t u rn e d to h i s p o li c e c r u i s e r a n d h e a d e d

t o w ar d

t h e

s t a t i o n

i n Jo h n s to w n

t o n o r i f' y
t n c c h a i n u f c o n.

, m. = o. 9

### a n d

t o c a l l fo r m o r e m a n p o w e r.

I d.


### a t 

### p p
. 5 5 - 5 6
. W h i l e h e w a s d r i v i n g
. E c k e n r o d r e c e i v e d a c a ll fr o m C a m b r i a C o un
t y d i s p a t c h

t h a t t h e
s u s p e c t v e h i c l e w a s a n a ll - b l a c k
S U V w

i t h a b l a c k



# I m a l e

i n s i d e . 

### I d.
a t p
. 5 6
.
S h o r t l y

t h e r e a f t e r
, E c k c n r o d o b s e r v e d a b l a c k
S U V
a c ro
s s t h e
r i v e r ' d r i v i n g

i n b o u n d
t o Jo h n s t o w n
.
I d

.

' 

### E c k e nr o d fo li o w e d

t h e v e h
i c le

, v e r i fi e d

t h a t
t h e d r i v e r w a s b l a c k , c a

l le d fo r b a c k u p
. a n d ! fo
l l o w e d

t h e c a r

i n t o

t h e p ar k i n g

l o t o f S h e e t z o n H a y n e s S t r e e t

i n
J o h n s t o w n , I d 

### a t p p

. 5 7 - 5 9
.

j I 

### E c k e nr o d a c t i v a t e d h i s

l i g h t s

t o

i n i t i a t e a

t ra ffi c

s t o p

.



### i d.
a t p . 5 9
. A
b l a c k m a le

e x i t e d

t h e p a s s e n g e r
s i d e o f

t h e v e h i cl e w e a r i n g a g r a y

s h
i r t w
i r e - r i m
g l a s s e s , an d j e a n s . 

### I d.
E c k e nr o d a s k e d

t h e b l a c k m a l e v ? '


### [ W

] h a t ' s g o i n g o n ?" w h e n

t h e d r i v e r " e n d e d u p

t a k i n g o f f a t
t h a t p o i n t a n d

l e a v i n g

t h e a r e a

. " 

### I d.
a t p . 6 0
. E c k e n r o d 

### g a v e c h a s e , e v e n t u a ll y
a p p r e h e n d i n g

t h e b l a c k 

### S U V

i n

t h e p a r k

i n g

l o t o f a M c .O o n a l ds

r e s t a u ra n t a c ro
s s H a y n e s S t r e e t.

I d

. 

### E c k c n r o d u l t i m a t e l y

i d e n t i fi e d

t h e d r i v e r
o f

t h e
S U V

a s

J e r e m y W o o d a r d
.

i d

.


### F o l l o w

i n g

t h e a p p r e h e n s i o n o f W o o d a r d , O ffi c e r B ra d C h r i s t

i n fo r m e d E c k e n r c d

t h a t a b l a c k m a l e fi tt
i n g

t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f
t h e p a s s e n g e r
r a n a c ro s s
t h e



### s t r e e t
t o w a r d s 

### a n E c o n o L o d g e
.

I d.


### a t p p

. 6 1 , 8 5 . E c k e nr o d



### s e n t C h r i s t a n d 

### o t h e r o ffi c e r s

t o

t h e E c o n o 

### L o d g e

t o

i d e n t i f y



### t h e p a s s e n g e r.



### I d. E c k e nr o d

s t a y e d w
i t h W o o d a r d a n d

t h e S U V u n t i l b o t h w e r e
s e c ur e d
. 

### I d.

I n c o u r t , E c k e nr o d e i d e n t i fi e d D e fe n d a n t a s
t h e p a s s e n g e r fr o m

t h e v e h i cl e a t S h e e t z
. 

### I d.
a t p . 6 3 . O ffi c e r C hri
s t

t e s t i fi e d

t h a t
t h e d e s k
c l e r k a t t h e E c o n o L o d g e


### t o l d h i m

a b l a c k m a l e w

i t h a 

### g r a y
s h i r t 

### a n d g l a s s e s h a d


### c h e c k e d

i n t o ro o m

1 0 1.

I d. 

### a t p
. 8 5 . C h r i s t k n o c ke d 

### o n

t h e d o o r o f r o o m
2 0
1 , an d D e fe n d a n t a n s w e r e d
t h e d o o r.

I d


### a t p p

. 8 5 - 8 6
. C h r i s t o b s e r v e d a g r a y 

### s h i r t a n d g l a s s e s o n

t h e b e d

i n p l a i n v i e w a n d a
s t ro n g o d o r o f h a n d

s o a p
.

I d. 

### a t p
. 8 6 . C h r i s t a l s o o b s e r v e d



### t h a t D e fe n d a n t s e e m e d
" ( v l e ry
n e r v o u s , a p p e a r e d

t o 

### b e

s w e a t i n g

. "

i d. 

### E c k e n r o d a rr

i v e d a s h o rt

t i m e

l a t e r a n d

i d e n t i fi e d

t h e m a n a s t h e p a s s e n g e r 

### o f t h e b l a c k S U V fr o m
S h e e t z

. I d.


### a t 8 7
. A ft e r E c k e n r o d

i d e n t i fi e d D e fe n d a n t. h e wa
s
t a k e n

t o

t h e p o l i c e
s t a t i o n
.

I d. 

### a t p . 6 4
. D a s h
c a m 

### v i. d e o fr o m E c k e n r o ds

p o l i c e
c ru
i s e r c o rr o b o ra
t e d 

### h i s

t e s t i m o n y . Id.



### a t p p

. 6 5 - 6 8 ; C o

: v t. E X H

I B

I T 

### 2 7

( C D O F D A. S H 

### c At\

· 1 FO O T A G E ) . 

### D a s h
c a m v i d e o 

### fr o m C h r i s t ' 

### s p o l i c e c ru

i s e r a
1 s o c o rr o b o r a t e d h i s
t e s t i m o n y
.

l d

. 

### a t p p
. 8 8 - 9 1 ; C o M

. E x H

1 B

1 T 2 13.

1, C

. D mo -.:> " ._,, "' c " ""'

, 

## I 1 0I 

# I

I 1 1

F O O T A G E ) . P o l i c e fo u n d

t h e

s i x - p a c k
o f b e e r p u r c h a s e d
b y R e e d a t

t h e F a i r fi e l d A v e n u e L o u n g e

i n

t h e S U V

. N

. T

. (J U N
.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8 , A FT E R N O O N S E S S I O N ) , p p

. 8 - 9 ; E X H I B
I T S 4 2 A N D 4 3 .



## ! E c k e n r o d
a s s i g n e d O ffi c e r W

i ll i a m N e w m a n

t o

l o o k fo r w e a p o n s , d ru g s , o r o t h e r

I e v i d e n c e a t th e S h e e t z w h e r e
t h e S U V
h a d

s t o p p e d . N

. T

. (J U N

.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8
, M O R N I N G S E S S I O "N ) , p p

. 6 4 , 9 8 . A s N e wm
a n w a s

l o o k i n g

i n

t h e
c o n v e n i e n c e

s t o r e ' s g a r b a g e
c a n s , a
S h e e t z e m p l o y e e a le rt e d N e w m an

t o
r el e v a nt

s e c u r i t y fo o t a g e . i d
a t p
. 9 9
. A ft e r w a t c h i n g n u m e ro u s v i d e o s fr o m

S h e e t z , N e w m a n

l o c a t e d a fi r e a r m n e ar
g a s p u m p s fi v e a n d

s i x ,

l o d g e d b e t w e e n .

I o n e o f
t h e p u m p s a n d

s o m e
s i g n a g e . id

a t p p

.

1 0 8 - 1 1 0
; C O M

. E x t

· J I B I T S
3 0
, 3 1, A N D

3 2
. T h e r e c o v e r e d fi r e a r m

' s
s e r i a l n u m b e r w a s

1 5 9 4 7 6 1. N

. T. (.T U N

.

1 2 , 2 0
1 8 A F T E R N O O N
S E S S I O N ) , p

. 5 2 ; E X H I B I T 4 7
. V i d e o

s ur v e i ll an c e fo o ta g e fr o m

S h e e t z o n M a s c h
3 0
, 2 0 1 4
, s h o w s t h e b l a c k S U V p u ll i n g u p n e a r g a s p u m p s fi v e a n d

s i x
: E c k e n r o ds

c ru

i s e r p u
l l i n g b e h i n d

i t w

i t h

l i g h t s a c t i v a t e d ; D e f e n d a n t e x i t i n g

t h e p a s s e n g e r s i d e o f t h e v e h i c l e an d le a n i n g d o w n

i n b e t w e e n

t h e p um p s ;
t h e b l a c k

S U V

l e a v i n g
S h e e t z
; E c k e nr o ds

c ru

i s e r

i n p u r s u i t ; a n d

t h e p a s s e n g e r w a l k
i n g

t o w a r d

t h e E c o n o L o d g e a ft e r b e i n g

l e f
t a t S h e e t z

. N

. T

. (J U N

.

1 2
, :2 0
1 8 , M O R N

I N G S E S S I O � ) , p p
. 10 0 - 1 0 8 ; C O M

. E X H I B I T 2 9
. A s h l e y M c l a u g h l i n

t e s t i fi e d
t h a t s h e w a s w o r k i n g a t t h e fr o n t d e s k o f
t h e E c o n o L o d g e o n

t h e e v e n i n g o f M a r c h
3 0
, 2 0 1 4

. N

. T. (J U N

.

1 2

. 2 0
1 8 , M O R N I N G S E S S I O N )
. p
. 2 4
. T h e E c o n o L o d g e

i s a c ro
s s
t h e s t r e e t fr o m

t h e S h e e t z w h e r e E c k e nr o d
s t o p p e d
t h e b l a c k
S U V

. I d. a t p
. '27

. M c L a u g h l i n
c h e c k e d D e fe n d a n t

i n t o

t h e m o t e l
t h a t e v e n in g a r o un d 7 :4 5 P

. M

. . an d
s h e n o t e d t h a t " h e
s e e m e d r e a l n e r v o u s

. " I d. a t p p
. 2 4 - 2 5 . M c l. a u g h l i n r e m e m b e r e d p o li c e a r ri v i n g a t
t h e m o t e l a b o u t

1 5 m
i n u t e s a ft e r D e f e n d a n t c h e c k e d

i n

.
i d.
a t p
. 2 7

. M c l. a u g h l i n v e r i fi e d

t h a t D e f e n d a n t c h e c k e d

i n t o ro o m
2 0 1
t h a t e v e n i n g
. i d

. a t p p
. 2 7 - 2 8 ; C m

. 1. E X H IB
I T 2 6
. C a m b ri a C o u n t y C o r o n e r J e ff
r e y L e e s c o n cl u d e d

t h a t a g u n s h o t w o u n d

t o

t h e
c h e s t c a u s e d T o n y P h i ll i p s ' d e a t h
: N

. T.

( .J U N

.

1 1 , 2 0 1 8 ) , p . 4 2
. D r
. C u rt
i s G o l d b l a tt

, a g e n e r a l



## I p a t h o l o g
i s t a t C o n e m a u g h M e m o r i a l M e d i c a l C e n t e r. p e rf o rm e d a n a u t o p s y o f T o n y P h i ll i p s a n d c o n cl u d e d
t h a t a g u n

s h o t c a u s e d P h i ll i p s
t o d i e o f e x s a n g u i n a t i o n

. i d. a t p p

. 5 8 - 7 5 . 1 1V i e w

i n g

t h e c i r cu m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e

i n

t h e

l i g h t m o s t fa v o ra b l e
t o

t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h ( t h e v e r d i c t w
i n n e r ) a n d g i v i n g

t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h

t h e b e n e fi t o f a l l r e a s o n a b l e

i n fe r e n c e s
t o b e d r a w n fr o m

t h e e v i d e n c e , t h e C o m m o n w e a
l t h

' s e v i d e n c e

i s
s u ffi c
i e n t t o

s u p p o r t t h e v e r d i c t. T h e e v i d e n c e e s t a b li s h e s e a c h m a t e r i a l e l e m e n t o f F i r s t D e g r e e M u r d e r
, C r i m

i n a l C o n s p i ra c y t o C o m m
i t C r i m

i n a l H o m
i c i d e , A g g r a v a t e d A s s a u l t
( t w o c o u n t s ) , R e c e i v i n g S t o
l e n P ro p e rt y
, a n d T a m p e r i n g w
i t h o r F a b r i c a t i n g P h y s i c a l E v i d e n c e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t : 1 . T h e e v i d e n c e w a s
s u ffi c i e n t fo
r a j ur y

t o

i n fe r

t h a t D e fe n d a n t u n l a w fu ll y k i ll e d T o n y P h i ll i p s a n d a c t e d w

i t h
s p e c i fi c

i n t e n t t o k i l l w h e n h e
s h o t P h i l l i p s

i n

t h e E d d e rs D e n p a r k i n g

l o t 2 . T h e
e v i d e n c e w a s
s u ff

i c i e n t fo r a j u r y

t o

i n f e r

t h a t D e fe n d a n t. W o o d a r d . a n d R e e d s h a r e d
t h e c r i m

i n a l

i n t e n t
t o m u r d e r T o n y P h i ll i p s
. T h e e v i d e n c e w a s
s u f fi c i e n t fo r a j u r y

t o

i n fe r

t h a t D e fe n d a nt

e n t e r e d

i n t o an

a g r e e m e n t w i t h R e e d
a n d W o o d a r d
,

1 n a m e l y , t h a t R e e d w o u
l d

l u r e T o n y P h i ll i p s

t o E d d e rs D e n
, D e fe n d a n t w o u l d

s h o o t h i m

, an d W o o d a r d w o u l d d r i v e
t h e g e t a w a y v e h i cl e
. 3 . T h e
e v i d e n c e w a s

s u ffi c i e n t fo r a
j u r y to

i n f e r

t h a t D e fe n d an
t
s h o t

t h e v i c t i m

i n fu rt h e ra n c e o f t h e c o n s p i ra c y

. 4
. T h e e v i d e n c e w a s
s u ffi c i e n t fo r a j u r y

t o

i n f e r

t h a t t h e fi r e a r m u s e d

i n

t h e k i ll i n g o f P h i ll i p s w a s
s t o l e n
; t h a t D e fe n d an
t h a d r e a s o n

t o b e l i e v e

t h e fi r e a r m w a s
s t o l e n

; a n d t h a t D e fe n d a n t p o s s e s s e d an d

l a t e r c o n c e a le d

t h e fi r e a r m

. 5 . T h e e v i d e n c e w a s
s u f fi c i e n t fo r a j ur y to

i n fe r
t h a t D e fe n d a n t co n c e a l e d

t h e fi r e a r m
a t S h e e t z

i n a n a t t e m p t

t o

i m p a i r

t h e
c r i m

i n a l

i n v e s t i g a t i o n

t h a t D e fe n d a n t k n e w w a s p e n d i n g
. T h e r e fo r e . t h e C o m m o n w e a
l t h

' s e v
i d e n c e w a s s u f fi c i e n t t o
s u s t a i n

t h e v e r d i c t. W e i g h t o f t h e E v i d e n c e C h a ll e n g e s

t o

t h e w e i g h t o f
t h e e v i d e n c e m u s t fi r s t b e p r e s e n t e d

t o

t h e

t r i a l c o u rt

. C o m m o n w e a l t h v
. B r o w n , 6 4 8 A. 2 d

1 1 77

,

1 1 8 9 - 9 1
( P a
.

1 9 9 4 ) . A

t r i a l c o u rt w
i ll g ra n t a n e w

t r i a l w h e n

i t b e l i e v e s
t h e v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t t h e w e i g h t o f t h e e v i d e n c e a n d r e s u
l t e d

i n a m i s c ar r i a g e o f j u s t i c e
. A
l t h o u g h a n e w t r i a l
s h o u l d n o t b e g r a n t e d b e c a u s e o f a m e r e c o n fl i c t

i n

t e s t i m o n y o r b e c a u s e t h e

t r i a l j u d g e o n

t h e
s a m e fa c t s w o u
l d h a v e a rr

i v e d a t a d i ff e r e n t c o n c l u s i o n , a n e w

t r i a l

s h o u l d b e a w a r d e d w h e n

t h e
j u r y

' s v e r d i c t

i s s o
c o nt r a r y

t o

t h e e v i d e n c e a s

t o s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e a n d

t h e a w a r d o f a n e w

t r i a l

i s i m p e r a t i v e s o

t h a t r i g h t m a y b e g i v e n a n o t h e r o p p o r t u n i ty

t o p r e v a il
. 1 2id.at1189(citationsomitted).Afterthetrialcourtgrantsordenieschallengestotheweightoftheevidence,theSuperiorCourtislefttoreviewthe"exerciseofdiscretion,nottheunderlyingquestionwhethertheverdictisagainsttheweightoftheevidence."Id.Theappellatecourtshaverepeatedlysaidthey"willnotreversethegrant[ordenial)ofanewtrial,unlesstherewasaclearabuseofdiscretion,oranerroroflawwhichcontrolledtheoutcomeofthecase.id.Here,thetrialcourtdidnotabuseitsdiscretionindenyingDefendant'srequestforanewtrialbasedontheweightoftheevidence.Thetrialcourtcorrectlyassessedthevoluminousevidenceassupportiveoftheverdicts.TheCommonwealthpresentedvideoevidenceandeyewitnesstestimonydocumentingnearlyeveryaspectofDefendant'sactions,aswellasthoseofhisco-defendants,throughoutthedayofthemurder.See"SufficiencyoftheEvidence,"supra.Defendantpresentsageneralchallengetotheweightoftheevidence,claimingtheverdictwas"contrarytotheinconsistentandspeculativeevidencepresentedattrial."CONCISESTATEMENT,41141111.DuringoralargumentonDefendant'sPost-SentenceMotions,appellatecounselpointedtoaninconsistentdescriptionofDefendant'sclothingonthedayoftheshooting.'aninconsistentlocationofaco-defendantatthetimeoftheshooting,4andthepopularityofblackSUVsintheUnitedStates.5Thesechallengesareexamplesof"mereconflict[s]intestimony"thatarenotgroundsforanewtrial.Brown,648A.2dat1189.Inthiscase,thejury'sverdictwasnotagainsttheweightoftheevidence.Thetrialcourt'sdenialofDefendant'srequestforanewtrialwasappropriatebecausetheverdictdidnotshockone'ssenseofjustice.Andthereisnoabuseofdiscretionorerroroflawmadebythetrialcourtwhichcontrolledtheoutcomeofthecase.::N.T.(AUG.31,20\8),p.4.4Id.atp.5."fd.13r 

# I I 

## i I T h e

t ri a l c o u r t d i d n o t a b u s e

i t s d i s c r e t i o n

i n d e n y i n g D e f e n d a n t ' s o r a l m o t i o n

t o r e c u s e d e f e n s e c o u n s e l , G a ry V i t k o , fo r a n a ll e g e d c o n fli c t o f

i n t e r e s t . O n

t h e m o rn

i n g o f j u r y

s e l e c t i o n , D e fe n d a n t m a d e a n o ra
l m o t i o n

t o
r e m o v e h i s

t h e nd e f e n s e a tt o rn e y , G a r y V i t k o

[ " T r i a l C o u n s e l " ] . N

. T.
(J U N
. 7 , 2 0 1 8 ) , p
.

1 6

. T r i a l C o u n s e l h a d d i s c l o s e d

t h a t h e fo rm
e rl y
r e p r e s e n t e d
o n e
o f

t h e C o mm

o n w e a l t h

' s w
i t n e s s e s , D e t e c t i v e L a w r e n c e W a g n e r

[ " W

i t n e s s " ] ,

i n a n e s t a t e m a tt e r a p p ro x i m a t e l y e i g h t
t o

t e n y e ar s b e fo r e . I d.

1 a t p p

. 6 - 7
. T r i a l C o u n s e l a l s o a d m

i tt e d

t h a t W
i t n e s s c o n t a c t e d h i m
o n A p r
i l 2 4 , 2 0 1 8 , fo r a c o n s u
l t a t i o n

r e g a r d i n g a p e n d i n g

l a w s u i t a g a i n s t h i m

. I d.
a t p p

. 7 - 8 ,

1 1 - 1 2

. T r i a l C o u n s e l v e r i fi e d

t h a t h e d i d n o t e n t e r

i n t o a n a tt o rn e y / c l i e n t r el a t i o n s h i p w
i t h W

i t n e s s r e g a r d i n g

t h e l a w s u i t. I d

. a t

1 2

. T r i a l C o u n s e l d i d n o t d i s c u s s D e fe n d an t' s c a s e w
i t h W

i t n e s s . I d.
a t p p

. 9 - : 1 0

,

1 3
. A t D e fe n d a n t' s

t r i a l , W

i t n e s s

t e s t i fi e d p r i m a r i l y a s a n
e v i d e n c e c u s t o d i a n

t o e s t a b l i s h

i t h e c h a i n o f c u s t o d y fo r
s o m e o f
t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h
' s e v i d e n c e . I d.
a t p p

. 2 4 - 2 5 ; N

. T. (J U N
. 1 2
, 2 0
1 8 , M O R N I N G
S E S S I O N ) , p p

.

1 2
1 - 1 4 7 ; N

. T.

( J U N
.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8 , A F T E R N O O N S E S S I O N ) , p p

. 4 - 2 8 . F o l l o w

i n g
t e s t i m o n y an d a r g u m e n t , th e

t r i a l c o ur

t d e n i e d D e fe n d a n t ' s m o t i o n

t o r e m o v e



## I T r i a l C o u n s e l. N

. T.

( J U N
. 7 , 2 0
1 8 ) , p p

. 3 1 - 3 4

. D u r i n g

t r i a l ,
t h e
t r i a l c o u rt

t o o k p r e c a u t i o n ar y

j m e a s u r e s

t o p ro t e c t D e f e n d a n t ' s d u e p ro c e s s r i g h t s . F o r e x a m p l e , p r i o r
t o
j u ry

s e l e c t i o n
,
t h e t r i a l c o u rt a ff o r d e d T r i a l C o u n s e l a d d i t i o n a l t i m e

t o r e v i e w p o t e n t i a l s t i p u l a t i o n s

t o

t h e c h a
i n o f c u s t o d y
, w h i c h w o u l d h a v e e l i m

i n a t e d

t h e n e e d fo r
t h e C o m m o n w e a
l t h

t o c a ll W

i t n e s s d u r i n g t r i a l . " I d. a t p . 3 3 . A t
t r i a l , t h e c o u r t e n g a g e d

i n
t h e fo ll o w

i n g c o ll o q u y w

i t h D e f e n d a n t a b o u t t h e c o u rt

' s e x t r a p ro t e c t i v e m e a s u r e s

t o e n s u r e D e fe n d an
t a fu ll a n d fa

i r o p p o rt u n i t y

t o c ro
s se x a m

i n e W

i t n e s s : T H E C O U R T

:

1 u n d e r s t a n d

t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h h a s m o r e
e v i d e n c e

t o p r e s e n t t hr o u g h

[ W

i t n e s s ]. [ T RJ A L C O UN
S E L
] : O k a y , r i g h t. T H E C O U R T

: B u t w h e n y o u a r e g i v e n
t h e o p p o r t u n i t y

t o c ro s s e x a m
i n e h i m

, a t t h e e n d o f t h a t
I ' m
g o i n g
t o e x c u s e
t h e j u r y o n a b r e ak

, r e g ar d l e s s o f w h a t
t i m e

i t i s . A n d

t h e n

I ' m
g o i n g

t o c o ll o q u y

[ D e fe n d a n t ]
t o m ak e

s u r e
t h e r e

i s n

' t a n y 5 D e f e n d a n t u l t i m a t e l y
r e f u s e d
t o
s t i p u l a t e
t o
t h e c h a i n o f c u s t o d y
. 1 4 I II

.1 1

i s s u e w
i t h
a n y t h i n g

t h a t y o u h a v e n o t a s k e d

[ W

i t n e s s ] o r
, y o u kn o w

, a n y d e fi c i e n c y h e n o t e s , a n d w e
' r e g o i n g

t o c o rr e c t

i t r i g h t h e r e . [ T RJ A L C O UN
S E L
] : U n d e r s t o o d . T H E C O U R T

: S o ,

[ D e fe n d a n t ],

I w o u l d
e n c o u ra g e y o u

t o p a rt

i c i p a t e

i n

t h e c ro s s w

i t h y o u r c o u n s e l b y

t e ll i n g h i m

, y o u kn o w

, w h a t y o u w an
t t o m ak e
s u r e t o a d d r e s s o n c ro s s e x a m
i n a t i o n b e c a u s e

I ' m
g o i n g

t o a s k y o u a b o u t
t h a t j u s t t o m ak e
s u r e

t h a t y o u b e li e v e

t h e c ro s s e x a m

i n a t i o n w a s fa

i r. A n d a n yt h i n g y o u t h i nk w e m
i s s e d w e
' r e g o i n g

t o c o rr e c t r i g h t h e r e . O k a y ? T H E D E F E N D A N T

: Y e s .

I ' m n e v e r g o i n g

t o b e c o m fo rt a b l e w

i t h

t h e

s i t u a t i o n t h a t - w
i t h w h a t t h e

s i t u a t i o n

i s . E v e r y b o d y h e r e

i s a w a r e o f

i t. A n d

t h e r e
' s n o t h i n g

t h a t ' s g o i n g

t o m a k e m e c o m fo rt a b l e a b o u t

i t.

I j u s t w a n t

t o w a i t.

I d o n

' t h a v e a c h o i c e . T H E C O U R T

: O k a y . W e ll , h e r e ' s w h a t I' m

t ry

i n g

t o d o

t o m ak e y o u c o m fo rt a b l e w
i t h

i t. O n T h u r s d a y w h e n w e h a d

t h e

l e n gt h y d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t y o u r r e s e rv a t i o n s , n o n e o f u s kn e w - e x c e p t fo r
t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h

' s p ro ff e r , w h i c h

i s
t h e i r

i n d i c a t i o n o f w h a t

( W

i t n e s s )

i s g o i n g

t o
t a l k a b o u t , 'w e d i d n

' t h a v e a n y

i n d i c a t i o n a b o u t
t h e

s p e c i fi c s o t h e r

t h a n

t h a t h e w a s m a
i n l y
a c u s t o d i a n w
i t n e s s .

I n o t h e r w o r d s , h e o b t a i n e d
t h e v i d e o fr o m E d d e r
' s D e n

. H e
' s g o t t e n t h e b u ll e t , e t c e t e ra

.

I t h i nk w e ' r e g o i n g
t o h e ar

s o m e o t h e r
t h
i n g s as w e l l. A ft e r t o d a y , w e
' r e g o i n g

t o kn o w
e x a c t l y w h a t h i s ro

l e a s a w
i t n e s s

i s , a n d

t h e n y o u
' r e g o i n g

t o b e a b l e

t o c o n fe r w

i t h y o u r a tt o rn e y a b o u t w h a t y o u w a n t
t o i n q u ir e a b o u t o n c r o s s e x a m
i n a t i o n
. S o

I u n d e r s t an d

t h a t y o u
s a y y o u
' r e n e v e r g o i n g
t o f e e l c o m fo rt a b l e , b u t t o d a y

i s g o i n g

t o b e y o u r o p p o rt u n i t y

t o a s k

[ W

i t n e s s ] ,
t hr o u g h y o u r c o u n s e l , a n y t h
i n g y o u w a n t. A n d

s o w h e n h e
' s fi n i s h e d , w h e n

( T r i a l C o u n s e l ]

i s fi n i s h e d w
i t h
t h a t c ro s s e x am

i n a t i o n ,

I ' m
g o i n g

t o b r i n g y o u u p h e r e a n d

I ' m

g o i n g

t o a s k y o u

i f t h e r e
' s a n yt h i n g e l s e
t h a t y o u w a n t e d

[ T ri a l C o u n s e l ]
t o a s k

[ W

i t n e s s ]
t h a t h e d i d n
' t a s k

[ W

i t n e s s ] . T H E D E F E N D A N T

: R

i g h t. T h a t d o e s n

' t -
t h a t ' s n o t g o i n g

t o r e a ll y c h a n g e t h e o r d e r t h a t w a s m a d e p r e v i o u s l y
. T h a t ' s n o t g o i n g

t o r e a l l y - » . T H E C O U R T

: A b s o l u t e l y n o t. O b v i o u s l y y o u d o n

' t h a v e a n e w

l a w y e r. 1 5T H E D E F E N D A N T

: R
i g h t. T H E C O U R T

: W h a t I' m

t ry

i n g
t o d o

i s fi n d o u t fr o m y o u w h a t s p e c i fi c a l l y y o u r i s s u e

i s
. S o

i f - y o u
s a i d b e fo r e y o u d o n

' t t h i nk

t h a t , y o u kn o w

,

[ T r i a l C o u n s e l ] w o u l d fu ll y
c ro s s e x a m
i n e h i m

. T h a t ' s g o i n g
t o b e y o ur
o p p o rt u n i t y
. A n d

t h e n I ' ll b r i n g

t h e j ur y b a c k

i n
, a n d

[ T r i a l C o u n s e l ] w

i ll a s k

( W

i t n e s s ] a n y t h i n g
t h a t y o u b e l i e v e
s h o u l d h a v e b e e n a s k e d

t h a t w a s n
' t. T H E D E F E N D A N T

: T o b e p e r f e c t l y
c l e a r - > , T H E C O U R T

: S o

I ' m

t r y i n g

t o
t a k e w h a t

i s a
t h e o r e t i c a l

i s s u e

i n y o u r m i n d a n d m
i k e

i t c o n c r e t e an d r e s o l v e

i t

i f
t h e r e
' s a n y t h i n g

t o b e r e s o l v e d

. T H E D E F E N D A N T

: O k a y . T o b e p e r f e c t l y h o n e s t ,

i t
' s n o t o n l y
a s s u r e m y m i n d

[ s i c ] , b u t

[ T r i a l C o u n s e l ] a c t u a ll y
a d m

i t t e d

t h a t d u r i n g

t h e T h u r s d a yw e ll , t h e m e e t i n g w e h a d o n T h u r s d a y . H e
s a i d

t h a t
s u b c o n s c i o u s l y h e w o u l d s t ru g g l e w

i t h w h a t h e w a s
t a l k
i n g a b o u t. T H E C O U R T

: N o
. W h a t h e

s a i d w a s h e
c o u l d g u a r an
t e e w h a t h e d o e s c o n s c i o u s l y
. H e c o u
l d n

' t
t e ll u s w h a t h e w o u l d d o
s u b c o n s c i o u s l y
. H e d i d n

' t s a y h e w o u l d
s u b c o n s c i o u s l y fa v o r

[ W

i t n e s s ] b e c a u s e o f t h e i r p r i o r
r e l a t i o n s h
i p
. H e

s a i d h e w o u l d - h e
c o u l d n

' t - h e d i d n
' t k n o w w h a t h e w o u l d d o , a n d

I t h o u g h t t h a t w a s a v e r y c a n d i d r e s p o n s e

t o

t h e q u e s t i o n

. A ll
r i g h t ? T H E D E F E N D A N T

: Y e ah

. T H E C O U R T

: S o , a g a i n
,
I ' m

t r y i n g

t o

t a k e a
t h e o r e t i c a l p ro b l e m

, w h i c h

l h a v e r e s o l v e d b y d e n y i n g y o u r m o t i o n

t o

s u b s t i t u t e c o u n s e l a t
t h e

l a s t m
i n u t e , an d I ' m

t r y i n g
t o fi g ur e o u t - a t t h e e n d o f
t h e c ro s s , I w an t
t o m ak e
s u r e
t h a t y o u ' r e a w a r e y o u a r e g o i n g
t o h a v e

t o g e t u p

t h e r e .

I a m g o i n g
t o c o ll o q u y y o u a n d a s k y o u

i f t h e r e
' s a n y d e fi c i e n c y
. S o

i f

t h e r e ' s a d e fi c i e n c y ,
I w an t y o u

t o m a k e
s ur e

t h a t y o u

' r e c o m m u n
i c a t i n g w

i t h

[ T r i a l C o u n s e l ]
t hr o u g h o u t
t h e c ro s s e x a m
i n a t i o n
. A n d

t h e n a t t h e e n d
, o u t s i d e
t h e h e ar

i n g o f t h e j u r y
,
I ' m
g o i n g
t o m a k e

s u r e

t h a t y o u

' r e c o m fo rt a b l e w
i t h
t h e c ro s s t o d a y
. O k a y ? S o

I w a n t e d -
I w an
t e d

t o g i v e y o u

t h a t a d v an c e n o t i c e
s o y o u w e r e a w a r e
t h a t I ' m

g o i n g

t o
a s k y o u
, o u t s i d e

t h e h e a r i n g
o f
t h e
j u r y
,

i f y o u
p e r c e i v e a n y d e fi c i e n c i e s

i n
t h e w a y

t h a t

[ T r i a l C o u n s e l ] c ro s s e x a m

i n e d

[ W

i t n e s s ] . T H E D E F E N D A N T

: O k a y .

1 6I

I

T H E C O U R T

:
I ' m

t r y i n g

t o m a k e
s u r e

t h i s

i s a s fa

i r a s p o s s i b l e
.

I k n o w m y ru li n g w a s n o t

i n y o u r fa v o r , s o I' m
g o i n g

t o d o w h a t

I c a n

t o m a k e
s u r e
t h a t · y o ur d u e - p r o c e s s r i g h t s a r e p ro
t e c t e d

. O k a y ? T H E D E F E N D A N T

: Y e s
. N

. T

. ( J U N

.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8 , M O R N I N G S E S S I O N ) , p p

.

1 4 8 - 1 5 2
. D u r i n g

t h e

t r i a l , T r i a l C o u n s e l a n d D e f e n d a n t c o n f e rr e d
r e g a r d i n g W

i t n e s s
' s
c ro
s s e x a m

i n a t i o n

. N

. T. (J U N

.

1 2
, 2 0 1 8 , A F T E R N O O N
S E S S I O N ) , p p

. 2 9 - 3 0
. T h e

t r i a l c o u rt

t h e n q u e s t i o n e d D e f e n d a n t
t o
e n s ur e

t h a t

( 1 ) T r i a l C o u n s e l h a d
a s k e d
o r w o u
l d as k a ll o f

t h e q u e s t i o n s D e f e n d a n t w a n t e d

t o p o s e

t o W

i t n e s s ; a n d

( 2 ) T r i a l C o u n s e l d i d
n o t a s k
a n y q u e s t i o n s

t h a t D e fe n d an
t

t o l d T r i a l C o u n s e l n o t
t o a s k
. I d.
a t p p
. 2 9 - 3 8
. D e f e n d a n t a c t i v e l y p a rt
i c i p a t e d

i n a d i s c u s s i o n
r e g a r d i n g p o s s i b l e a r e a s o f

i n q u i r y

. I d.
a t p p
. 3 0 - 3 3 . D e f e n d a n t t e s t i fi e d

t h a t h e w a s s a t i s fi e d w
i t h T r i a l C o u n s e l ' s c ro s s - e x a m
i n a t i o n , s a y i n g
" S o fa r s o g o o d

. " I d.
a t p p

. 3 3 - 3 4
. T r i a l c o u n s e l
t h e n a s k e d W

i t n e s s a b o u t D e f e n d a n t ' s a d d i t i o n a l ar e a s o f i n q u i ry

. I d. a t p p

. 3 9 - 4 0
. I n C o m m o n w e a l t h v

. W e i s s , 8 1 A. 3 d 7 6 7

( P a
. 2 0
1 3 ) , a c r i m

i n a l d e fe n s e a tt o rn e y a l s o r e p r e s e n t e d a C o m m o n w e al t h w
i t n e s s p r i o r
t o a h o m

i c i d e

t r i a l. T h e S u p r e m e C o u rt ru

l e d

t h a t d e fe n s e c o u n s e l w a s n o t a c t i n g u n d e r a n a c t u a l c o n fl i c t a t t h e
t i m e o f d e f e n d a n t ' s
t r i a l : O n

t h e m e r i t s o f
t h e

i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s

i s s u e , w e e x p r e s s e d d i s a g r e e m e n t w

i t h

t h e P C RA

c o u rt

' s fi n d i n g

t h a t
c o u n s e l w a s

c o n fl i c t e d
d u e

t o

s i m u l t a ne o u s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f D e f e n d a n t a n d

[ C o m m o n w e a
l t h w
i t n e s s ]. R a t h e r ,
t h i s C o u rt

' s r e v i e w
o f
t h e
r e c o r d r e v e a l e d

t h a t
t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s h e r e

i n v o l v e d

s u c c e s s i v e , ra th e r

t h an

s i m u lt a n e o u s , r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
. S p e c i fi c a l l y
,

t h e p u b l i c d e f e n d e r

' s o f fi c e b e g an

r e p r e s e n t i n g

[ C o m m o n w e a l t h w
i t n e s s ]

i n
a n u nr e l a t e d m a t t e r

i n A u g u s t

1 9 9 5 [ ; ]

[ C o m m o n w e a l t h w

i t n e s s ) w as

s e n t e n c e d J a n u ar y

1 5 ,

1 9 96

[ ; ] a n d D e f e n d a n t

' s t r i a l b e g an
a ft e r

[ C o m m o n w e a l t h W

i t n e s s j

' s
s e n t e n c e w a s

i m p o s e d

. W e i s s a t 7 8 0

. S u c c e s s i v e
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
a l o n e d o e s n o t e l i m

i n a t e

t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a c o n fl i c t.

I n C o m m o n w e a l t h v . T o r o , t h e d e f e n s e c o un

s e l p r e v i o u s l y
r e p r e s e n t e d o n e o f
t h e c o - a c t o r s . T h e S u p e r i o r C o u rt n o t e d

t h a t

t h e r e
c an
b e a
c o n fl i c t o f

i n t e r e s t e v e n

i n

c a s e s o f
s u c c e s s i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
:

1 7W h i l e a c o n fl i c t o f

i n t e r e s t m a y b e m o r e d i f fi c u

l t
t o p ro v e

i n

t h e a b s e n c e o f s i m u l t an e o u s

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
,
t h e

c o u rt s h a v e

r e c o g n i z e d

t h a t a

c o n fl i c t o f i n t e r e s t m a y ar

i s e

i f c o u n s e l r e v e a l s p r i v i l e g e d
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s o f
t h e fo r m e r cl i e n t o r o t h e rw

i s e d i v i d e s h i s

l o y a lt
i e s

s o

t h a t h e

i s

i n c a p a b l e
o f d i l i g e nt

l y r e p r e s e n t i n g h i s c li e n t. C o m m o n w e a l t h
v

. T o r o , 6 3 8 A

. 2 d
9 9
1 , 9 9 7

( P a
. S u p e r

1 9 9 4 )

( c i t i n g C o m m o n w e a l t h
v . M u n s o n , 6 1 5 A

. 2 d
3 4 3 , 3 4 7 - 3 4 8

( P a
. S u p e r

1 9 9 2 ) ) . I n

t h e c a s e a t b a r , T r i a l C o u n s e l e n g a g e d m

s u c c e s s i v e , ra t h e r

t h a n

s i m u l t a n e o u s , r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f W

i t n e s s an d D e fe n d a n t. D e f e n d a n t ' s

t r i a l b e g a n

l o n g a ft e r T r i a l C o un

s e l h an d l e d W

i t n e s s ' s e s t a t e m a tt e r s . A lt h o u g h T r i a l C o u n s e l m o r e r e c e n t l y a n s w e r e d q u e s t i o n s fr o m W

i t n e s s a b o u t a p e n d i n g

l a w s u i t , t h e c o n s u l t a t i o n d i d n o t r i s e

t o
t h e

l e v e l o f a n a t t o rn e y cl i e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p

.

I n a n y
e v e n t , t h e r e

i s n o
s u g g e s t i o n

t h a t T r i a l C o u n s e l r e v e a l e d p r i v i l e g e d

i I c o m m u n i c a t i o n s o r o t h e r w
i s e d i v i d e d h i s

l o y a l t i e s b e t w e e n D e f e n d a n t a n d W

i t n e s � ; r a t h e r , h e

I d i li g e n t l y r e p r e s e n t e d D e f e n d a n t t hr o u g h o u t t h e c o u r s e o f t h e
t r i a l. F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e t r i a
l c o u rt

I I c o n d u c t e d

s e v e r a l c o ll o q u
i e s w
i t h D e f e n d a n t b e fo r e , d u r i n g , a n d a ft e r W

i t n e s s ' s

t e s t i m o n y

t o

I e n s u r e

t h a t D e f e n d an
t h a d a fu ll a n d fa
i r o p p o r t u n i t y

t o c r o s s e x a m

i n e h i m

. D e f e n d a n t fa
i l e d t o d e m o n s t r a t e an y a c t u a l p r e j u d i c e b e c a u s e o f T r i a l C o u n s e l' s

s u c c e s s i v e
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f W
i t n e s s a n d D e f e n d a n t. I V

. T h e
t r i a l c o u r t d i d n o t e r r

i n d e n y i n g D e f e n d a n t
' s P o s t - S e n t e n c e M o ti o n s . D e fe n d a n t w
i t h d r e w a cl a i m

i n h i s P o s t - S e n t e n c e M o t i o n s t h a t t h e
t r i a l c o u rt a b u s e d

i t s d i s c r e t i o n

i n d e n y i n g D e f e n d a n t ' s o r a l m o t i o n

t o
r e t a i n
a c o u rt - a p p o i n t e d

t o x i c o l o g y
e x p e r t. N

. T

. ( A U G
. 3 1 , 2 0 1 8 ) , p
. 8 . A ll o t h e r

i s s u e s a r e a d d r e s s e d a b o v e
. C O N C L U S IO N F o r

t h e
r e a s o n s

s e t fo r t h
a b o v e ,
t h e

t r i a l c o u rt

' s
j u d g m e n t o f
s e n t e n c e

s h o u l d b e

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