J - S 730 2 3 - 18

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENN SYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee v. ERIC J. HALL, Appellant No. 5 95 W DA 201 8

Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered March 23 , 201 8 In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 6 5 - CR - 0000 006 - 201 2 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and OLSON , J. MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED JANUARY 30, 2019 Appellant, Eric J. Hall, appeals from the post - conviction court’s March 23, 2018 order denying his timely petition filed under the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541 - 9546. After careful review, we affirm. Rather than reiterating the facts of Appellant’s underlying convictions, we rely on the detailed summary set forth by the PCRA court in its February 9, 2017 opinion. See PCRA Court Opinion (PCO) , 2/9/17, at 2 - 11. On September 18, 2013, a jury convicted Appellant of two counts of first - degree murder and related offenses. On December 17, 2013, he was sentenced to two, consecutive life terms of incarceration, without the possibi lity of parole. He filed a timely direct appeal and, after this Court affirmed his judgment of sentence, our Supreme Court denied his subsequent petition for allowance of appeal. Commonwealth v. Hall , No. 131 WDA 2014, unpublishedJ - S 73023 - 18

- 2 -

memorandum (Pa. Super. Dec. 16, 2014), appeal denied , 116 A.3d 603 (Pa. 2015). Appellant filed a timely, pro se PCRA petition and counsel was appointed. An amended petition was filed by counsel on June 30, 2016, and the court conducted an evidentiary hearing on November 15, 20 16. There, Appellant abandoned all but one claim of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness, involving counsel’s failure to call Appellant’s mother to the stand at trial. On February 9, 2017, the PCRA court issued an opinion that notified Appell ant of its intent to deny this ineffectiveness claim . In response, Appellant filed a pro se motion to amend his petition and dismiss his PCRA counsel. The PCRA court granted Appellant’s motion to amend , and withdrew the representation of his court appointed PCRA counsel. Thereafter, Appellant retained private counsel, who filed an amended petition on his behalf on December 1, 2017, raising a second claim of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness, arguing that counsel erred by not requesting a certain jury instruction in respon se to a question posed by the jury. On March 23, 2018, the court issued an order explaining that it was dismissing that claim without a hearing, and also formally dismissing the other claims raised in Appellant’s first amended petition , on which a hearing had been held. 1

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 The PCRA court did not issue a Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 notice of its intent to dismiss, without a hearing, the ineffectiveness claim raised in Appellant’s second amended petition. However, because Appellant does not object to that omission on appeal , he has waived it for our review. See Commonwealth v. Taylor , 65 A.3d 462, 468 (Pa. Super. 2013) (“The failure to challenge the absence of a Rule 907 notice constitutes waiver.”) (citation omitted).J - S 73023 - 18

- 3 -

Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal, and he also timely complied with the court’s order to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of errors complained of on appeal. In lieu of a Rule 1925(a) opinion, the PCRA court issued a statement i ndicating that it was relying on the rationale set forth in its February 9, 2017 opinion and March 23, 2018 order . Herein, Appellant raises two issues for our review: I. Whether trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call Appellant’s mother, Deborah Finley, who would have testified that she did not give her son the handgun discussed during the trial as the possible murder weapon until two days after the murders? II. Whether trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request the alternative hypothesis in struction where the Commonwealth’s case was based solely on circumstantial evidence? Appellant’s Brief at 1. We have reviewed the certified record, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law. Additionally, we have reviewed the thorough and well - c rafted decisions of the Honorable Rita Donovan Hathaway, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County. We conclude that President Judge Hathaway’s extensive, well - reasoned opinion issued on February 9, 2017, accurately disposes of t he first issue presented by Appellant. See PCO at 12 - 21. Additionally, President Judge Hathaway’s March 23, 2018 order offers a legally sound explanation for rejecting the second claim Appellant raises herein. See PCRA Court Order , 3/23/18, at 1 - 6. Acc ordingly, we adoptJ - S 73023 - 18

- 4 -

those decisions as our own and affirm the order denying Appellant’s petition for the reasons set forth therein. Order affirmed. Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 1/30/2019Circulated 01/17/2019 01:54 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 W E S T M O RE L A N D C O U

N T Y , P ENN S Y L V AN IA
- C R I M I N A L D I V I S I O N C O M l\ 1 0 N \V E AL T H O F P ENN S YL V AN I A ) ) 

## v s . ) ) E RI C 

### 1. HAL L , ) 

### ) D e f e n d an t. ) O RD E R O F C O U R T N o . 6 C 2 0 1 2

A ND N O W , th i s 

# u � d ay o f M ar c h , 2 0 1 8 , u p o n c o n s i d e ra t i o n o f D e fe n d an t ' s r e s p o n s e t o th e C o urt ' s N o t i c e o f I n t e n t t o D i s m i s s , an d fo r th e r e a s o n s a l r e a dy s e t f o rth i n th i s C am i ' s O r d e r o f C o urt an d N o t i c e o f I n t e n t t o D i s m i s s , att a c h e d h e r e t o , D e f e n d an t ' s p e t i t i o n fo r p o s t - c o nv i c t i o n r e li e f i s h e r e b y D I S M I S S E D . T h i s C o urt i s s u e d a N o t ic e o f I n t e n t t o D i s m i s s D e fe n d an t ' s p e t i t i o n fo r p o s t c o n v i c t i o n r e l i e f o n F e b ru ar y 9 , 2 0 1 7 , a ft e r an e v i d e n t i ar y h e ari n g . D e f

e n d an t fil e d a m o t i o n t o am e n d h i s p e t i t i o n o n M ar c h 7 , 2 0 1 7 . T h e C o urt g ran t e d D e f e n d an t ' s m o t i o n , w i th draw i n g c o urt - a

p p o in t e d A tt o rn e y T i m o thy An dr e w s ' a p p e aran c e i n th e c a s e . P r i v at e c o un s e l C h ri s E y s t e r e n t e r e d h i s a p p e aran c e o n o r a

b o u t th e s am e d at e . D e f e n d an t fi le d
an am e n d e d p e t it i o n o n D e c e mb e r 1 , 2 0 1 7 , i n w h i c h h e av e rr e d th a t tri a l c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa ili n g t o r e qu e s t a s p e c i fi c j ur y i n s tru c t i o n d

ur i n g tri a l. D e fe n d an t ' s cl a i m i s i n r e f e r e n c e t o a qu e s t i o n s ub m i tt e d b y th e j ur y t o th e C o urt d ur i n g d e l i b e ra t i o n s . T h e qu e s t i o n w a s a s fo ll o w s :

C an w e s ay g u il ty i f o ur c o m m o n s e n s e s ay s g u il ty , b u t th e S t at e ' s c a s e d o e s n ' t t i e u p a ll l o o s e e n d s an d l e av e s s o m e d o ub t ?

### ( IT 1 3 2 9 )
.



### In r e s p o n s e t o th e qu e s t i o n , th e C o urt r e i t e rat e d th e fo ll o w i n g s t an d ar d s r e g ar d i n g p r e s ump t i o n o f i nn o c e n c e an d r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t:
L a d i e s an d g e n t l e m e n , I' m g o i n g t o r e a d a g a i n fo r y o u th e d e fi n i t i o n o f p r e s ump t i o n o f i nn o c e n c e an d b ur d e n o f p ro o f an d r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t , an d r m s ur e th at w i l l c l ari f y th e an s w e r fo r y o u . A fun d am e n t a l p ri n ci p l e o f o ur s y s t e m o f c r i m i n a l l aw i s th at th e d e fe n d an t i s p r e s um e d t o b e i nn o c e n t. T h e m e r e fa c t th at h e w a s arr e s t e d an d 

### i

s a c c u s e d o f a c ri m e i s n o t e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t h i m . F urth e rm o r e , th e d e f e n d an t i s p r e s um e d i nn o c e n t thro u g h o ut th e tr i a l an d un l e s s an d un til y o u c o n cl u d e , b a s e d o n c ar e fu l an d i mp art i a l c o n s i d e rat i o n o f th e e v i d e n c e , th at th e C o mm o nw e a l th h a s p r o v e d h i m g u il ty b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t. 

### It i s n o t th e d e fe n d an t ' s b ur d e n t o p ro v e th a t h e i s n o t g u i lty . I n s t e a d , i t i s th e C o mm o nw e a lth th at a l w ay s h a s th e b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g e a c h an d e v e r

y e l e m e n t o f th e c ri m e c h ar g e d an d th e d e f e n d an t i s g u i lty o f th at c ri m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t. T h e p e r s o n a c c u s e d o f a c ri m e i s n o t r e qu i r e d t o p r e s e n t e v i d e n c e o r p ro v e any th i n g i n h i s o w n d e f e n s e . 

### If th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s e v i d e n c e fa il s t o m e e t i t s b ur d e n , th e n th e v e r d i c t mu s t b e n o t g u il ty . O n th e o th e r h an d , i f th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s e v i d e n c e d o e s p r o v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t th a t th e d e f

e n d an t i s g u i l ty , th e n y o ur v e r d i c t s h o u l d b e g u i lty . A l th o u g h th e C o mm o nw e a l th h a s th e b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g th at th e d e fe n d an t i s g u i l ty , th i s d o e s n o t m e an th at th e C o mm o nw e a l th mu s t p ro v e i t s c a s e b e y o n d a ll d o ub t an d t o a m ath e m at i c a l c e rt a i n ty , n o r mu s t i t d e m o n s trat e th e c o mp l e t e i mp o s s i b i li ty o f i nn o c e n c e . A r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t i s a d o u

b t th at w o u l d c au s e a r e a s o n a b l y c ar e fu l an d s e n s i b l e p e r s o n t o h e s i t at e b e fo r e a c t i n g u p o n a m att e r o f i mp o rt an c e i n h i s o r h e r o w n a ff

a i r s . A r e a s o n a

b l e d o ub t mu s t fa i rl y ar i s e o ut o f th e e v i d e n c e th at w a s p r e s e n t e d o r o ut o f th e l a c k o f e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d w i th r e s p e c t t o s o m e e l e m e n t o f th e c r i m e . A 2r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t mu s t b e a r e a l d o ub t. 

### It m ay n o t b e an i m a g in e d o n e , n o r m ay i t b e a d o ub t m anu fa c t ur e d t o av o i d c arr y i n g o ut an unp l e a s an t d uty . S o , t o s umm ar i z e , y o u m ay n o t fi n d th e ( d e fe n d an t ] g u il ty b a s e d o n a m e r e s u s p i ci o n o f g u il t. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th h a s th e b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g th e d e f e n d an t g u il ty b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t. 

### If i t m e e t s th at b ur d e n , th e n th e d e fe n d an t i s n o l o n g e r p r e s um e d i nn o c e n t an d y o u s h o u l d fi n d h i m g u i l ty . O n th e o th e r h an d , i f th e C o mm o nw e a l th d o e s n o t m e e t i t s b ur d e n , y o u mu s t fi n d h i m n o t g u i lty . ( TT 13 2 9
- 3 1 )
. D e fe n d an t , i n h i s am e n d e d p e t i t i o n , s t at e s th at th e j ur o r s ' qu e s t i o n " s h o u l d h av e p ro mp t e d tr i a l c o un s e l t o r e qu e s t " th e fo ll o w i n g i n s tru c t i o n :

B e fo r e y o u m ay r e l y o n c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e t o c o n cl u d e th at a fa c t n e c e s s ar

y t o fi n d th e d e fe n d an t g u i l ty h a s b e e n p r o v e d , y o u mu s t b e c o nv i n c e d th at th e C o mm o nw e a l th h a s p ro v e d e a c h fa c t e s s e n t i a l t o th at c o n cl u s i o n b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t. A l s o , b e fo r e y o u m ay r e l y o n ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e t o fi n d th e d e f e n d an t g u il ty , y o u mu s t b e c o nv i n c e d th a t th e o n l y r e a s o n a b l e c o n cl u s i o n s u

p p ort e d 

### b y th e c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e i s th at th e d e fe n d an t i s g u il ty . 

### If y o u c an draw tw o o r m o r e r e a s o n ab l e c o n cl u s i o n s fr o m th e ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e an d o n e o f th o s e r e a s o n ab l e c o n c l u s i o n s p o i n t s t o i nn o c e n c e an d an o th e r t o g u il t , y o u mu s t a c c e p t th e o n e th at p o i n t s t o i nn o c e n c e . D e fe n d an t furth e r s t at e s th at w h e n th e j ur y a s k e d th e a fo r e m e n t i o n e d qu e s t i o n , th e C o urt h a d a 

### s u a s

p o n te d uty un d e r th e d

u e p ro c e s s cl au s e o f th e U . S . an d P e nn s y l v an i a C o n s t i t ut i o n s t o i n s tru c t th e j ur y o n h o w t o e v a l u at e ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e w h e n th e p r o s e c ut i o n " s ub s t an t i a ll y r e l i e d o n ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e t o e s t a b li s h any e l e m e n t o f i t s c a s e . " In s u

p p o rt o f th i s c o n t e n t i o n , D e f e n d an t c i t e s tw o C a li fo rn i a S u p r e m e C o urt c a s e s , w h i c h r e li e d o n s t an d ar d C a l i fo rn i a c r i m i n a l j ur y i n s tru c t i o n s , an d o n e C o nn e c t i c ut 3S u

p r e m e C o urt c a s e , w h i c h a l s o r e l i e d o n r e l e v an t S t at e - s p e c i fi c c r i m i n a l j ur y i n s tru c t i o n s . D e fe n d an t d i d n o t li s t any c a s e 

### l aw fr o m th i s C o mm o nw e a l th t o s u p p o rt h i s cl a i m . I n o r d e r t o s u c c e s s fu ll y ra i s e a cl a i m o f i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l i n a p e t i t i o n fo r p o s t - c o nv i c t i o n r e li e f , a d e fe n d an t mu s t p l e a d an d p ro v e , b y 

### a p r e p o n d e r an c e o f th e e v i d e n c e :



### ( 1 ) th e un d e rl y i n g cl a i m h a s ar g u ab l e m e ri t ; 

### ( 2 ) n o r e a s o n ab l e b a s i s e x i s t e d fo r c o un s e l ' s a c t i o n s o r fa il ur e t o a c t ; an d 

### ( 3 ) p e t i t i o n e r s u ff e r e d p r e j u d i c e a s a r e s u l t o f c o un s e l ' s e rr o r s u c h th at th e r e i s a r e a s o n ab l e p ro b ab ili ty th a t th e r e s u l t o f th e p ro c e e d i n g w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff e r e n t a b s e n t s u c h e r

ro r . 

### C o m m . v . R e e d

, 9 7 1 A . 2 d 1 2 1 6 , 1 2 2 1 ( P a . 2 0 0 9 ) ( c i t in g 

### C

o m m . v . P i e rc e, 5 2 7 A . 2 d 9 7 3 , 9 7 5 ( P a . 1 9 8 7 ) )
. A s a thr e s h o l d m att e r , th e r e i s n o ar g u ab l e m e ri t t o D e fe n d an t ' s cl a i m . T h e C o urt
n o t e s th a t th e j uro r s ' qu e s t i o n m a d e n o r e f e r e n c e t o ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e , an d
a d dr e s s e d o n l y " s o m e d o u b t " th e y h a d w h il e d e li b e r at i n g . M o r e o v e r , D e fe n d an t' s c o n t e n t i o n i gn o r e s th e " un qu e s t i o n ab l e m a x i m o f l aw . . th at a tri a l c o m t h a d b ro a d d i s c r e ti o n i n p hra s in g i t s i n s tru c t i o n s , an d m ay c h o o s e i t s o w n w o r d i n g s o l o n g a s th e l aw i s c l e ar l y , a d e qu at e l y , an d a c c urat e l y p r e s e n t e d t o th e j ur y fo r i t s c o n s i d e r at i o n . " 

### C o m m . v . A n tido rmi, 8 4 A .3 d 7 3 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 4 )
. D e fe n d an t d o e s n o t i n any w ay av e r th a t th e C o urt ' s i n s tru c t i o n w a s i n a c c urat e o r i mp ro p e r . Fi n a ll y , th e C o urt c o u l d n o t fi n d any s u p p o rt i n P e nn s y l v an i a j uri s p ru d e n c e fo r D e fe n d an t ' s p ro p o s e d j ur y i n s tru c t i o n . A g a i n , i t a p p e ar s th at D e fe n d an t i s r e l y i n g o n a

4s t an d ar d j ur y i n s tru c t i o n fr o m C a li fo rn i a . S p e c i fi c a ll y , S t an d ar d C a l i fo rn i a C r i m i n a l Jur y I n s tru c t i o n 2 2 4 r e a d s a s fo ll o w s :

B e fo r e y o u m ay r e l y o n ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e t o c o n cl u d e th at a fa c t n e c e s s ar

y t o fi n d th e d e fe n d an t g u i l ty , y o u mu s t b e c o nv i n c e d th at th e P e o p l e h av e p ro v e d e a c h fa c t e s s e n t i a l t o th at c o n cl u s i o n b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o ub t. A l s o , b e fo r e y o u m ay r e l y o n c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e t o fi n d th e d e fe n d an t g u i lty , y o u mu s t b e c o nv i n c e d th at th e o n l y r e a s o n a b l e c o n cl u s i o n s u

p p o rt e d b y th e c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e i s th at th e d e fe n d an t i s g u il ty . If y o u c an dr aw tw o o r m o r e r e a s o n a

b l e c o n cl u s i o n s fr o m th e c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e , an d o n e o f th e r e a s o n a b l e c o n cl u s i o n s p o i n t s t o i nn o c e n c e an d an o th e r t o g u i l t , y o u mu s t a c c e p t th e o n e th a t p o i n t s t o i nn o c e n c e . H o w e v e r , w h e n c o n s i d e ri n g ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e , y o u mu s t a c c e p t o n l y r e a s o n ab l e c o n cl u s i o n s an d r e

j e c t any th at ar e unr e a s o n ab l e . 1
T h e r e i s n o ar g u ab l e m e r i t t o th e cl a i m th at d e fe n s e c o un s e l s h o u l d h av e r e qu e s t e d
a s t an d ar d j ur

y i n s tru c t i o n fr o m an o th e r j uri s d ic t i o n i n r e s p o n s e t o an unr e l at e d qu e s t i o n . T h e C o urt a l s o n o t e s th a t 

### i t d i d r e a d th e s t an d ar d P e nn s y l v an i a j ur y i n s tru c t i o n r e g ar d i n g c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e . ( TT 1 2 8 9 � 9 l )
. H a d th e j ur y a s k e d a qu e s t i o n c o n c e rn i n g c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e , o r th e r e l at i o n s h i p b e tw e e n d i r e c t an d ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e , th e C o urt c e rt a i n l y w o u l d h av e a g a i n r e a d th e j ur y i n s tru c t i o n s c o mm o n l y u s e d i n th i s C o mm o nw e a l th , o r c o n s i d e r e d any i n s tr u c t i o n p ro p o s e d b y e i th e r th e C o mm o nw e a l th o r d e f e n s e c o un s e l.

I T h e B e n c h N o t e s att a c h e d t o th at i n s tru c t i o n a l s o n o t e th at C a li fo rn i a tr i a l c o urt s h av e a s u a s p o n te d uty t o in s tr

u c t o n h o w t o e v a l u a t e c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e i f th e p ro s e c ut i o n s u b s t an t i a ll y r e l i e s o n c i r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e t o e s t a b l i s h any e l e m e n t o f

th e c a s e . T h a t B e n c h N o t e a l s o c i t e s t o th e tw o C a l i fo rn i a S u p r e m e C o urt c a s e s (

B l oy d an d H e i s h m a n ) th at ar e a l s o c i t e d b y D e fe n d an t. 5A s D e fe n d an t ' s cl a i m c ann o t p a s s th e fi r s t p ro n g o f th e i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s t e s t d e s c r i b e d , 

### s u

p ra , h i s ar g um e n t i s w i th o ut m e r i t , an d mu s t fa i l. T h e C o urt h a s a l r e a dy d e t e rm i n e d th a t th e c l a i m s i n i t i a ll y i n tro d u c e d i n D e fe n d an t' s 

### pr o- s e p e t i t i o n , an d
a d o p t e d i n th e am e n d e d p e t i t i o n fi l e d b y A tt o r n e y T i m o thy An dr e w s , ar e a l s o w i th o ut
m e ri t. T H E D E F EN D A

N T I S N O T I F I E D T H A T A N Y A P P E A L T O T HE S U P E RI O R C O U R T O F P E I\ TN S Y L V A N I A F R O M T H I S C O U R T ' S D I S MI S S AL O F 

## m s P C RA P E T I T I O N M U S T B E F I L E D . W I T H I N T ID R T Y ( 3 0 ) D A Y S F R O M T HE D A T E O F T ID S O RD E R O F C O U R T . B Y T HE C O U R T :



# c==_ � � � } c v .-N , 

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c c : F il e J o hn W . P e c k , E s q . , D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y C hr i s E y s t e r , E s q . , C o un s e l fo r D e fe n d an t 3 2 4 2 B ab c o c k B o u l e v ar d , P i tt s b ur g h , P A 1 5 2 3 7 P am e l a N e i d e rh i s e r , E s q . , C o urt A dm i n i s tr at o r ' s O ffi c e

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### T HE C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F W E S T M O RE L AN D C O U N T Y , P ENN S Y L V AN IA - C RIM IN A L D I VI S I O N C O MM O N WE A L T H O F P ENN S YL V ANI A ) ) 

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## c 2 0 1 2

O P IN I O N O F T HE C O U R T 

### AND N O T I C E O F I N T EN T T O 

### D IS M I S S AN D N O W , th i s 

# --2_ d ay o f F e b ru ary , 2 0 1 7 , u p o n c o n s i d e rat i o n o f D e f e n d an t ' s p e t i t i o n fil e d p ur s u an t t o th e P o s t C o nv i c t i o n R e li e f A c t , ( 4 2 P a . C . S . § 9 5 4 1 , e t s e q .) 

### an d
u p o n c o n s i d e rat i o n o f th e am e n d e d P C RA p e t iti o n s ub m i tt e d b y T i m o thy A n dr e w s , E s q . , c o urt - a p p o i n t e d P C RA c o un s e l fo r D e fe n d an t , a s w e ll a s th e t e s t i m o ny an d b ri e fs s ub m i tt e d i n s u

p p o rt o f th at p e t i t i o n , i t a p p e ar s t o th e C o urt th at th e r e m ay b e n o g e nu i n e i s s u e o f m at e r i a l fa c t , n o e n t i t l e m e n t t o r e li e f an d n o p ur p o s e t o b e s e rv e d i n furth e r p ro c e e d i n g s fo r th e fo ll o w i n g r e a s o n s : I . F A C T U AL A

ND P R O C E D URAL HI S T O R Y O F T HE C A S E 

### E ri c J . H a ll ( " D e fe n d an t " ) w a s c o nv i c t e d o n S e p t e mb e r 1 8 , 2 0 13 o f tw o c o un ts o f C r i m i n a l H o m i c i d e an d r e l at e d c h ar g e s a ft e r a j ury tri a l. H e w a s s e n t e n c e d o n D e c e mb e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 3 t o tw o c o n s e c ut i v e li f e s e n t e n c e s . D e fe n d an t t i m e l y fil e d a N o t i c e o fAp p e a l t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u

p e ri o r C o urt o n J anu ar

y 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e ri o r C o urt

1 9 a

### a f

fi rm e d th e C o urt' s Ju d gm e n t o f S e n t e n c e o n D e c e mb e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o urt d e n i e d D e f e n d an t ' s P e t i t i o n fo r A ll o w an c e o f Ap p e a l o n M ay 1 2 , 2 0 1 5 . D e fe n d an t fi l e d a t i m e l y pr o - s e 

### P C RA p e t i t i o n o n N o v e mb e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 . T h e C o urt
a p p o in t e d A tt o rn e y T i m o thy An dr e w s t o r e p r e s e n t D e fe n d an t. A tt o rn e y An dr e w s i n i t i a ll y fi l e d a N o - M e ri t L e tt e r o n F e b ru ar y 2 5 , 2 0 1 6 . A ft e r 

### pro- s e c o rr e s p o n d e n c e s e n t t o th e C o urt b y D e f

e n d an t i n d i c at i n g c e rt a i n a li b i i s s u e s n o t a d dr e s s e d in th e N o - M e ri t L e tt e r , th e C o urt gr an t e d A tt o rn e y An dr e w s an e x t e n s i o n t o fil e an am e n d e d P C RA p e t i t i o n b a s e d o n fa c t s c o n t a i n e d i n th e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e an d u

p o n furth e r r e v i e w w i th D e fe n d an t. A tt o rn e y A n dr e w s fil e d an am e n d e d P C RA p e t i t i o n o n Jun e 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 . A h e ari n g w as h e l d o n N o v e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 t o d e t e rm i n e th e m e ri t s o fth e p e t i t i o n . 

### F A C T U A L H I S T O R

Y : T h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d at tri a l e s t a b li s h e d th e fo ll o w in g : An th o ny (" T o ny " ) H e n d e r s o n an d N o e ll e Ri c h ar d s w e r e a y o un g c o u p l e r e s i d i n g o n F o x R o a d i n W a s h i n gt o n T o w n s h i p , W e s tm o r e l an d C o un ty . T h e p ro p e rty w a s rura l an d n o t i mm e d i at e l y a c c e s s i b l e fr o m 

### S R 6 6 , th e n e ar es t m a i n ro a d
. O n Au g u s t 2 8 , 2 0 11 , at
a p p ro x i m at e l y 8 : 0 0 p . m . , T o ny an d N o e ll e dr o v e t o D a i r y Q u e e n 

### in n e ar

b y D e l m o n t t o p ur c h a s e fo o d an d an i c e c r e am c ak e . ( TT 4 2 2
- 3 7 , 1 0 2 4
- 2 5 )
. 1 

### T h e y l e ft th e r es t auran t an d trav e l e d b a c k t o th e i r h o m e at 8 : 0 8 p . m . ( T T 1 0 2 5 )
. A t a p p ro x i m at e l y 8 : 3 0 p . m . , M ic h a e l D i V i n c e nz o , G r e g D i V i n c e nz o an d S am D e n ill o trav e l e d t o T o ny an d N o e ll e ' s h o u s e t o p ur c h a s e m ari j u an a fr o m T o ny . M i c h a e l

1 N um e ra l s in p ar e n th e s i s p r e c e d e d b y th e l e tt e r s " T T " r e fe r t o s p e c ifi c p a g e s o f th e tr an s c ri p t o f th e tr i a l o f thi s m att e r , h e l d S e p t e mb e r 9
- 1 3 an d 1 6
- 1 8 , 2 0 1 3 b e fo r e th i s C o urt , an d m a d e a p art o f th e r e c o r d h e r e in
. 2 1 O at e s t ifi e d th at S am D e n i l l o dro v e th e thr e e o f th e m t o W a s h i n gt o n T o w n s h i p in h i s b l a c k

J e e p . M i c h a e l t e s t i fi e d th at o n a p ri o r o c c a s i o n th e g at e at th e t o p o f th e l e n g thy dri v e w ay h a d b e e n c l o s e d
. O n th i s tri p , h o w e v e r , th e g at e w a s a l r e a dy o p e n , an d th e y
· p ro c e e d e d d i r e c t l y d o w n th e dri v e w ay t o th e r e ar o f th e h o u s e . ( TT 8 1
- 8 8 , 1 7 8 )
. M i c h a e l D i V i n c e n z o an d D e n ill o a p p r o a c h e d th e s li d i n g g l a s s d o o r s n e ar th e b a c k p at i o an d kn o c k e d , b ut n e i th e r T o ny n o r N o e ll e an s w e r e d th e d o o r . H e n o t i c e d li g h t e m an at i n g fr o m a t e l e v i s i o n b ut b e c au s e th e s li d i n g g l a s s d o o r w a s c o v e r e d b y v e rt i c a l
s h a d e s , h e c o u l d n o t d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r any o n e w a s i n s i d e . ( TI 8 9
- 9 0 )
. M i c h a e l
c o n t i nu e d 

### to k

n o c k at th e s li d i n g g l a s s d o o r , an d a l s o c h e c k e d ar o un d th e p e r i m e t e r o f th e h o u s e t o try t o l o c at e T o ny . H e d e c i d e d t o c a ll P au l H o o v e r , w h o a l s o r e s i d e d at th e l o c at i o n , t o s e e i f h e kn e w w h e th e r T o ny w a s h o m e . A s h e w a s s p e ak i n g w ith H o o v e r , h e n o t i c e d th at s o m e o n e w a s a p p ro a c h i n g th e d o o r fr o m i n s i d e th e h o m e . ( TI 9 0
- 9 2 )
. T h e s li d i n g g l as s d o o r o p e n ed , an d an un fam il i ar m an e m e r g e d b ran d i s h i n g a b as e b a ll b at .2 H e i mm e d i at e l y s wun g th e b a s e b a ll b at an d h i t S am D e n ill o o n th e s i d e o f h i s h e a d
. D e n ill o fe ll t o th e g r o un d
. T h e m an th e n s t art e d t o w ar d G r e g o r y D i V in c e nz o , s w i n g i n g th e b at at h i m a s w e ll
. G r e g o r y w as a b l e t o b l o c k th e b l o w w i th h i s arm . M ic h a e l t o l d h i m th at th e y w o u l d l e av e th e r e s i d e n c e , b ut th e m an c h as e d a ft e r M i c h a e l , w h o ran t o e s c a p e fr o m h i m . T h e i n d i v i d

u a l w i th th e b at g av e u

p th e c h a s e a ft e r a s h o rt t i m e , an d w e n t b a c k i n s i d e th e h o u s e . In t e n d in g t o fl e e th e ar e a, M i c h a e l an d G r e g o r y D i V in c e n z o m an a g e d t o h e l p S am D e n ill o b a c k i n t o th e v e h i c l e . M i c h a e l r e a li z e d th at h e h a d l o s t h i s c e ll p h o n e . G r e g o ry d i a l e d M i c h a e l ' s numb e r o n h i s o w n p h o n e i n an att e mp t t o l o c at e 

### i t. M i c h a e l

2 M i c h a e l D i V in c e nz o d e s c r i b e d th e b a t a s b e in gy e l l o w an d s o m e w h a t p i nki s h o n th e e n d
. 1 1 a

### th e n n o t i c e d th at th e m an h a d c o m e b a c k o ut s i d e th e h o u s e an d w a s l ay i n g fl a t o n h i s

s t o m a c h a s i f h e w a s s e ar c h in g fo r s o m e th i n g . H e s t o o d u p , an d M i c h a e l c o u l d h e ar w h at s o un d e d li k e h i s c e ll p h o n e r in g i n g fr o m an ar e a n e ar th e m an ' s m i d s e c t i o n . M i c h a e l
a s k e d th e m an t o t o s s h i m hi s c e ll p h o n e , an d s t at e d th at th e y w o u l d l e av e th e r e a ft e r , b ut th e m an s t ar e d at h i m b l ank l y . ( T T 9 2
- 1 0 0 , 1 8 3
- 8 9 )
. T h e tr i o l e ft th e H e n d e r s o n p r o p e rty , dr i v i n g o n F o x R o a d t o w ar d i t s i n t e r s e c t i o n w i th S R 6 6 , w h il e G r e g o ry D i V i n c e nz o c a ll e d 9
- 1
- 1 fr o m th e v e h i c l e t o s umm o n m e d i c a l h e l p fo r S am D e n ill o . T h e c a ll w a s r e c e i v e d b y W e s tm o r e l an d 9
- 1
- 1 at 8 : 4 4 p . m . ( TT 1 0 2 4 )
. D e n i l l o w a s g r o g g y an d b l e e d i n g fr o m h i s m o uth
. Wh il e th e y w e r e w a i t i n g fo r th e p o li c e an d an amb u l an c e , a d ark c o l o r e d J e e p G r an d C h e ro k e e dr o v e p a s t th e m at a h i g h rat e o f s p e e d , m a d e a le ft tum o n t o S R 6 6 w i th o u t s t o p p i n g at th e s t o p s i gn , an d dro v e t o w ar d D e l m o n t. B e li e v in g i t t o b e th e s am e p e r s o n w h o h a d as s au l t e d th e m , G r e g o r y D i V i n c e n z o c a ll e d 9 - 1
- 1 a g a i n an d r e p o rt e d h i s o b s e rv at i o n s a b o ut th e v e h i c l e . ( TT 1 0 1
- 0 3 , 1 9 0
- 9 3 )
. T h e s e c o n d c a ll w a s r e c e i v e d b y W e s tm o r e l an d 9
- 1
- 1 at 8 : 4 9 p . m . ( TT 1 0 2 4 )
. D e n ill o w a s fl o w n b y m e d i c a l h e li c o p t e r t o A ll e g h e ny G e n e ra l H o s p i t a l i n P i tt s b ur g h , w h e r e h e w a s a dm i tt e d fo r thr e e d ay s , un d e r w e n t s ur g e ry fo r a b ro k e n j aw , an d w a s tr e at e d fo r a c o n c u s s i o n an d b l e e d in g i n h i s e ar . ( T T 1 5 6
- 6 7 )
. M i c h a e l D i V i n c e n z o l at e r i d e n t i fi e d D e fe n d an t fr o m a s e ri e s o f p h o t o s a s th e b at w i e l d in g i n d i v i d

u a l w h o att e mp t e d t o a s s au lt h i m an d h i s b ro th e r , an d w h o a s s au l t e d S am D e n ill o . S am D e n i l l o h a d li tt l e o r n o m e m o ry o f th e e v e n t s . G r e g o ry D i V in c e nz o w a s un ab l e t o p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i fy D e fe n d an t' s p h o t o gr a p h fr o m th e s e ri e s o f p h o t o s s h o w n t o

1 2 a 4

### h i m b y th e 

### p o li c e , b u t h e w a s ab l e t o m ak e a p o s i t i v e i d e n t i fi c at i o n at th e p r e li m i n ary

h e ari n g an d at tr i a l. ( T T 11 0
- 1 2 , 1 5 7
- 6 9 , 1 9 3
- 9 5 )
. A s th e D i V i n c e n z o b ro th e r s an d S am D e n ill o w e r e w a i t i n g o n th e s i d e o f F o x R o a d fo r an amb u l an c e , C o r e y L ut z an d h i s fr i e n d Jo e G i aru s s o , i n s e p ar at e v e h i c l e s , w e r e t urn i n g fr o m S R 6 6 o n t o F o x R o a d o n th e i r w ay t o An th o ny H e n d e r s o n ' s h o u s e . L ut z n o t i c e d th e thr e e m e n 

### in th e J e e p p ark e d at th e in t e r s e c t i o n . ( 2 6 2
- 6 5 , 2 7 5
- 7 6 )
. Wh e n L ut z arri v e d at th e H e n d e r s o n h o m e , h e fi r s t n o t i c e d th a t th e g at e at th e t o p o f th e dri v e w ay w a s n o t l o c k e d a s i t c u s t o m ar il y w a s , an d th at i t a p p e ar e d t o b e d am a g e d
. Wh e n h e r e a c h e d th e r e ar o f th e h o u s e , h e n o t ic e d th at th e g r ill h a d b e e n o v e rturn e d i n th e dri v e w ay , furn i tur e w a s o u t o f p l a c e , th e r e w e r e b r o k e n i t e m s o n th e p at i o , an d th e s li d i n g g l a s s d o o r w a s o p e n . ( T T 2 6 5
- 2 6 9 )
. L u t z e n t e r e d i n t o th e h o u s e thr o u g h th e s li d i n g g l a s s d o o r an d d i s c o v e r e d th e b o d i e s o f An th o ny H e n d e r s o n an d N o e ll e Ri c h ar d s i n th e fi n i s h e d b a s e m e n t li v i n g ar e a . ( TT 2 7 0 - 7 2 , 2 8 4
- 8 6 )
. L ut z i n d i c at e d th at h e b e li e v e d th at N o e ll e m i g h t h av e b e e n b r e ath i n g s li g h t l y , b ut th at s h e w o u l d n o t r e s p o n d t o h i m . H e o b s e rv e d th a t s h e h a d b l o o d o n h e r h e a d an d w a s s l ump e d o v e r o n th e c o u c h
. H e r e l at e d th at h e s aw T o ny H e n d e r s o n ' s b o dy l y i n g o n th e fl o o r b y th e c o ff e e t ab l e in fr o n t o f

th e fi r e p l a c e i n a l ar g e p o o l o f b l o o d
. ( TI 2 7 0 - 7 4 )
. T h e fo o d fr o m D a i ry Q u e e n w a s s t ill o n th e c o ff e e t a b l e , an d L ut z r e c a ll e d th at h e c o u l d s m e ll " fr e s h fo o d , l ik e , a h amb ur g e r w i th a b i t e t ak e n o ut o f i t , a th i n g o f F r e n c h fr i e s th at w a s n ' t e v e n d i p p e d in t o th e k e t c hu p y e t. . . I r e m e mb e r l o o k i n g d o w n an d n o t i c in g th at th e y d i dn ' t e v e n g e t t o e at. " ( T T 2 7 3 )
. H e i mm e d i at e l y c a ll e d 9
- 1
- 1 ; th e p o l i c e r e c e i v e d th e d i s p at c h w h i l e th e y w e r e a s s i s t i n g th e D i V in c e nz o s

### an d S am D e n ill o at th e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f F o x R o a d an d S R 6 6 . ( TT 1 0 6
- 0 7 )
. L ut z ' s c a ll

w a s r e c e i v e d b y W e s tm o r e l an d 9
- 1
- 1 at 8 : 5 6 p . m . ( T T 1 0 2 4 )
. F o r e n s ic P ath o l o g i s t D r . C yri l W e c h t t e s t i fi e d th at T o ny H e n d e r s o n h a d s u s t a i n e d thr e e g un s h o t w o un d s - tw o t o h i s h e a d an d o n e t o h i s fo r e arm - an d a l s o h a d a mu lt i tu d e o f w o un d s t o h i s h e a d th at s u g g e s t e d h e h a d b e e n b e at e n w i th s o m e s o rt o f i n s tr um e n t
w i th b l un t fo r c e . ( TT 6 1 1
- 2 5 )
. I n d e e d , D r . W e c h t t e s t i fi e d th at th e i n j uri e s s u g g e s t e d th at h e h a d r e c e i v e d r e p e at e d b l o w s , a dm i n i s t e r e d w i th s ub s t an t i a l fo r c e , t o th e b a c k o f h i s h e a d , c o n s i s t e n t w i th th e u s e o f a b a s e b a ll b at a s th e w e a p o n . ( T T 6 4 3
- 4 4 )
. D r . W e c h t o p i n e d th at th e s e i n

j uri e s w o u l d n o t h av e n e c e s s ari l y b e e n fat a l h a d T o ny H e n d e r s o n r e c e i v e d p ro mp t m e d i c a l i n t e rv e n t i o n an d n e ur o l o g i c a l tr e atm e n t. ( TT 6 2 9
- 3 0 )
. D r . W e c h t e xp l a i n e d th at the c au s e o f d e ath w o u l d h av e b e e n " th e mu l t i p li ci ty o f a ll i n j uri e s p r o d u c i n g an a dv e r s e e ff

e c t . . th e tw o g un s h o t w o un d s o f th e h e a d w o u l d h av e b e e n th e m a j o r i n j uri e s c o n tri b ut e d t o b y th e mu l t i p l e l a c e rat i o n s l e a d i n g t o l o s s o f b l o o d an d th e r e b y h a s t e n i n g th e d e v e l o p m e n t o fs h o c k an d d e ath
. " ( T T 6 3 1 )
. D r . W e c h t a l s o p e r f

o rm e d an aut o p s y o n th e b o dy o f N o e ll e Ri c h ar d s . D r. W e c h t e xp l a i n e d th a t s h e h a d a l s o s u s t a i n e d thr e e gun s h o t w o un d s , a ll t o h e r h e a d , a s w e ll a s a l a c e r at i o n aro un d h e r ri g h t e ar th at w a s c au s e d b y b l un t fo r c e i n s trum e n t a l i ty , ( TT 6 3 3 - 4 0 )
. H e o p i n e d th at N o e ll e w o u l d h av e d i e d w ith i n th i rty m inut e s . o f s u s t a i n i n g th e fat a l gun s h o t w o un d s t o th e h e a d
. ( T T 6 4 0 )
. D r . W e c h t t e s t i fi e d th a t N o e ll e Ri c h ar d s ' c au s e o f d e ath w a s " th e thr e e g un s h o t w o un d s o f th e h e a d an d fa c e w i th s o m e c o n tri b ut i o n fr o m th e l a c e r at i o n c au s e d b y 

### a b l un t fo r c e i n s trum e n t o f s o m e ki n d i n th e ri g h t t e mp o ra l

1 4 a 6

### h 

## f l j ' i I . : . . . , ·. . , ; . - · � , . . ;



### r e g i o n . A U o f th o s e p ro d u ci n g th at tran s - s e l l ar fr a c t ur e w o u l d h av e b e e n th e c au s e o f h e r d e ath
. " ( TT 6 4 0
- 4 1 )
. D ur in g th e i n i t i a l i nv e s t i g ati o n i n t o th e d e ath s o f An th o ny H e n d e r s o n an d N o e ll e R i c h ar d s , l aw e n fo r c e m e n t h a d n o s u s p e c t s , a s n e i th e r D i V i n c e n z o b ro th e r n o r S am D e n ill o kn e w th e i d e n t i ty o f th e b at - w i e l d i n g m an w h o att a c k e d th e m . H o w e v e r , o n Au g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 1 , Ann a S t o u ff e r fo un d a b l a c k tr i
- f

o l d w a ll e t o n th e g r o un d t o th e r e ar o f h e r v an , w h i c h w a s p ark e d o n th e s tr e e t o ut s i d e h e r r e s i d e n c e at 2 2 1 C hur c h S tr e e t i n L i g o n i e r B o ro u g h
. S h e kn e w th at th e v e h i cl e p ark e d th e r e th e ni g h t b e fo r e w a s a s s o c i at e d
w i th th e r e s i d e n t s o f 2 1 7 C hur c h S tr e e t. ( TT 6 5 6
- 5 9 , 6 7 1 )
. M s . S t o u ff e r l o o k e d in s i d e th e w a ll e t i n an att e mp t t o i d e n t i fy th e o w n e r , an d s aw th at th e li c e n s e b e l o n g e d t o An th o ny J am e s H e n d e r s o n . S h e th e n t o o k th e w a ll e t t o th e Li g o n i e r B o ro u g h P o li c e D e p artm e n t at 2 : 2 5 p . m . ( TT 6 5 9
- 6 7 )
. J e r e my S p ri n g e r , w h o w o rk e d w i th D e fe n d an t an d h i s b ro th e r , Jay , t e s t i fi e d th at o n Au g u s t 2 8 , 2 0 1 1 , D e fe n d an t h a d a s s i s t e d h i m i n r e m o v in g a ro o f at h i s r e s i d e n c e . D e fe n d an t arr i v e d at a

p p ro xi m at e l y 7 : 0 0 a . m . i n a gr e e n J e e p , an d h i s b ro th e r arr i v e d
s e p ar at e l y . A s th e y w o rk e d o n S p ri n g e r ' s ro o f , D e fe n d an t k e p t r e c e i v in g t e x t m e s s a g e s o n h i s c e ll p h o n e . Wh e n a s k e d w h o w as c o n t a c t in g h i m , h e s t at e d i t w a s h i s " g uy fr o m D e l m o n t. " ( TI 9 5 7 )
. S p r in g e r r e c a ll e d th at a ft e r D e fe n d an t h a d l e ft fo r th e d ay , h e t e xt e d D e fe n d an t aro un d 7 : 0 0 p . m . t o th ank h i m fo r h e l p in g w i th th e ro o f
. H e n o t e d th at h e d i d
n o t r e c e i v e a p r o mp t r e s p o n s e a s u s u a l , an d d i d n o t r e c e i v e an o th e r t e x t fr o m D e fe n d an t
un t i l a p p ro x i m at e l y 9 : 4 5 p . m . ( TT 9 5 5
- 5 9 )
.

### S p r i n g e r a l s o r e lat e d th at th e n e x t d ay , o n Au g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 11 , H a ll r e p o rt e d fo r w o rk

a s u s u a l. O v e r th e l un c h b r e ak , w h e n S p r in g e r an d D e fe n d an t w e r e e at i n g , D e fe n d an t b e g an t e lli n g S p ri n g e r w h at h a d h a p p e n e d t o h i m th e n i g h t p ri o r , an d s t at e d , " Y o u w o n ' t b e li e v e w h at h a

p p e n e d t o m e l a s t n i g h t. " ( T T 9 6 2 )
. D e fe n d an t p ro c e e d e d t o t e ll S p r in g e r th at h e h a d g o n e t o s e e h i s fr i e n d 

### in D e l m o n t , an d th at w h e n h e arr i v e d , th e r e w e r e tw o d e a d p e o p l e i n th e h o u s e . H e s a i d th at h e h a d g o n e t o th e b a c k d o o r w h e n h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e a r e s p o n s e t o h i s kn o c ki n g at th e fr o n t d o o r . H e th e n w a l k e d i n t o th e b a c k d o o r an d s aw T o ny o n th e fl o o r w i th w h at h e th o u g h t w a s a g un s h o t w o un d , an d T o ny ' s g i rl fr i e n d l y i n g o n th e c o u c h w i th dr i e d b l o o d o n th e s i d e o f h e r fa c e . D e fe n d an t t o l d S p r i n g e r th at h e w a s a fr a i d th at th e i n tru d e r w a s s t ill i n th e v i c i n i ty , s o h e l o c k e d th e b a c k d o o r . H e th e n s t at e d th a t h e h e ar d a c ar dr i v e u p , w a s a fr a i d , an d d e c i d e d t o h i d e i n s i d e th e h o m e . H e t o l d S p r i n g e r th at h e h e ar d T o ny ' s p h o n e r i n g i n g , an d a s h e w a s h i d i n g , h a p p e n e d u p o n a b a s e b a ll b at th at w a s l y i n g o n th e g r o un d
. H e s t at e d th at h e p i c k e d u p th e b at , un l o c k e d th e d o o r , an d gr e e t e d th e m e n h e s aw at th e b a c k d o o r . D e fe n d an t t o l d S p r in g e r th at h e th o u g h t h e c o u l d g e t aw ay , s o h e c am e o ut s w in g i n g th e b at an d th o u g h t h e h i t th e b i g g e r m an in th e h e a d
. H e r e l at e d th at th e m e n s c att e r e d , an d h e g rab b e d w h at o n e o f th e m dro p p e d an d r an b a c k i n s i d e th e h o u s e . D e fe n d an t t o l d S p r in g e r th at h e a ls o gr ab b e d T o ny ' s p h o n e an d w a ll e t. ( IT 9 6 2
- 6 9 )
. D e fe n d an t t o l d S p r in g e r th at h e l e ft th e h o u s e an d dro v e t o w ar d L i g o n i e r . H e s t at e d th at o n h i s w ay , h e s t o p p e d a t D o n e g a l L ak e , r e m o v e d th e b att e r i e s fr o m th e tw o c e ll p h o n e s th at h e h a d t ak e n fr o m th e h o u s e , an d thr e w th e m i n t o th e lak e . H e d i d th i s , h e s a i d , b e c au s e h e h a d s e e n o n t e l e v i s i o n th at 

### i f th e b att e ry w a s r e m o v e d fr o m a p h o n e , 1 6 8th e p h o n e 

### c o u ld n o t b e tr a c e d
. H e a l s o i n fo rm e d S p r i n g e r th at h e h a d r e m o v e d a ll o f h i s

cl o th i n g , i n c l u d in g h i s s h o e s , h a d thr o w n th e m an d th e w a ll e t i n t o a g ar b a g e b a g , an d d i s c ar d e d th e m at a d

ump s t e r b e h i n d a m e th a d o n e c li n i c . H e a l s o r e l at e d th at h e s t o p p e d
at W a l m art o n th e w ay h o m e t o b uy C l o ro x an d w i p e d h i s J e e p d o w n i n c a s e th e r e w e r e any b l o o d tra c e s fr o m h i s s h o e s o r th e c l o th i n g h e h a d b e e n w e ar i n g . H e s t at e d th a t h e s t ill h a d th e b a t , b ut d ay s · l at e r t o l d S p r in g e r th at h e h a d thr o w n i t i n t o th e w o o d s . S p ri n g e r ur g e d D e fe n d an t t o s p e ak w i th l aw e n fo r c e m e n t , b ut D e fe n d an t s t at e d th at h e w an t e d t o w a i t t o d o th at. ( TI 9 6 9 - 7 8 )
. J e r e my S p r i n g e r t e s t i fi e d th at , a ft e r c o n s u l t i n g w i th h i s att o rn e y an d t e lli n g h e r w h at D e fe n d an t h a d r e v e a l e d t o h im , h e c o n t a c t e d th e C o un ty D e t e c t i v e s B ur e au an d t o l d th e m ab o u t D e fe n d an t' s s t o r y . L aw e n fo r c e m e n t v e ri fi e d th at D e fe n d an t h a d v i s i t e d th e m e th a d o n e c li n ic o n M o n d ay , Au g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 1 at a p p ro x i m at e l y 5 : 4 3 a . m . ( T T 10 0 2
- 0 3 )
. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th a l s o p r e s e n t e d v i d e o fo o t a g e fr o m th e L atro b e W a l m art , s h o w i n g th a t D e f e n d an t v i s i t e d th at s t o r e at a p p ro x i m at e l y 6 : 2 4 a . m . , p ur c h a s e d cl e an i n g m at e r i a l s , an d e x t e n s i v e l y c l e an e d h i s c ar i n th e p ark i n g l o t. ( TI 8 9 5
- 9 1 0 )
. T h e b o tt l e o f S o ft S c ru b
c l e an s e r th at D e fe n d an t p ur c h a s e d w a s r e c o v e r e d i n a s e ar c h o f th e J e e p C h e ro k e e th at
w a s dri v e n b y D e fe n d an t o n th e n i g h t o f Au g u s t 2 8 , 2 0 1 1. ( T T 6 8 2
- 8 4 )
. 

### A l s o r e c o v e r e d fr o m th e J e e p w e r e num e r o u s b l o o d s amp l e s , w h i c h w e r e l at e r m at c h e d thr o u g h D N A
an a l y s i s t o S am D e ni ll o an d An th o ny H e n d e r s o n . ( TT 7 3 3
- 4 1 )
. An a l y s i s o ft e xt m e s s a g e s o n D e fe n d an t ' s p h o n e in d i c at e d th at h e h a d b o rr o w e d a 9 mm T auru s fi r e arm fr o m hi s m o th e r an d h a d d i s c ar d e d 

### i t a ft e r th e mur d e r s . ( TT 1 0 1 8
- 2 0 )
. An a l y s i s o f th e b u ll e t

1 7 a 9. • - s : i- < : · . , : ; · .' : ; · .- � - :: . ' . . : · 

### > �

. ' _. · - � · : : ; : �

. . � : 0 · : : . � - :. � · :. - \

\ i ;

_ .:, - � · · � ) : � ; � - . { .- { : ) : � : : � } ) ; } � i � .

: -

_ ( � : ; - : , \ ; � , : � � � � �

.. { , ; � { : ) f: ?
. �

- � (

t i

### � : �

- f � � � \ : i· : · : -:: � > \ j
. � f :"tr

_ l f :

_ _ . �� - - _ ..

_ ; . : � . '
- - . . � t - '
. -

. • i
. '. , l ; . • · . .: · . , - _ · . » . • · � • • • , � .. ... 7 . · · . . '

c a s i n g s an d fr a g m e n t , r e c o ; e , c d at th e s c e n e � f th e . mur d e r 

# ; ndi � � ; i I\ f i f i t � t L < i t i � n

· ; ; ; . . " . u s e d w a s 9 mm ammun i ti o n , l ik e l y u s e d i n a 9 mm aut o m at i c fi r e arm . ( TT 8 0 0
- 0 1 )
. D e fe n d an t m a i n t a in e d th at h e h a d g o n e t o An th o ny H e n d e r s o n ' s h o m e t o p ur c h a s e dru g s , an d th at w h e n h e arr i v e d at T o ny ' s dr i v e w ay , h e w a s n e arl y r un o ff th e dri v e w ay 

### b y a l ar g e d ark S U V/tru c k c o mi n g 

### in th e o p p o s i t e d i r e c ti o n . ( TI 

### 1 1 0 0
- 0 1 )
. Wh e n h e a p p r o a c h e d th e b a c k d o o r , h e n o t e d th at th e d o g w a s s n i f fi n g at s o m e th i n g i n th e dr i v e w ay . H e s aw i t w a s a w a ll e t , an d p i c k e d i t u p . H e a l s o p i c k e d u

p a c e ll p h o n e th at
w a s o n th e g ro un d
. H e n o t e d th at th e p at i o ar e a w a s i n d i s array . ( TI 1 1 0 3
- 0 6 )
. H e av e rr e d th at h e th e n e n t e r e d
- th e h o u s e an d d i s c o v e r e d th e b o d i e s o fN o e ll e Ri c h ar d s an d T o ny H e n d e r s o n . H e o b s e rv e d th at a v e h i c l e h a d arr i v e d at th e h o u s e , an d " g uy s s t art e d p o uri n g o ut o f 

### i t . " ( TT 1 1 13 )
. H e l o c k e d th e b a c k d o o r , th i nk i n g th at th e p e o p l e w h o h a d mur d e r e d T o ny an d N o e ll e h a d c o m e b a c k fo r h i m . H e fo un d a b a s e b a ll b at a t th e e n d o f th e c o u c h an d d e ci d e d t o att a c k th e s e i n d i v i d u a l s . H e s wun g th e b at at th e s e i n d i v i d u a l s , h i tt i n g tw o o f

th e m . Wh e n h e h a d c h a s e d th e m aw ay , h e s e ar c h e d th e g ro un d fo r a g un , an d p i c k e d u

p s o m e th i n g h ar d
. H e w e n t b a c k i n s i d e th e h o u s e un t i l th e s e m e n l e ft , an d th e n d e p art e d , t aki n g th e c e ll p h o n e , w a ll e t , an d b at w i th h i m . ( TI 1 1 1 3
- 2 0 )
. H e t e s t i fi e d th at h e g av e n o th o u g h t
w h at s o e v e r t o c a lli n g th e p o li c e . ( TT 1 1 2 0 )
. H e t e s t i fi e d th at h e dro v e b a c k t o Li g o n i e r , an d w h e n h e w a s o n S R 3 0 , h e thr e w th e b at an d th e c e ll p h o n e s o ut th e w i n d o w . ( TT 1 1 2 3
- 2 4 )
. Wh e n h e arr i v e d h o m e , h e t o o k a s h o w e r an d d i s c ar d e d h i s c l o th i n g i n a tr a s h
c an th at h a d b e e n p l a c e d b y th e c ur b t o b e p i c k e d u

p 

### in th e m o rn in g . D e f

e n d an t t e s t i fi e d th at h e w o k e e arl y th e n e x t m o rn i n g fo r w o rk , w e n t t o th e m e th a d o n e c l in i c 

### in
1 8 a 10G r e e n s b ur g , an d th e n s t o p p e d at 

### W a l m an in L atro b e 

### s o h e c o u l d c l e an u p 

### th e J e e p . D e f e n d an t s t at e d th at h e h a d thr o w n u p i n th e J e e p th e n i g h t b e fo r e > an d n e e d e d t o c l e an th e v e h i c l e b e fo r e p i c k i n g h i s b ro th e r u p fo r w o rk. ( T T 11 2 3
- 3 0 )
. D e fe n d an t a l s o a dm i tt e d th at h e h a d thro w n aw ay th e 9 mm T auru s h an d g un th a t h e h a d b o rr o w e d fr o m h i s m o th e r s o th at th e p o li c e w o u l d n o t fi n d i t. 

### ( TT 1 13 5
- 3 8 , 1 2 0 4
- 1 2 )
. 

### E L I G IB I L I T Y F O R RE L IE F : T h e r e qu i r e m e n t s fo r e li g i b ili ty fo r r e li e f un d e r th e P o s t - C o n v i c t i o n R e li e f A c t ar e s e t fo rth b o th i n th e A c t i t s e l f ( 4 2 P a . C . S . § 9 5 4 1 , 

### e t . s e q . ) an d i n th e R

u l e s o f C ri m i n a l P ro c e d ur e ( P a . R . C r i m . P . R

u l e s 9 0 1 an d 9 0 2 )
. G e n e r a ll y s p e ak i n g , 

### P C RA p e t i t i o n e r s , t o b e e l i g i b l e fo r r e l i e f , mu s t , in t e r a li a , p l e a d an d p ro v e th e i r a s s e rt i o n s b y a p r e p o n d e r an c e o f th e e v i d e n c e . S e c t i o n 9 5 4 3 ( a )
. I nh e r e n t in th i s p l e a d i n g an d p ro o f r e qu i r e m e n t i s th at th e p e t i t i o n e r mu s t n o t o n l y s t at e w h at h i s i s s u es ar e , b ut a l s o h e mu s t d e m o n s tr at e in h i s p le a d i n g s an d b ri e fs h o w th e i s s u e s w ill b e p ro v e d
. M o r e o v e r , a ll e g at i o n s o f c o n s t i tut i o n a l v i o l at i o n o r o f i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s o f c o un s e l mu s t b e d i s c u s s e d " i n th e c i r c um s t an c e s o f th e c a s e . " S e c t i o n 9 5 4 3 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( i
- ii )
. A d d i t i o n a ll y , th e p e t i t i o n e r mu s t e s t ab li s h b y a p r e p o n d e ran c e o f e v i d e n c e th at b e c au s e o f th e a ll e g e d c o n s t i tut i o n a l v i o l at i o n o r i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s , " n o r e li ab l e a d j u d i c at i o n o f g u i l t o r i nn o c e n c e c o u l d h av e t ak e n p l a c e . " S e c t i o n 9 5 4 3 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( i
- i i)
. F in a ll y , p e t i t i o n e r mu s t p l e a d an d p ro v e th at th e i s s u e h a s n o t b e e n w a i v e d o r fi n a ll y li t i g at e d , § 9 5 4 3 ( a ) ( 3 ) , an d i f th e i s s u e h a s n o t b e e n li t i g at e d e ar li e r , th e p e t i t i o n e r mu s t p l e a d an d p r o v e th at th e fa il ur e t o li t i g at e " c o u l d n o t h av e b e e n th e r e s u l t o f any rat i o n a l , s tr at e g i c o r t a c t i c a l d e c i s i o n b y 

### c o un s e l
. " S e c t i o n 9 5 4 3 ( a ) ( 4 )
. 

### C o m m . v . R i v e r

s , 7 8 6 A . 2 d 9 2 3 , 9 2 7 ( P a . 2 0 0 1 )
. A d d i t i o n a ll y , b e c au s e D e fe n d an t h a s r a i s e d an a ll e g at i o n o f in e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l , h e mu s t p l e a d an d p ro v e , b y a p r e p o n d e ran c e o f th e e v i d e n c e :

(1 ) th at th e r e i s m e r i t t o th e un d e rl y i n g c l a i m ; ( 2 ) th a t c o un s e l h a d n o r e a s o n ab l e b a s i s fo r h i s o r h e r c o ur s e o f c o n d u c t ; an d ( 3 ) th at th e r e i s
1 q ;i 1 1

### a r e a s o n ab l e p r o b ab ili ty th at , b ut fo r th e a c t o r o m i s s i o n c h a ll e n g e d , th e o u t c o m e o f th e p ro c e e d i n g w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff e r e n t. 

### C o m m . v . 

### J o n es , 6 8 3 A . 2 d 11 8 1 , 11 8 8 ( P a . 1 9 9 6 )
. C o un s e l i s p r e s um e d t o b e e ff e c t i v e an d Ap p e ll an t h a s th e b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g o th e r

w i s e . 

### C o m m . v . M a r s h a l l, 

### 6 3 3 A . 2 d 1 10 0 ( P a . 1 9 9 3 )
. A d d i t i o n a ll y , c o un s e l c ann o t b e c o n s i d e r e d in e ff

e c t i v e fo r fa ili n g t o r a i s e a c l a i m th at i s w i th o ut m e ri t. 

### C o m m . v . P e te r

k i n , 6 4 9 A . 2 d 1 2 1 ( P a . 1 9 9 4 )
. 

### ta , c i t i ng C

o m m . v . H

o llo w a y , 7 3 9 

### A . 2 d 10 3 9 , 

### 10 4 4 ( P a . 1 9 9 9 )
. D e fe n d an t' s s o l e c o n t e n t i o n i s th at tr i a l c o un s e l , M i c h a e l D e rn att , Es q . , w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa i l i n g t o c a ll D e fe n d an t ' s m o th e r , D e b o r ah F i n l e y , a s a w i tn e s s . D e fe n d an t av e r s th at h a d s h e b e e n c a ll e d t o t e s t i fy , s h e w o u l d h av e s t at e d th at s h e l o an e d h e r s o n th e g un - i d e n t i fi e d a s th e mur d e r w e a p o n a t tri a l
- at l e a s t tw o d ay s a ft e r th e mur d e r s o c c urr e d
. D e fe n d an t i n i t i a ll y p r e s e n t e d tw o o th e r ar g um e n t s i n h i s p e t i t i o n , b ut fo rm a ll y w i th dr e w th e m at th e e v i d e n t i ar y h e ar in g . (P T 2 9 )
. 3 

### 1 . W A S T RIA L C O U N S E L I N E F F E C T I VE F O R F AI L IN G T O C A L L D E B O RA H F I N L E Y A S A W I T NE S S ? Wh e n r a i s i n g a fa i l ur e t o c a ll a p o t e n t i a l w i tn e s s c l a i m , th e P C RA p e t i t i o n e r s at i s fi e s th e r e a s o n ab l e b a s i s an d p r e j u d i c e r e qu i r e m e n t s o f

th e i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s o f c o un s e l t e s t b y e s t ab li s h i n g th at : 

### (I ) th e w i tn e s s e x i s t e d ; ( 2 ) th e w i tn e s s w a s av a il ab l e t o t e s t i fy fo r th e d e fe n s e ; ( 3 ) c o un s e l k n e w o f, o r s h o u l d h av e kn o w n o f , th e e x i s t e n c e o f th e w i tn e s s ; ( 4 ) th e w i tn e s s w a s w il li n g t o t e s t i fy fo r th e d e fe n s e ; an d ( 5 ) th e ab s e n c e o f th e t e s t i m o ny o f th e w i tn e s s w as s o p r e j u d i c i a l a s t o h av e d e n i e d th e d e fe n d an t a fa i r tri a l. C o m m . v . W

a s h i n gto n , 

### 9 2 7 A . 2 d 5 8 6 , 5 9 9 ( P a . 2 0 0 7 )
. T o d e m o n s trat e p r e j u d i c e , D e f e n d an t " mu s t s h o w h o w th e un c a ll e d w i tn e s s e s ' t e s t i m o ny w o u l d h av e b e e n b e n e fi c i a l

3 N um e ra l s in p ar e n th e s i s p r e c e d e d b y th e l e tt e r s " P T " r e fe r t o s p e c i fi c p a g e s o fth e tr an s c r i p t o f th e P C RA h e ar in g in th i s m a tt e r , h e l d N o v e mb e r J 5 , 2 0 1 6 b e fo r e th i s C o urt , an d m a d e a p art o fth e r e c o r d h e r e i n . 2 0 a 1 2un d e r th e c ir c um s t an c e s o fth e c a s e . " 

### C o m m . v . G i b s o n , 9 5 1 A . 2 d 1 1 10 , 1 13 4 (P a . 2 0 0 8 ) ; 

### s e e a l s o C o m m . 

### v . C

h m i e l , 8 8 9 A . 2 d 5 0 1 , 5 4 6 ( P a . 2 0 0 5 )
. T ri a l c o un s e l w ill n o t b e fo un d i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa ili n g t o i nv e s t i g at e o r c a ll a w i tn e s s un l e s s th e r e i s s o m e s h o w i n g b y D e f e n d an t th at th e w i tn e s s ' s t e s t i m o ny w o u l d h av e b e e n h e l p fu l t o th e d e fe n s e . 

### C o m m . v . B ro w n , 7 6 7 A . 2 d 5 7 6 , 5 8 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 1 ) ; 

### s e e a l s o C o m m . v . S

n e e d , 4 5 A . 3 d 1 0 9 6 , 1 10 8
- 0 9 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 3 )
. F a i l ur e t o c a ll a c e rt a i n w i tn e s s " i s n o t 

### p e r s e i n e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l fo r s u c h d e c i s i o n u s u a ll y i n v o l v e s m att e r s o f tri a l s tr at e g y . " 

### S n e e d , 4 5 A .3 d at 1 10 8
- 0 9 . T hu s , i t i s D e fe n d an t ' s b ur d e n t o d e m o n s tr at e th a t tri a l c o un s e l h a d n o r e a s o n a b l e b a s i s fo r d e cl i n i n g t o c a ll F i n l e y a s a w i tn e s s . 

### C

o m m . v . W

a s h i ng t o n , 9 2 7 A . 2 d 5 8 6 , 5 9 9 ( P a . 2 0 0 7 )
. E v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t tr i a l e s t a b li s h e d th at th e T auru s 9 .mm h an d g un w as l o an e d t o D e f e n d an t b y h i s m o th e r , D e b o rah F i n l e y . 

### L arr y L i p t o n , r e c o r d s m an a g e r at G an d e r M o un t a i n , t e s t i fi e d th a t o n S e p t e mb e r 2 , 2 0 0 9 , C h arl e s F i n l e y ( D e f e n d an t ' s s t e p fath e r ) p ur c h a s e d a T auru s P T 7 0 9 S li m at th e i r G r e e n s b ur g s t o r e . ( T T 8 6 3
- 6 4 )
. C h arl e s F i n l e y d i e d o n Jun e 3 0 , � 0 1 1 . ( TI 8 8 2 )
. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th i n tro d u c e d t e x t m e s s a g e s b e tw e e n D e fe n d an t an d h i s m o th e r c o n c e rn i n g th e h an d g un . O n S e p t e mb e r 3 , 2 0 1 1 , D e b o r ah F i n l e y s e n t a t e x t m e s s a g e 

### to D e fe n d an t r e a d in g , " I n e e d my g un b a c k
. I fo un d c a s e fo r 

### i t . " ( TI 1 2 0 2 )
. D e fe n d an t
r e p l i e d o n S e p t e mb e r 7 , 2 0 11 , " N e x t t i m e I g o t o G r e e n s b ur g I' ll g e t y o ur gun o u t o f C ar l y ' s d a d ' s s a fe fo r y a . W e p ut i t th e r e b e fo r e th e m o v e s o i t w o u l dn ' t g e t l o s t. " ( TI 1 2 0 2 )
.F urth e r , o n S e p t e mb e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 1 , th e fo ll o w i n g t e x t m e s s a g e e x c h an g e d o c c urr e d

b e tw e e n D e fe n d an t an d h i s m o th e r :

F i n l e y : Wh e r e w a s my g un fr o m t i m e y o u fi r s t t o o k i t. F i n l e y : Why w o n ' t y o u an s w e r m e . Wh o h a d my g un i n th e i r · h an d s b e s i d e s y o u . D e fe n d an t: M o m , I h av e t o w a i t n o w b e fo r e I t e ll any o n e anyth i n g . 

### I h av e n o th i n g t o h i d e , b ut e v e ryth i n g c an b e u s e d a g a in s t m e n o w . F i n l e y : Y o u l e t s o m e o n e b o rr o w my gun 

### d i dn 

### ' t y o u . D e f e n d an t : Y o ur gun d i d n o t d o any th in g . F i n l e y : O k ay . D e fe n d an t: 

### I

C s j u s t a c o i n c i d e n c e , an d th e y w an t 

### to cl e ar i t fo r s ur e . F i n l e y : O k ay . D e fe n d an t : I h a d m o r e t o t e ll y o u th at d ay , b ut a ft e r y o u c o n t a c t e d [ O f

fi c e r ) Amb e r [N o e l ] I kn e w I c o u l dn ' t t e ll y o u anyth i n g e l s e . . F o r o ur s a f e ty . F i n l e y : B e c au s e my l o v e d o n e s an d d e ar fr i e n d s ar e b e i n g dru g i n t o th i s d amm i t s o i f y o u kn o w s o m e th i n g s p ill i t an d e n d i t. D e fe n d an t : T h e y s h o u l dn ' t h av e b e e n i n th e fi r s t p l a c e . F i n l e y : W e ll , th e y ar e a ll n o w b e c au s e y o u d i d a d umb th i n g b y thr o w i n g my gun aw ay s o d o n ' t b l am e m e . I tru s t e d y o u t o b e r e s p o n s i b l e w i th i t an d I w a s n o t g e tt i n g i n tro ub l e fo r my g un b e i n g o ut i n s o m e fi e l d t o b e u s e d i n a c r i m e o r t o hurt s o m e o n e . D e fe n d an t : W e ll , I h av e th e p o li c e b r e ath in g d o w n my b e c k , p ro b ab l y tr

y i n g t o g i v e m e th e d e ath p e n a l ty i f th e y g e t a c h an c e b e c au s e I' m th e n e x t b es t th i n g . D e fe n d an t : T h e p o li c e ar e n ' t my fr i e n d s . I d o n ' t tru s t th e m . ( TT 1 0 1 8
- 2 0 )
. D e fe n d an t t e s t i fi e d a t tri a l th at h e b o rr o w e d th e gun fr o m h i s m o th e r a ft e r th e mur d e r s . H e s t at e d :

D e fe n d an t : [ A ] ft e r th e in c i d e n t , a ft e r th e n i g h t o f th e mur d e r s , th e n e xt d ay I w a s r e a ll y p ar an o i d a b o ut b e i n g a

b l e - th o s e g uy s b e i n g a

b l e t o fi n d m e s o I w e n t an d b o u g h t l o c k s fo r my h o u s e . I p r o b ab l y p u t thr e e o r fo ur p a d l o c k s o n my fr o n t d o o r an d an o th e r tw o o r thr e e p a d l o c k s o n my b a c k. - . . · : . - . . . · . ; ." �

' . • < , · . .- · - � · · " · - d o o r. I w a s s t ill n o t c o m f o rt a b l e w i th · th e · s e c ur i ty · · 

## b

f 

# th � · . a p artm e n t. A t n i g h t I w o u l d l e av e th in g s i n th e 

### . h a l l w ays oI c o u l d h e ar s o m e b o dy fa ll in g o v e r i n c a s e th e y tri e d t o d o s o m e th i n g . I w a s n ' t s l e e p i n g t o o w e l l. I w e n t t o my m o m ' s . M y gr an dm o th e r w a s o v e r th e r e . I ' m p r e tty s ur e i t w a s th e T u e s d ay a ft e r - A tt o r n e y 

### D e M a tt : S

o w i th in a d ay o r s o . . D e f e n d an t : . . o f S e p t e mb e r 1 s t. ( TT 1 13 4 )
. H e furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at a p p ro xim at e l y o n e w e e k a ft e r S e p t e mb e r 1 , W e s tm o r e l an d C o un ty D e t e c t i v e s e x e c ut e d a s e ar c h w ar ran t o n h i s r e s i d e n c e . ( TT 11 3 5 )
. H e s t at e d th at th e h an d g un w a s i n h i s r e s i d e n c e at th a t t i m e , " i n a c a s e un d e r a v e n t . " ( T T 11 3 5 )
. H e t e s t i fi e d : D e fe n d an t : T h e r e w a s a v e n t c o v e r an d i t w a s s i tt i n g

un d e rn e a th th at i n th e d in i n g ro o m . I w a s o n p ro b at i o n . T h e r e w a s a l c o h o l i n th e r e fr i g e rat o r an d I th o u g h t I ' m g o i n g t o j a il un til I h e l p th e m o r d o s o m e th i n g b e c au s e D e t e c t i v e W e av e r s a t d o w n w i th m e an d I t o l d h im th at I w an t e d a l awy e r s o h e a s k e d m e i f I c o u l d p l e a s e h e l p h i m i n any w ay . . ( TT 1 1 3 5 - 

### 3 6 )
. H e s t at e d th at d e t e c t i v e s d i d n o t l o c at e th e h an d g un d ur i n g th e i r s e ar c h
. ( T T 1 13 6 )
. H e s t at e d th at a s s o o n a s th e y l e ft , h e r e tr i e v e d th e g un , p ut i t i n a p l a s t i c b a g , an d p l a c e d i t i n th e n e i g hb o r ' s g ar

b a g e c an . ( TT 1 1 3 7 )
. H e n o t e d th a t th e g ar b a g e w a s t o b e p i c k e d u

p th e n e x t m o rn in g . ( T T 1 1 3 7 )
. H e r e l ay e d th at h e m e an t t o r e tr i e v e th e h an d g un fr o m th e g ar b a g e c an i n th e m o rn in g , b u t th at th e g ar b a g e h a d a l r e a dy b e e n p i c k e d u p . ( TT 1 1 3 7 )
. A t th e e v i d e n t i ary h e ari n g fo r th e in s t an t P C RA p e t i t i o n , F in l e y t e s t i fi e d th at s h e l o an e d h e r s o n th e h an d g un o n A u g u s t 3 0 , 2 0 1 1. S h e t e s t i fi e d th a t s e v e r a l m o n th s a ft e r th e c r i m e , s h e c h e c k e d h e r d e s k c a l e n d ar t o d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r s h e h a d n o t e d th e d at e i n qu e s t i o n o n th e c a l e n d ar . S h e s t at e d :· �

. . . F i n l e y : S o m e t i m e l at e r I h a d g o n e t o w o rk an d e v e r y m o n th w e k e e p a c a l e n d ar , 

### a d e s k c a l e n d ar o n o ur d e s k s , a b l o tt e r , an d I a l w ay s w o u l d w ri t e th in g s d o w n s o I d i dn ' t fo r g e t a b o ut 

### i t. B y c h an c e I th o u g h t t o l o o k at th e m . W e k e p t th e m in a c ab i n e t i n o ur o f

fi c e , an d I p u ll e d o ut th e c a l e n d ar fo r th at y e ar an d l o o k e d b a c k t o th e d at e an d 

### I h a d w ri tt e n i t d o w n . ( P T 6 )
. T h e d e s k c a l e n d ar w a s i n tr o d u c e d in t o e v i d e n c e . A tt o rn e y An dr e w s th e n in qu i r e d a s t o w hy 

### i t o c c urr e d t o F i n l e y t o r e f e r e n c e th e c a l e n d ar s : A tt o r n e y A n dr e w s : An d y o u in d i c at e d 

### I b e li e v e p r e v i o u s l y th a t s o m e th in g o n th a t c a l e n d ar r e fr e s h e d y o ur m e m o r y o r m a d e y o u r e m e mb e r th e d ay i n w h i c h y o u l o an e d th e w e a p o n th a t y o u d i s c u s s e d , th e T auru s , t o y o ur s o n . Wh at o n th at c a le n d ar r e fr e s h e d y o ur m e m o r y o f th a t ? F i n l e y : T h e d at e . 

### I w a s at h o m e th inki n g ab o u t i t an d 

### I th o u g h t - 

### I r e m e mb e r e d th e d at e o fth e mur d e r s . . 

### I th o u g h t 

### to g o t o w o rk an d t o l o o k - b y c h an c e l o o k at th i s c a l e n d ar t o s e e i f 

### I m i g h t h av e w r i tt e n s o m e th in g d o w n . A tto r n e y A n dr e w s : An d d i d y o u w r i t e anyth i n g d o w n o n th e 3 0 th ? F i n l e y : Y e s , 

### I d i d
. . 

### I h av e o n th e r e w h at w a s g o in g o n fo r th e d ay at my j o b , b ut 

### I h a d a l s o w r o t e d o w n th at [ D e fe n d an t ] b o rr o w e d th e g un fr o m m e th at d ay . A tt o r n e y A n dr e w s : D i d y o u w ri t e anyth i n g o n th e 2 8 th , th e d at e th e mur d e r s t o o k p l a c e ? F i n l e y : Y e s , I m ark e d th at d ay w h e n I fo un d o ut a b o u t th e mur d e r s . A tt o r n e y A n dr e w s : N o w , o b v i o u s l y , m a ' am , th e r e i s n o thin g o n th e r e t o i n d i c at e w h e th e r y o u w ro t e th at d o w n o n Au gu s t 

### 3 0 , 2 0 1 1 , o r w h e th e r y o u wr o t e th at d o w n fi v e m o n th s l at e r , t e n m o n th s l at e r , o r y e s t e r d ay , ri g h t ? F i n l e y : N o . A tt o r n e y A n dr e w s : B ut i t' s y o ur t e s t i m o ny th a t y o u w r o t e th a t d o w n o n Au g u s t 3 0 , 2 0 11 j u s t t o m ark th e d at e th at y o u l o an e d y o ur s o n th i s w e a p o n ? F i n l e y : Y e s ( P T 8
- 1 0 )
.

2 4 1\6· , ) ' · ' ; · , . · . , .- . · : · : . , · . , · ; · · · .
S h e a l s o t e s t i fi e d th a t s h e n e v e r in f o rm e d A tt o rn e y D e M att o f h e r d i s c o v e ry . S h e d i d s t at e th at s h e in f

o rm e d D e fe n d an t p ri o r t o tr i a l th a t s h e w o u l d b e av a il ab l e a s a w i tn e s s t o t e s t i fy a

b o ut th e d a t e s h e l o an e d h i m th e h an d gun . 

### (P T 1 0 )
. U n d e r c ro s s e x am i n at i o n b y D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y Jo hn P e c k , s h e s t at e d h e r r e a s o n s 

### fo r n o t s p e c i fi c a ll y i n fo rm i n g A tt o rn e y D e m att ab o u t h e r kn o w l e d g e o fth e d at e i n qu e s t i o n . P e c k i n qu ir e d :



### D i s tr i c t A tt o r

n e y : S o w hy d i dn ' t y o u t e ll 

### Mr . D e M att , s in c e y o u kn e w th a t th e C o mm o nw e a l th w a s h y i n g t o e s t ab li s h th e mur d e r w a s c o m m i tt e d w i th a 9 mm w e a p o n , th a t y o ur s o n h a d a 9 m m w e a

p o n an d th a t th e i mp li c at i o n w o u l d b e th a t h e h a s k ill e d th e m w i th th at g un th at y o u h a d g i v e n h i m , th a t y o u d i dn ' t g i v e h i m th e g un b e c au s e y o u h a d i t un t il Au g u s t 3 0 th ? 

### F i n l e y : I d i dn ' t t e ll h i m b e c au s e 

### I a s s um e d th a t [ D e fe n d an t ] h a d u p d at e d h i m an d t o l d h i m ab o u t i t. 

### D i s tr i ct A tt o r

n e y : D i d [ D e f

e n d an t ] k n o w a b o u t th i s c a l e n d ar th at y o u k e p t ? 

### F i n l e y : N o , h e d i d n o t. ( P T 1 9 )
. P e c k a l s o i n qu i r e d a s t o w hy F i n l e y h a d w ri tt e n d o w n th e d at e o f th e mur d e r s o n h e r d e s k c a l e n d ar :



### D i s tr i c t A tt o r

n e y : M y qu e s t i o n i s , 

### fo r s o m e r e a s o n y o u a l s o w ri t e th e w o r d mur d e r s o n A u g u s t 2 8 ? 

### F i n l e y : Y e s . 

### D i s tr ic t A tt o r

n e y : Y o u d i dn ' t kn o w w h o th e v ic t i m s w e r e , d i d y o u ? 

### F i n l e y : N o . 

### D i s tr ic t A tt o r

n e y : B ut s o m e h o w y o u r e l at e d th e gun t o th e mur d e r s ? 

### F i n l e y : N o . 

### D i s tr ic t A tt o r

n e y : W e ll , w h y d i d y o u w ri t e o n th e s am e d at e mur d e r s an d [ D e fe n d an t ] b o rr o w e d th e g un - 

### F i n l e y : I d o n ' t kn o w . 

### D i s tr i c t A tt o r

n e y : If y o u d i dn ' t th i nk th e y w e r e r e l at e d ? 

### F i n l e y : I d o n ' t kn o w . ( P T 2 3 )
. 2 5 a 1 7· . .. .

· : · P e c k n o t e d th a t F i n l e y h a d b e e n i n t e rv i e w e d b y D e t e c t i v e s T e r ran c e K uhn s an d R o b e rt W e av e r s o o n a ft e r th e c ri m e . F i n l e y i n f o rm e d th e m th at h e r hu s b an d d i e d o n Jun e 3 0 , 2 0 1 1 , an d th at s h e h a d l o an e d h e r s o n th e T aur u s 9 m m h an d gun a

p p ro xi m at e l y o n e m o n th l at e r . ( P T 2 4 )
. F i nl e y d e n i e d m ak i n g th e s t a t e m e n t. ( P T 2 4 )
. P e c k a l s o a s k e d
w h e th e r s h e r e c a ll e d th e d at e th at s h e t o l d O f fi c e r A mb e r N o e l s h e l o an e d D e fe n d an t th e h an d g un ; s h e s ta t e d th at s h e d i d n o t r e c a ll
. (P T 2 5 )
. O f fi c e r N o e l ' s r e p o rt s t at e d th a t F i n l e y p ro v i d e d D e fe n d an t w i th th e h an d g un a p p r o x i m a t e l y tw o w e e k s b e fo r e S e p t e mb e r 

### 8 , 2 0 1 1 , a d at e p ri o r t o th e mur d e r s . ( P T 4 6
- 4 7 )
. F i n l e y th e n t e s t i fi e d th at s h e h a d d i s c o v e r e d th e d e s k c a l e n d ar i n M ar c h 2 0 1 2 , m o r e th an o n e y e ar b e fo r e th e tri a l. ( P T 1 9
- 2 0 )
. W h e n a s k e d a g a i n b y D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y P e c k w h y s h e d i d n o t b r i n g th e e v i d e n c e f o rw ar d t o A tt o rn e y D e M att , s h e s t a t e d : 

### H I d i dn ' t b e li e v e a t tr i a l i t w a s s t at e d th at w e a p o n c o u l d h av e , y o u kn o w , d o n e any th i n g . " ( P T 2 0 )
. D e fe n d an t t e s t i fi e d at th e e v i d e n t i ary h e ari n g th a t h e h a d b o r ro w e d th e T auru s 9 rnm h an d g un fr o m h i s m o th e r o n A u g u s t 3 0 , 2 0 1 1. ( P T 2 8 )
. H e s t a t e d th at h e i n fo rm e d tri a l c o un s e l th a t h i s m o th e r w o u l d b e av a i l ab l e t o t e s t i fy th at s h e h a d l o an e d h i m th e h an d gun o n th at d at e . ( P T 2 8 )
. A tt o rn e y D e M att t e s t i fi e d th a t w h il e D e fe n d an t t o l d h i m th at h e h a d n o t r e c e i v e d th e h an d g un fr o m h i s m o th e r un t il a ft e r th e c r i m e o c c urr e d , h e w a s un s ur e i f D e fe n d an t
s p e ci fi c a ll y i d e n t i fi e d h i s m o th e r a s a p o t e n t i a l w i tn e s s t o b o l s t e r h i s cl a i m . ( P T 4 3 )
. D e M att , t e s t i fi e d , h o w e v e r , th at:

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### A tt o r n e y D e M a tt : I kn o w I h a d s e v e r a l c q 1 i � e r s at i o n s ' 

## w i th - · . M s . F i n l e y d

uri n g my r e p r e s e n t at i o n o f [ D e fe n d an t ] a b o ut a numb e r o f d i ff

e r e n t i s s u e s an d my r e c o ll e c t i o n o f w h at w a s c o n t a i n e d i n d i s c o v e r

y w a s th at s h e h a d in d i c at e d t o th e p o li c e , i n p art i c u l ar I b e li e v e i t w a s A mb e r N o e l , th at s h e h a d g i v e n th e g un t o [ D e fe n d an t ] at s o m e t i m e p r i o r t o th e h o m i c i d e s o I d i dn ' t f

e e l th at i t w o u l d - s h e w o u l d h av e b e e n a g o o d w i tn e s s t o c a ll s o I n e v e r r e a ll y e v e n a p p ro a c h e d th at - a p p ro a c h e d h e r r e g ar d i n g t e s t i fy i n g at tri a l. A tto r n e y A n dr e w s : S o th e n , b a s e d u p o n y o ur r e v i e w o f th e p o l i c e r e p o rts o f O f

fi c e r N o e l , y o u w e r e c o n c e rn e d an d d e t e rm i n e d n o t t o c a ll M s . F i n l e y a s a w i tn e s s fo r fe ar th at th e t e s t i m o ny o f th e o f

fi c e r r e g ar d i n g h e r s t at e m e n t s a b o ut w h e n h e r s o n g o t th e h an d g un w o u l d b e d i s c r e d i t e d ? A tt o r n e y D e M a tt: 

### M y c o n c e rn w a s th a t i t w o u l d b l o w u p 

### in o ur fa c e , b e c au s e a s h i s m o th e r s h e w a s o b v i o u s l y a b i a s e d w i tn e s s . An d th e n 

### to h av e p o li c e r e p o rt s th at w o u l d b e c o n tra d i c t i n g w h a t s h e s ay s b e fo r e a j ur y , w h ic h y o u c an v e ry e a s i l y b e c ro s s - e x am in e d o n an d i mp e a c h e d o n , I h a d gr av e c o n c e rn s a

b o u t th at s o I s aw n o r e a s o n t o c a ll h e r a s a w i tn e s s . A tt o r n e y A n dr e w s : An d w e r e y o u aw ar e at a ll a b o ut th i s c a l e n d ar th at s h e k e p t an d m a d e n o t e s o n ? A tt o r n e y D e M a tt: T h e fi r s t t i m e I e v e r h e ar d anyth i n g a b o ut i t w a s th i s m o rn i n g w h e n s h e m e n t i o n e d i t. (P T 4 4
- 4 5 )
. A l th o u g h th e t e s ti m o ny p r e s e n t e d at th e e v i d e n t i ary h e ar i n g e s t ab li s h e d th at F in l e y w a s an av a il ab l e w i tn e s s , th at s h e w o u l d h av e t e s t ifi e d fo r th e d e f e n s e , an d th at d e fe n s e c o un s e l m ay h av e kn o w n o f h e r e xi s t e n c e r e g ar d i n g h e r t e s t i m o ny ( e x c l u d in g th e d e s k
c a l e n d ar) , th e a

b s e n c e o f h e r t e s t i m o ny w a s n o t p r e j u d i c i a l t o D e fe n d ant. I n d e e d , A tt o rn e y D e M att n o t e d h i s r e a s o n s fo r n o t c a ll in g D e b o rah F in l e y a s a w i tn es s . B e c au s e o f d i s c o v e ry t e n d in g t o p ro v e th at F i n l e y h a d i n fo rm e d o f fi c e r s th at s h e h a d l o an e d D e f e n d an t th e h an d gun m o n th s o r w e e k s b e fo r e th e mur d e r s , an d th e fa c t th at s h e w o u l d& 

# , � 

# t t I I ( ) ' i I ! , .' · · :..: · : . · · ; · ·



### u p i n o ur f a c e . " ( P T 4 5 )
. a p p e ar t o b e a b ia s e d w i tn e s s , D e M att w a s c o n c e rn e d th at s u c h t e s t i m o ny w o u l d " b l o w

. · ; . , 

### T h i s C o urt furth e r fi n d s th at A tt o rn e y D e lvl att ' s t e s t i m o ny w a s h i g h l y c r e d i b l e . A s

h e n o t e d , F in l e y c o u l d e a s il y h av e b e e n i mp e a c h e d w i th h e r s t at e m e n ts t o o f fi c e r s , an d A tt o rn e y D e M att d e t e rm i n e d th at b a s e d o n th e s e in c o n s i s t e n t s t at e m e n t s , h e r t e s t i m o ny w o u l d 

### n o t b e 

### in hi s c l i e n t ' s b e s t in t e r es t. D e fe n s e c o un s e l ' s d e ci s i o n r e p r e s e n ts a tri a l
s tr at e gy a s o utl i n e d i n c a s e s s u c h a s 

### C o m m . v . S

n e e d , 4 5 A .3 d 

### 1 0 9 6 , p 0 8
- 0 9 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 3 )
. D e M a tt n o t e d th at h e m e t w i th F i n l e y i n p e r s o n a p p ro x i m at e l y thr e e t o fi v e t i m e s , I 

### an d s p o k e w ith h e r o n th e t e le p h o n e a p p ro x i m at e l y a d o z e n t i m e s . (P T 4 5
- 4 6 )
. Wh il e h e w a s un s ur e i fF i n l e y un e qu i v o c a ll y s t at e d th at s h e h a d l o an e d h e r s o n th e h an d g un b e fo r e th e mur d e r s , h e t e s ti fi e d th at D e fe n d an t i n fo rm e d h i m o f th i s fa c t. (P T 4 6 )
. F i n le y a l s o t e s t i fi e d th at s h e n e v e r i n fo rm e d D e M att a b o ut th e e x i s t e n c e o f th e d e s k c a l e n d ar , an d D e M att c o n fi rm e d th at fa c t i n h i s o w n t e s t i m o ny . ( P T 1 9 , 4 5 )
. T hu s , D e M att m a d e a c o n s ci o u s d e c i s i o n , b a s e d o n th e i n fo rm at i o n av a il ab l e t o h i m , th at F i n l e y w o u l d n o t b e a r e li ab l e w i tn e s s . C o nv e r s e l y , th i s C o urt fi n d s th at D e b o rah Fi n l e y w a s n o t a c r e d i b l e w i tn e s s . It 

### fi n d s tr o ub l e s o m e th e fa c t th at F in l e y w r o t e " mur d e r s " o n h e r c a l e n d ar tw o d ay s b e fo r e h e r e n tr y th at s t at e s th at s h e l o an e d D e f e n d an t th e h an d gun . A t th et i m e , s h e d i d n o t kn o w th e v i c t i m s o f th e c ri m e , n o r w a s s h e aw ar e th at any c o nn e c t i o n e xi s t e d b e tw e e n th e tw o e v e n t s . Wh e n D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y P e c k in qu ir e d a s to 

### w h e n F i n l e y w r o t e " mur d e r s , " s h e s t at e d : " I th i nk I w r o t e i t at th e s am e t i m e th at I wr o t e th at th e gun - ab o u t th e g un s o I c o u l d r e m e mb e r . " ( P T 2 2 )
. F i n l e y a l s o d e n i e d i n f o rm i n g o f

fi c e r s th at s h e l o an e d h e r s o n 2 8 g Q



# - - - - - · -. · . · . .., ; : . � · . . · . · 

## . .
th e h an d g un p ri o r t o th e mur d e r s , a l th o u g h h e r s t at e m e n t s w e r e c o n � i ri e d 

### i n p o li c e r e p o rt s . (P T 2 4 )
. F i n l e y t e s t i fi e d th at w h il e s h e w a s p r e s e n t fo r e v e r y d ay o f th e tr i a l , s h e d i d n o t r e c a ll h e ari n g c e rt a i n e v i d e n c e l inki n g h e r s o n t o th e T auru s 9 mm , an d d i d n o t fe e l th at h e r t e s t i m o ny r e g ar d i n g th e e xi s t e n c e o f th e d e s k c a l e n d ar w o u l d b e h e l p fu l t o D e fe n d an t at tri a l. ( P T 1 7 , 2 0 )
. D e fe n d an t , th e n , h a s n o t m e t h i s b ur d e n i n e s t a b li s h i n g th at th e r e w a s n o r e a s o n a b l e b a s i s fo r fa i l in g t o c a ll F i n l e y a s a w i tn e s s . F i n l e y ' s i n c o n g ru o u s s t at e m e n t s t o o f fi c e r s an d th e C o urt d o n o t r e fl e c t th at h e r t e s t i m o ny w o u l d h av e b e e n b e n e fi c i a l fo r D e fe n d an t , an d A tt o rn e y D e M att h a d a r e as o n ab l e b a s i s fo r n o t p ro d u c in g h e r a s a w i tn e s s at tr i a l. B a s e d o n th e t e s t i m o ny an d c l a i m s d i s c u s s e d , 

### s u p ra , A tt o rn e y D e M att
w a s 

### n o t i n e ff

e c t i v e 

### as a r e s u l t o f th i s d e t e rm i n at i o n , an d D e fe n d an t ' s c l a i m mu s t fa i l.

### N O T I C E O F IN T EN T T O D I S M I S S :

A c c o r d in g l y , th e C o urt h e r e b y n o ti fi e s th e p art i e s o f i ts in t e n t i o n t o d i s m i s s D e fe n d an t ' s am e n d e d p o s t - c o nv i c t i o n p e t i t i o n . 

### T H E D E F EN D AN T M A Y F I L E A WRI T T EN RE S P O N S E T O T H I S N O T I C E . S U C H A RE S P O N S E M U S T B E F I L E D W I T H IN 2 0 D A Y S F R O M T H E D A T E O F T ID S N O T I C E . IF N O RE S P O N S E I S F IL E D , T ID S C O UR T S HA L L D I S M I S S T HE P E T I T I O N . If 

### a r e s p o n s e i s fi le d , th i s C o urt m ay , i n s t e a d , u p o n c o n s i d e rat i o n o f th e r es p o n s e , gr an t l e av e t o fil e an am e n d e d p e t it i o n o r o th e rw i s e d ir e c t th at th e p ro c e e d i n g s c o n t i nu e . Any r e s p o n s e s h o u l d a d dr e s s s p e c i fi c a ll y th e ar e a s o f d e fe c t d e li n e at e d w i th i n th e b o dy o f th i s O r d e r o f C o urt . If 

### n o r e s p o n s e i s fi l e d , th e C o urt s h a ll d i s m i s s th e D e f e n d an t ' s P C RA P e t i t i o n . If


### a r e s p o n s e i s fi l e d , th e C o urt m ay , u p o n c o n s i d e rat i o n o f th e r e s p o n s e , d i s m i s s th e P e t i t i o n , g r an t l e av e t o fil e an am e n d e d P e t i t i o n o r o th e r w i s e d i r e c t th at th e p ro ce e d in g s c o n t i nu e . D e fe n d an t m ay , i f h e c h o o s e s , av a i l h i m s e l f o f th e as s i s t an c e o f P C RA c o un s e l in th e p r e p ar at i o n o fth i s r e s p o n s e , o r h e m ay e l e c t t o fil e th e r e qu i r e d r e s p o n s e p ro - s e . 

# � � 2z v , , 3! � 

# · · · · · = fut a D o n o v an H a th aw ay , Ju d g e 

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3 0 a