### J - S15037 - 19

____________________________________ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee v. ABDUL RASHEED Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

No. 1366 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 18, 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Criminal Division at No(s): CP

- 02 - CR - 0013839 - 2016 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., SHOGAN, J., and COLINS*, J. MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.: FILED APRIL 24, 2019 Appellant, Abdul Rasheed, appeals from the judgment of sentence entered in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, following his open guilty plea to thir d - degree murder, aggravated assault, persons not to possess firearms, receiving stolen property, firearms not to be carried without a license, false identification to law enforcement , and possession of heroin. 1 

### We affirm. In its opinion, the trial cour t fully and correctly set forth the relevant facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to restate them. Appellant raises the following issue for our review:

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______ 1 

### 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2502(c), 2702(a)(1), 6105(a)(1), 3925(a), 6106(a)(1), 4914(a), and 35 Pa.C.S.A. § 780

- 113(a)(16), respectively.

### J - S15037 - 19

- 2 - DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN DENYING APPEL LANT’S MOTION TO WITHDRAW HIS GUILTY PLEA? ( Appellant’s Brief at 3). After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the applicable law, and the well - reasoned opinion of the Honorable Anthony M. Mariani, we conclude Appellant’s issue merits no relief. The trial court opinion comprehensively discusses and pr operly disposes of the question presented. ( See Trial Court Opinion , filed November 30, 2018 , at 8 - 13 unpaginated ) (finding: on date of sentencing, prior to imposition of sentence, Appellant read pro se statement (while represented by counsel) seeking to withdraw his guilty plea due to “innocence, coercion, duress”; Appellant provided no reasons to support these contentions and made no demonstration that withdrawal of his plea would promote fairness and j ustice; record shows Appellant understood nature of charges and entered plea knowingly and voluntarily; ADA presented factual basis for guilty plea , and Appellant did not object ; Appellant completed written colloquy , and court conducted on - record colloquy; at guilty plea hearing, Appellant stated he was not forced to enter plea and had enough time to discuss plea with counsel; Appellant failed to develop his allegations of innocence, coercion , and duress; cou rt properly denied request to withdraw guilty ple a ). Accordingly, we affirm on the basis of the trial court’s opinion. Judgment of sentence affirmed.

### J - S15037 - 19

- 3 - Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 4/24/2019Circulated 03/29/2019 09:58 AM 

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p p e a l s fr o m th e j u d gm e n t o f s e n t e n c e o f Jun e 18 , 2 0 1 8 . O n M ay 2 9 , 20 1 8 , th e d e f e n d an t p i e d gu il ty b e fo r e th i s C o urt t o o n e c o un t e a c h o f Th i r d D e g r e e M ur d e r , A g gr av at e d A s s au l t , P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm - P ro h i b i t e d , R e c e i v i n g S t o l e n P ro p e rty , F i r e arm s N o t t o B e C arr i e d W i th o ut a Li ce n se , P o s s e s s i o n o f H e r o i n an d F al s e I d e n t ifi c at i o n t o Law E nf o r c e m e n t O ffi c e r . R e l at i v e t o th e co nv i c t i o n fo r Th i r d D e gr e e M ur d e r , th i s C o urt s e n t e n c e d th e d e fe n d an t t o a t e rm o f imp r i s o nm e n t o f n o t l e s s th an 2 0 y e ar s n o r m o r e th an 4 0 y e ar s . R e l at i v e t o th e co nv ic t i o n s fo r A ggr av at e d As s au l t , P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm - P r o h i b i t e d an d P o s s e s s i o n o f H e r o i n , th i s C o urt s e n t e n ce d th e d e f e n d an t t o co n s e c ut i v e t e rm s o f i mp r i s o nm e n t o f n o t l e s s th an o n e y e ar n o r m o r e th an tw o y e ar s . Th e a ggr e g at e s e n t e n c e imp o s e d o n th e d e fe n d an t w a s a t e rm o f imp r i s o nm e n t o f n o t l e s s th an 2 3 y e ar s n o r m o r e th an 4 6 y e ar s .

### O n F e b ru ar y 6 , 2 0 1 7 , D e fe n d an t a

p p e ar e d b e fo r e th e co urt , w i th co urt - a p po i n t e d co un s e l , i n r e s p o n s e t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s m o t i o n fo r a fi n d i n g o f b a il i n e li gi b ili ty . D uri n g th at p r o ce e d in g , th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s att o rn e y i n d i c at e d th at a w i tn e s s , w h o w a s s p e ci fi ca ll y i d e n t ifi e d , w o u l d t e s t i f y th at o n O c t o b e r 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 , 

### th e w i tn e s s an d an o th e r pe r s o n w e r e w al ki n g o n a ci ty s tr e e t w h e n th e y s aw th e d e fe n d ant ri d in g a s a p a s s e n g e r i n a v e h i cl e . T h e v e hi cl e s t o p p e d n e x t t o th e m , th e d e fe n d an t g o t o ut o f th e v e h i cl e wi th a fi r e arm i n h i s h an d an d th e n th e d e fe n d an t d e m an d e d m o n e y fr o m th e w i tn e ss an d h e r co mp ani o n fo r a d e b t th e y o w e d fo r dru g s . Wh e n th e w i tn e ss an d h e r co mp an i o n i n d i cat e d th at th e y d i dn ' t h av e th e m o n e y , th e d e fe n d an t s h o t th e w i tn e s s i n h e r r i gh t l e g . B o th th e w i tn e s s an d h e r co mp an i o n r an aw ay b ut , a s th e y d i d s o , th e w i tn e ss ' c o mp an i o n w a s s h o t tw o t im e s , o n c e i n th e h e a d , o n ce i n th e trunk . T h e co mp an i o n d i e d a s a r e s ul t o f b e i n g s h o t b y th e d e fe n d ant.
Th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s att o rn e y a dv i s e d th at , d u e t o th e fa c t s p r e s e n t e d , s h e w o u l d b e s e e ki n g fi r s t d e gr e e an d / o r s e c o n d d e gr e e mur d e r co nv i c t i o n s , an d , a c co r d i n gl y , p urs u an t t o Art i cl e 1 , S e c t i o n 1 4 o f th e P e nn s y l v an i a C o n s t i t ut i o n , th e d e fe n d an t w a s n o t e n t i tl e d t o b a i l.
O th e r inf o rm at i o n p r e s e n t e d t o th e c o urt in d i cat e d th at th e s urv i v i n g v i c ti m o f th e e v e n t s o f O c t o b e r 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 , 

### d i d a p pe ar at a p r e li m i n ary h e ar in g i n th i s c a s e w h ic h th e d e fe n d an t att e n d e d , an d d i d t e s t i f y i n a c c o r d an c e w i th th e p r o ff e r m a d e b y th eC o mm o nw e a l th ' s att o rn e y . T h e C o urt w a s i nf o rm e d th at th e s urv i v i n g v i c t im p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i fi e d th e d e fe n d an t a s th e s h o o t e r . 1

Th e C o urt gr an t e d th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s m o t i o n . In 

### d o in g s o , th e Co urt a dv i s e d th e d e fe n d an t th at a co nv i c ti o n fo r mur d e r o f th e fi r s t d e gr e e o r mur d e r o f th e s e co n d d e gr e e w o u l d r e s u lt i n a m an d at o r y s e n t e n c e o f li fe i n p r i s o n w i th o ut th e p o s s i b ili ty o f p ar o l e .
F r o m th e t im e o f th e p r e l im i n ary h e arin g un t il 

### th e tim e o f th e b ail h e arin g , th e d e fe n d an t w a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y co urt - a p p o in t e d c o un se l. A j ur y tri al w a s s c h e d

u l e d fo r Ap r il 17 , 2 0 1 7 . H o w e v e r , th e tr i al w a s p o s t po n e d o n r e qu e s t o f d e fe n s e co un s e l fo r a d d i t i o n a l tri a l p r e p ar at i o n t im e an d " t o p r o v i d e cl ie n t w i th r e a s o n a b l e p e ri o d o f t im e t o c o n t e mp l at e any o ff

e r , i f th e r e ' s g o i n g t o b e o n e . " T r i a l w a s r e s c h e d u l e d fo r Ju l y 1 7 , 2 0 1 7 . O n 

### M ay 3 1 , 2 0 1 7 , a p r i v at e l y - r e t a i n e d att o rn e y e n t e r e d h i s a p p e ar an ce o n b e h a l f o f th e d e fe n d an t. O n Jun e 5 , 2 0 1 7 , n e w d e fe n s e c o un s e l r e qu e s t e d 

# a p o s t p o n e m e n t o f th e tr i a l d at e , a dv i s i n g th at , " d e fe n s e co un s e l w as r e ce n tl y r e t a i n e d an d r e s pe c t fu ll y r e qu e s t s a d d i t i o n a l t im e t o o b t a i n d i sco v e r y an d p r e p ar e fo r tri a l. " T r i a l w a s r e s c h e d u l e d fo r S e p t e mbe r 7 , 2 0 1 7 . O n S e p t e mb e r 6 , 2 0 1 7 , p r i v at e l y - r e ta i n e d co un s e l r e qu e s t e d an o th e r po s t

po n e m e n t fo r " a d d i t i o n a l t i m e t o r e v i e w s e v e r al h o ur s o f j a il ca ll s r e ce n tl y d i s cl o s e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th . " T ri a l w a s r e - s c h e d u l e d t o J anu ar

y 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 . T h e

1 T h e t r a n s c r i p t o f t h e p r e li m i n a r y h e a r i n g h a s b e e n m a d e p a rt o f t h e r e c o r d o f t h i s c a s e .d e fe n d an t a l s o h a d a c ri m i n a l c o urt m att e r s c h e d u l e d i n th e s t at e o f N e w Y o rk w h i c h e v e n tu a ll y c au s e d an o th e r d e l ay o f th e tr i a l.

O n M ay 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 , th i s c a s e w a s s c h e d u l e d t o p r o ce e d as a n o n - j ur y tri a l. 2 H o w e v e r , th e d e f

e n d an t ' s co un s e l r e qu e s t e d a p o s t p o n e m e n t b e c au s e th e d e fe n d an t w o u l dn ' t t a l k t o h im an d th e d e fe n d an t s a i d h e w an t e d n e w r e p r e s e n t at i o n . T h e c o urt an d th e d e fe n d an t e n g a g e d 

### in d i s c u s s i o n c o n ce rn in g th e d e fe n d an t ' s c o mp l a in t s a bo ut h i s p ri v at e l y - r e t a in e d att o rn e y . Th e co urt t o l d th e d e fe n d an t th at i f h e c o u l d o b t a in an o th e r l aw y e r t o h an d l e h i s c a s e an d b e r e a dy t o g o t o tr i al w i thi n tw o m o n th s , th e co urt w o ul d gr an t o n e m o r e po s t

po n e m e n t. A t o n e po i n t , w h e n th e d e fe n d an t w a s t o l d t o t a l k t o h i s p r i v at e l y - r e t a i n e d att o rn e y a b o u t h o w h e [ th e d e fe n d an t ] co u l d m an a g e t o b e r e a dy w i th an o th e rl aw y e r i n tw o m o n th s , th e d e fe n d an t r e p li e d , " I d o n ' t n e e d t o t a l k t o him . I w an t an o th e r l aw y e r . "

N o n e th e l e s s , th e co urt c a ll e d a r e c e ss i n th e d e f e n d an t ' s c a se an d s e n t · th e d e fe n d an t b a c k t o th e h o l d i n g ar e a t o t al k w i th h i s p ri v at e l y - r e t a i n e d att o rn e y . Af t e r th at r e ce s s , th e co urt ca ll e d th e d e fe n d an t b a c k i n t o th e c o urtro o m , b ut b e c au s e th e C o mm o nw e a l th w a s n ' t r e a dy t o p r o ce e d , an o th e r r e c e s s w a s t ak e n fo r th e l un c h h o ur . 3

T h e d e fe n d an t a

p p e ar e d b e fo r e th e co urt w i th h i s p r i v at e l y - r e t a i n e d c o un s e l a ft e r l un c h . Th e co urt h a d b e e n a dv i s e d th at th e d e fe n d an t i n t e n d e d t o e n t e r a 

### gu ilty p l e a p ur s u an t t o a p l e a b ar g a i n . Th e co urt a d dr e s s e d th e d e fe n d an t d ir e c tl y a b o ut h i s 2 T h e d e f

e n d a n t a n d h i s c o u n s e l h a d w i t h d r a w n th e d e f e n d a n t' s r e q u e s t fo r a j u ry t r i a l . 3 F o r r e a s o n s t h i s c o u rt c a n ' t e x p l a i n , t h e l u n c h h o u r I n t h e A ll e g h e n y C o u n t y C o li rt o f C o m m o n P l e a s , C r i m i n a l D i v i s i o n , I s g e n e r a ll y 9 0 m i n u t e s l o n g .

### i n t e n t i o n s . T h e d e fe n d an t t o l d th e co urt th at h e ha d c h an g e d h i s m i n d a b o ut hi s p r i v at e l y r e t a in e d att o rn e y . Th e c o urt an d th e d e fe n d an t h a d th e fo ll o w i n g e x c h an g e :

. Th e C o urt : " Thi s m o rn i n g y o ur l aw y e r w as a s ki n g fo r a p o s t

p o n e m e nt. Y o u an d h e w e r e h av in g tr o u

b l e co mmun i cat in g , d o in g th in gs h e s h o u l d h av e d o n e . Y o u an d I h a d a d i s cu s s i o n ab o ut v ar i o u s l e g a l p o i n t s . Y o u w e n t d o w n s t airs an d t al k e d t o y o ur l aw y e r ab o ut w h at y o u w an t e d t o 

### d o . I al s o t o l d y o u if 

### y o u i n s i s t e d o n , fo r l a c k o f a b e tt e r t e rm , fi rin g [ p ri v at e l y r e t a i n e d c o un s e l ] an d w an t e d t o r e p l a c e h im , n o m o r e po s t p o n e m e n t s w o u l d b e gr ant e d b a s e d o n th e h i s t o ry o f th i s case w h i c h i s thr e e d e fe n s e p o s t p o n e m e nts . T h at ' s th e l a s t c o nv e rs at i o n w e h a d . T e ll m e w h at y o u i nt e n d t o d o n o w an d w hy . Th e D e fe n d ant: W e ll , I' m t ak i n g an o p e n gu il ty p l e a t o mur d e r o f th e th i r d- d e gr e e b e c au s e o f th e r e a s o n s s e t fo rth . A s far a s thi s m o rn i n g , I ' m p l e a d i n g , an d I w an t t o p ut th i s b e h i n d m e . Th e Co urt : D i d y o u h av e e n o u gh t im e t o t al k t o [p r i v at e l y r e t a i n e d co un s e l ] a bo ut th i s ? Th e D e fe n d an t : Y e s . T h e C o urt : D o y o u un d e r s t an d i f y o u w ant e d t o s t o p thi n g s an d g e t th e p o s t p o n e m e n t t o g e t an o th e r l aw y e r , I w o u l d gi v e y o u th at c h an c e ? Th e D e fe n d an t : Y e s . T h e Co urt : D o y o u w an t t o p r o c e e d t o d ay ? T h e D e fe n d ant: Y e s . " Th e co urt th e n r e a d th e c h ar g e s t o th e d e fe n d an t , i n d i c at in g th at th e m i n i mum pe n a lty fo r mur d e r i n th e fi r s t d e gr e e fo r a n o n - c a p i t al cas e i s li fe 

### imp r i s o nm e n t w i th o ut p aro l e . Th e co urt al s o a dv i s e d th e d e fe n d an t o f th e m ax imum s e nt e n c e s at th e a d d i t i o n al c h ar g e s o f att e mp t e d mur d e r , tw o co un t s o f r o b b e r y , a ggr av at e d a s s au l t , p e r s o n n o t t o p o s s e s s a fi r e arm , r e c e i v i n g s t o l e n p r o pe rty ( fi r e arm ) , c arr y i n g a fi r e arm i n a v e h i cl e w i th o ut a li ce n s e , p o s s e s s i o n o f h e r o in w i th i n t e n t t o d e l i v e r ( s e co n d o r s ub s e qu e n t ) ,s imp l e p o s s e s s i o n o f h e r o i n ( s e co n d o r s ub s e qu e n t ) an d fa l s e i d e n t if i cati o n t o l aw e nf o r c e m e n t.
Th e C o mm o nw e al th ' s att o rn e y th e n a dv i se d th e co urt o f th e p l e a a gr e e m e n t. Th e d e fe n d an t w o u l d p l e a d gu i l ty t o th i r d d e gr e e mur d e r ( f ir s t an d s e co n d d e gr e e mur d e r w e r e w i th dr aw n b y am e n d i n g th e mur d e r c h ar g e t o th i r d d e gr e e mur d e r ) ; th . e att e mp t e d mur d e r c h ar g e , b o th ro b be r y c h ar g e s an d th e c h ar g e o f po s s e s s i o n o f h e r o i n w i th in t e n t t o d e li v e r w o u l d be w i th dr aw n . Th e d e f e n d an t w o u l d p l e a d gu il ty t o th e r e m a in i n g c h ar g es . Th e C o urt w o u l d d e t e rm i n e s e n t e n c e . Th e . co urt s t at e d th e m ax imum po ss i b l e s e n t e n ce s fo r th e c h ar g e s t o w h i c h th e · d e fe n d an t w a s g o i n g t o p l e a d gu il ty . Aft e r s o m e d i s c u s s io n w i th co un s e l an d th e d e fe n d an t , th e c o urt r e v i e w e d th e t e rm s o f th e p l e a a g r e e m e n t w i th th e d e fe n d an t. Th e d e fe n d an t a c kn o w l e d g e d th at h e a gr e e d t o th o s e t e rm s . Th e co urt th e n r e fe rr e d t o th e w ri tt e n gu il ty p l e a c o ll o quy s u b m i tt e d b y th e d e fe n d an t an d h i s c o un s e l . " Th e d e fe n d an t i n d i c at e d th at h e r e a d an d un d e r s t o od e a c h qu e s t i o n , p r o v i d e d truth fu l an s w e r s t o th e qu e s t i o n s an d th e n s i gn e d th e d o cum e n t.

T h e co urt al s o e n g a g e d i n an o r a l c o ll o quy w i th th e d e f e n d an t w h ic h e s t a

b li s h e d , am o n g o th e r th in g s , b y th e d e fe n d an t ' s d i r e c t an s w e r s t o th e co urt ' s d i r e c t qu e s t i o n s , th at th e d e fe n d an t w a s n o t fo r ce d t o e n t e r i n t o th e p l e a a gr e e m e n t , th at n o o th e r p r o m i s e s w e r e m a d e t o th e d e fe n d an t , an d th at th e d e fe n d an t w a s s at i s fi e d w ith th e a dv i c e an d

4 T h e w r i tt e n g u i l ty p l e a c o ll o q u y i s e l e v e n p a g e s i n l e n gt h , c o n s i s t i n g o f s i x t y - e i g h t s e p a ra t e q u e s t i o n s a n d i s p a rt o f t h e r e c o rd o f t h l s c a s e .

### r e p r e s e nt ati o n o f hi s p ri v at e l y - r e t a i n e d att o rn e y . Af t e r co n f irm i n g th at s e n t e n ci n g w a s t o occ ur at a l at e r d at e , th e co urt th e n a d dr e s s e d th e d e fe n d an t a s fo ll o w s : Th e C o urt : E v e r

yb o dy i s r e l y in g o n th e fa c t th at y o u ar e w a i vin g y o ur ri gh t t o tri a l ; d o y o u un d e r s t an d th at ? I s th at w h at i s h a p p e n i n g h e r e ? Th e D e f

e n d ant: Y e s Th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s att o rn e y i n d i c at e d th at i n a d d i t i o n t o th e a ff i d av i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e att a c h e d t o th e c rim i n a l co mp l a i n t , fa c tu al s u p p o rt fo r th e c h ar g e s w a s s u p p li e d thr o u gh num e r o u s s ci e n t i fi c w i tn e s s e s ( w h o s e t e s t im o ny s h e s umm ari z e d ) an d d o cum e n t ar

y e v i d e n ce w h i c h s h e i d e n t ifi e d . In 

### r e s po n se t o th e co urt ' s qu e s t i o n i n g , th e d e f e n d an t in d i c at e d th at h e d i d n o t d i s p ut e th e fa c tu a l p r e s e n tati o n o f th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s att o rn e y . Th e c o urt th e n r e v i e w e d w i th th e d e fe n d an t an d co un s e l th e f a c t th at al th o u gh th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s o r i gi n al th e o r

y o f th e c a s e i nv o l v e d a mur d e r c h ar g e th at carr i e d a li fe s e n t e n ce , b y v irtu e o f th e p l e a a gr e e m e n t w h i c h am e n d e d th e mur d e r c h ar g e an d w i th dr e w tw o r o b b e r y c h ar g e s , th e d e fe n d an t ' s m ax i mum p o s s i b l e s e n t e n ce o n th e mur d e r c h ar g e w a s fo rty y e ar s i n p r i s o n , n o t li fe 

### w i th o ut p ar o l e . T h e d e fe n d an t i n d i cat e d th at h e un d e r s t o o d th at.
Th e c o urt a s k e d th e d e fe n d an t i f h e w a s p l e a d i n g gu il ty t o al l th e c h ar g e s s e t fo rth in th e p l e a a gr e e m e n t b e c au s e h e w a s gu i lty . Th e d e fe n d an t an s w e r e d , " y e s . "O n Jun e 1 8 , 2 0 1 8 , th e d e fe n d an t a p p e ar e d fo r s e n t e n ci n g . Th e C o mm o nw e al th ' s att o rn e y p r e s e n t e d th e t e s ti m o ny o f th e m o th e r o f th e d e ce a s e d v i c t i m . Th e d e fe n d an t th e n a d dr e s s e d th e c o urt. Af t e r m aki n g c o mp l a i n t s a

b o ut h i s att o rn e y an d a

b o ut h o w th e p r i o r c o urt p ro c e e d i n g o ccur r e d , th e s am e co mp l a i n t s h e h a d kn o wi n gl y ab an d o n e d o n M ay 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 , th e d e fe n d an t r e qu e s t e d t o w ith dr aw hi s 

### p l e a " d u e t o i nn o c e n ce , co e r ci o n , d ur e s s . "

T h e co urt d i d n o t p e rm i t th e d e fe n d an t t o w i th draw h i s gu i l ty p l e a , n o t i n g th at th e d e fe n d an t p r e s e n t e d h i m s e l f at th e gu il ty p l e a h e ari n g a s m ak i n g a kn o w i n g an d v o l un t ar y d e ci s i o n , n o t i n g th at th e d e fe n d an t an d h i s att o rn e y b ar g a i n e d fo r an d r e c e i v i n g a w ith dr aw a l o f mur d e r c h ar g e s w h i c h c arr i e d li fe s e n t e n ce s o n fa c t s w h i c h , i f p r o v e d b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t , 5 w o u l d r e qu i r e th at a m an d at o r y li fe s e n t e n ce be imp o se d o n th e d e fe n d an t , an d a f

t e r th e C o mm o nw e a lth r e li e d o n th e d e fe n d an t ' s e n t e ri n g a gu il ty p l e a p ur s u an t t o th e p l e a a gr e e m e nt s u c h th at tr i a l w i tn e s s e s w e r e n o t b r o u gh t t o th e co urth o u s e o n th e d ay o f s e n t e n ci n g . T h e d e fe n d an t cl a im s th at th i s co urt e rr e d b y d e ny i n g h i s m o t i o n t o w i th dr aw h i s gu ilty p l e a . Tw o d i ff

e r e n t s t an d ar d s e x i s t fo r r e v i e w i n g r e qu e s t s t o w i th dr aw a gu il ty p l e a , o n e fo r p r e - se n t e n ce r e qu e s t s t o w i th dr aw an d o n e fo r p o s t - s e n t e n c e r e qu e s t s t o wi th dr aw . C o mm o nw e a lth v . A i c k , 2 00 2 P A S u pe r 1 8 9 , 8 0 2 A. 2 d 6 2 0 , 6 2 3 ( P a . S u pe r .

5 I t m u s t b e e m p h a s i z e d t h a t t h o s e fa c t s s u p p o rt e d t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h ' s t h e o r y o f f e l o n y m u r d e r a n d w e r e s u m m a r i z e d a t t h e b a ll h e a r i n g a n d t h e p l e a h e a r i n g f o r w h i c h t h e d e f

e n d a n t o ff

e r e d n o d i s p u t e . A d d i t i o n a ll y , t h e s u r

v i v i n g v ic t i m h a d t e s t ifi e d u n d e r o a t h , a s t o t h o s e s a m e f a c t s , a t t h e p r e l l m l n e rv h e a r i n g w h i c h t h e d e f

e n d a n t a tt e n d e d .2 0 0 2 ) . T h e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s e xp l a i n e d th at th e r e i s n o a b s o l ut e r i gh t t o w i th dr aw a gu il ty p l e a h o w e v e r , a p r e - s e n t e n ce r e qu e s t t o w i th dr aw a gu il ty p l e a s h o u l d b e li b e r a ll y gr an t e d w h e n th e r e e x i s t s 

### an y fa i r an d j u s t r e a s o n fo r th e w i th dr aw al . C o mm o nw e a lth v . M c Lau gh li n , 4 6 9 P a . 40 7 , 3 6 6 A. 2 d 2 3 8 ( 1 9 7 6 ) ; C o mm o nw e a lth v . F o r b e s . 4 5 0 P a . 1 8 5 , 2 9 9 A. 2 d 2 6 8 , 2 71 ( 1 9 7 3 ) . P o s t - s e n t e n ce m o t i o n s fo r w i th draw a l , h o w e v e r , ar e s ub j e c t t o a h i gh e r s t an d ar d .

" Al th o u g h th e r e i s n o ab s o l ut e r i gh t t o w i th dr aw a gu il ty p l e a , p ro p e rl y r e c e i v e d b y th e tr i a l co urt , i t . i s cl e ar th at a r e qu e s t m a d e b e fo r e s e n t e n ci n g s h o u l d b e li b e r a ll y a ll o w e d . " C o mm o nw e a l th v . K p o u , 1 5 3 A .3 d 10 2 0 , 10 2 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 01 6 ) . " I n d e te rm i n i n g w h e th e r t o gr an t a p r e s e n t e n c e m o t i o n fo r w i th dr aw al o f a gu il ty p l e a , th e t e s t t o b e a

p p li e d b y th e tr i a l c o urt s i s fa i rn e s s an d j u s t i ce . " C o mm o nw e a l th v . E li a , 8 3 A. 3 d 25 4 , 2 6 2 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 13 ) ( cl e an e d u

p ) . Th e r e fo r e , 

### if th e d e fe n d an t p r o v i d e s a fa i r an d j u s t r e a s o n f

o r w i s h i n g t o w ith dr aw h i s o r h e r p l e a , th e tri a l co urt s h o ul d g ran t i t unl e s s i t w o u l d s ub s t an t i a ll y p r e j u d i ce th e C o mm o nw e al th . C o mm o nw e al th v . C arr a s qu ill o , 6 3 1 P a . 6 9 2 , 1 1 5 A. 3 d 1 2 8 4 , 1 2 8 7 ( 2 0 1 5 ) ( ci t at i o n o m i tt e d ) . H o w e v e r , a s o ur S u

p r e m e C o urt h a s a dm o n i s h e d , w h e n th e b a s i s fo r a p r e s e n t e n c e r e qu e s t t o w i th dr aw a gu il ty p l e a i s b a s e d o n a cl a im o f a c t u a l i nn o ce n c e , " a b ar e a s s e rti o n o f i nn o ce n c e i s n o t , i n an d o f it s e l f , a s u ffi ci e n t r e a s o n t o r e qu i r e a co urt t o gr an t [ a p r e s e n t e n c e m o t i o n t o w i th draw a gu il ty p l e a ] . " C ar r a s qu ill o , 11 5 A. 3 d at 1 2 8 5 . A s s e t fo rth i n C ar a s qu ill o ,

M o r e b r o a d l y , th e p r o p e r i n qu i r y o n c o n s i d e r ati o n o f s u c h aw i th dr aw a l m o t i o n i s w h e th e r th e a c c u s e d h a s m a d e s o m e co l o r a b l e d e m o n s tr at i o n , un d e r th e c i r cum s t an ce s , s u c h th at p e rm i tt i n g w i th dr aw al o f th e p l e a w o u l d p ro m o t e fa irn e s s an d j u s t i c e . T h e p o li c y o f li b e r a li ty r e m a in s e x t an t b ut h a s i t s l im i t s , c o n s i s t e n t w i th th e a ff o r d an c e o f a d e gr e e o f d i s c r e t i o n t o th e c o mm o n p l e a s co urt s . I d . at 1 2 9 2 I n th i s m att e r , th e d e f e n d an t , w h il e r e p r e s e n t e d b y c o un s e l , s imp l y r e a d a s t at e m e n t t o th i s C o urt r e qu e s t i n g ,

### p ro s e, th at h e b e p e rm i tt e d t o w i th dr aw h i s gu il ty p l e a d u e t o " inn o ce n ce , co e r ci o n , d ur e s s " . T h e d e f

e n d an t m a d e h i s r e qu e s t j u s t b e fo r e s e n t e n ce w a s ab o ut t o b e i mp o s e d . H e d i dn ' t fil e a m o t i o n s e e ki n g t o w i th dr aw h i s gu il ty p l e a n o r w a s s u c h a m o t i o n p r e s e n t e d b y h im o r b y h i s co un s e l at th e b e gi nn in g o f th e s e n t e n ci n g h e ar i n g . H e p ro v i d e d n o r e a s o n s t o s u p p o rt th e s e c o n t e n t i o n s an d h e m a d e n o c o l o r a b l e d e m o n s trat i o n th at a w i th draw a l o f h i s p l e a w o u l d p ro m o t e fa i rn e s s an d j u s t i ce . Th e d e fe n d an t d i d n o t d e v e l o p any e v i d e n c e th at h e w a s c o e r ce d in t o e n t e r i n g a gu il ty p l e a . In C o mm o nw e a l th v . M c C au l e y , 7 9 7 A. 2 d 9 2 0 ( 2 0 01 ) th e S u p e ri o r C o urt , c i t i n g C o mm o nw e al th v . S t o rk , 7 3 7 A . 2 d 7 8 9 , 7 9 0 - 7 9 1 (P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 9 ) , a

p p e a l d e n i e d , 5 6 4 P a . 7 0 9 , 7 6 4 A. 2 d 10 6 8 ( 2 0 0 0 ) e xp l a i n e d th at

[ o ] n ee a p e t i t i o n e r h a s e n t e r e d a p l e a o f gu il ty , i t i s p r e s um e d th at h e w a s aw ar e o f w h at h e w a s d o i n g , an d th e b ur d e n o f p r o v i n g i nv o l un t ar i n e s s i s u p o n h im . T h e r e fo r e , w h e r e th e r e c o r d cl e ar l y d e m o n s tr at e s th at a gu il ty p l e a c o ll o quy w a s c o n d

u c t e d , d uri n g w h i c h i t b e c am e e v i d e n t th at th e p e t i t i o n e r un d e r s t o o d th e n at ur e o f th e c h ar g e s a g a i n s t h im , th e v o l un t ar i n e s s o f th e p l e a i s e s t ab li s h e d . D e t e rm i ni n g w h e th e r a p e t i ti o n e r un d e r s t o o d th e c o nn o t at i o n s o f h i s p l e a an d i t s c o n s e qu e n c e s r e qu ir e s an

### e x am i n at i o n o f th e t o t a li ty o f th e ci r c um s t an ce s s urr o un d in g th e p l e a . Th e m i n imum i n qu iry r e qu i r e d o f a tri a l co urt mu s t i n cl u d e th e fo ll o w in g s ix ar e a s : ( 1 ) D o e s th e p e t i t i o n e r un d e r s t an d th e n at ur e o f th e c h ar g e s t o w h ic h h e i s p l e a d in g gu il ty ? ( 2 ) I s th e r e a fa c t u a l b a s i s fo r th e p l e a ? ( 3 ) D o e s th e p e t i t i o n e r un d e r s t an d th at h e h a s a ri gh t t o tr i a l b y j ur y ? ( 4 ) D o e s th e p e t i t i o n e r un d e r s tan d th at h e i s p r e s um e d i nn o ce n t un til h e i s fo un d gu ilty ? ( 5 ) I s th e p e t i t i o n e r aw ar e o f th e p e rm i s s i b l e ran g e s o f s e n t e n c e s an d

/ o r fi n e s fo r th e o ff

e n s e s c h ar g e d ? ( 6 ) I s th e p e t i t i o n e r aw ar e th at th e j u d g e i s n o t b o un d b y th e t e rm s o f any p l e a a gr e e m e n t t e n d e r e d un l e s s th e j u d g e a c c e p t s s u c h a g r e e m e n t ? M c C au l e y , 7 9 7 A. 2 d at 9 2 0 ; C o mm o nw e al th v . Y o un g, 6 9 5 A . 2d 4 1 4 , 4 1 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 7 ) .
T h i s e x am i n at i o n m ay b e co n d u c t e d b y d e fe n s e co un s e l o r th e att o rn e y fo r th e C o mm o nw e a lth , a s p e rm i tt e d b y th e j u d g e . P a . R. 

### C rim . P . 5 9 0 . M o r e o v e r , th e e x am in at i o n d o e s n o t h av e t o b e s o l e l y o ra l. N o thi n g p r e cl u d e s th e u s e o f a w r i tt e n co ll o quy th at i s r e a d , c o mp l e t e d , an d s i gn e d b y th e p e t i t i o n e r , m a d e p art o f th e r e co r d , an d s u p p l e m e n t e d b y s o m e o n - th e - r e c o r d o r a l e x am i n at i o n . C o mm o nw e a lth v . M o s e r , 9 2 1 A . 2 d 5 2 6 , 5 2 9 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 7 ) ; s e e a l s o C o mm e nt t o P a . R. C r im . P 5 9 0 . Imp o rt an tl y , a d e fe n d an t w h o c h o o s e s t o p l e a d gu il ty i s b o un d b y th e s t at e m e n t s h e o r s h e m ak e s i n o p e n c o urt w h il e un d e r o ath an d h e o r s h e m ay n o t l at e r a s s e rt gr o un d s fo r w i th dr aw i n g th e p l e a w h i c h co n tr a d i c t th e s t at e m e n t s m a d e at h i s p l e a c o ll o quy . C o mm o nw e al th v . P o ll ar d , 8 3 2 A. 2 d 5 1 7 , 5 2 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) c i t i n g S t o rk , 7 3 7 A. 2 d atTh e r e c o r d i n th i s c a s e i s cl e ar th at th e d e fe n d an t un d e r s t o o d th e n at ur e o f th e c h ar g e s t o w h i c h h e u l t im at e l y p l e d gu il ty an d , th e r e fo r e , h i s 

### gu il ty p l e a w a s e n te r e d kn o w i n gl y an d i n t e lli g e n tl y . Th e C o urt r e v i e w e d al l o f th e c h ar g e s fil e d a g ai n s t th e d e fe n d an t a s w e ll a s th e c h ar g e s t o w h ic h h e u lt im at e l y p l e d gu il ty . Th e A s s i s t an t D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y p r e s e n t e d a fa c t u a l b a s i s fo r th e gu i l ty p l e a . an d th e d e fe n d an t d i d n o t o b j e c t t o th e p r e se n tat i o n o f th e Ass i s t an t D i s tr ic t A tt o rn e y . T h e d e fe n d an t co mp l e t e d an e x h au s t i v e w r i tt e n gu ilty p l e a c o ll o quy cl e arl y e v i d e n c i n g h i s aw ar e n e s s o f h i s p e rt i n e n t c o n s t i tut i o n a l an d p r oce d ur al r i gh t s i n cl u di n g , b ut n o t l im i t e d t o , h i s ri gh t t o 

# a j ury tri a l an d th e p r e s ump t i o n o f i nn o ce n c e . T h i s co ll o quy i s p art o f th e tri a l co urt r e co r d . Th e C o urt w e n t o v e r s o m e o f th e s e ri gh t s d ur i n g an o n - th e - r e co r d co ll o quy at th e s e n t e n ci n g h e ar i n g . T h e C o urt r e v i e w e d th e o r i gi n a l c h ar g e s co n t a i n e d i n th e In fo rm at i o n an d th e c h ar g e s t o w h ic h h e p i e d gu il ty w i th th e d e fe n d an t an d th e d e fe n d an t i n d i c at e d th at h e d i s cu s s e d · th o s e c h ar g e s w i th h i s tri a l co un s e l. Th e C o urt s p e ci fi c a ll y o utli n e d th e p ro p o s e d p l e a a gr e e m e n t an d th e d e fe n d an t or a ll y i n d i c at e d h i s un d e r s t an d i n g o f th e p l e a . a g r e e m e n t. Th e C o urt cl e ar l y e xp l a i n e d th e d e fe n d an t ' s r i g h t s r e l at i n g t o a j ur y tri al . T h e d e fe n d an t a c kn o w l e d g e d o n th e r e co r d h i s d e ci s i o n t o w a i v e th at ri gh t. Th e d e fe n d an t a l s o i n d i cat e d th at h e w a s aw ar e o f th e m a x imum po t e n t i a l pe n a l t i e s th at c o u l d b e i mpo s e d . Th e C o urt a l s o as k e d th e d e fe n d an t i f any o n e h a d fo r c e d h i m to e n t e r th e p l e a a gr e e m e n t. H e r e s p o n d e d " N o " . Th e d e fe n d an t s t at e d th at h e h a d e n o u gh t im e t o s p e ak w i th h i s att o rn e y a b o ut h i s c a s e an d th at h e w a s s ati s fi e d w ith th e a dv i ce p r o v i d e d b y c o un s e l. T h e d e fe n d an t c ann o t n o w co n tra d ic t th e s t at e m e n t s h e m a d e un d e r o ath at th e t im e o f th e gu il ty p l e a . T h e t o t a lity o f th e tri a l c o urt r e c o r d i n d i c at e s th at th ed e fe n d an t kn o w i n gl y an d v o l un t ari l y e n t e r e d h i s gu ilty p l e a . D e fe n d an t d i d n o t d e v e l o p

any cl a im s th at h e w a s a c tu al l y i nn o ce n t o r th at h i s gu i l ty p l e a w a s i n d u c e d b y c o e r c i o n o r d ur e s s . Th e o r a l 

### p ro s e r e qu e s t t o w i th dr aw h i s gu il ty p l e a w a s p ro p e rl y d e n i e d . A cc o r d i n gl y , th e j u d gm e n t i n th i s c a s e s h o u l d b e affi rm e d . 

### B y th e C o urt :
D a le : � 

# 'J.t 'UJ t 

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