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

v. NYSARE ONEIL O. ALSTON

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

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 215 EDA 2018 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence November 16, 2017 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at

No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0007416 - 2016, CP - 51 - CR - 0007420 - 2016 BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., MURRAY, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.: FILED MAY 1 3 , 2019 Nysare Oneil O. Alston (“Appellant”) appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed after a jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of robbery, two counts of kidnapping for ransom, firearms not to be carried without a license, firearms not to be carried in public, possession of an instrument of crime (“PIC”), attempted murder, and aggravated assault. 1 

### We affirm. The trial court summarized the facts of this case as follows: On April 17, 2014, [Appellant], Brandon M cKelvey, Christop h er Corley[, DeForest Johnson,] and Ken Thomas kidnapped Carl Johnson and Ryan Hardy, as part of a robbery scheme. 1 

### During the course of the robbery, both men were shot.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2502(a), 903, 3701, 2901, 6106, 6108, 907, 901(a), and 2702, respectively.

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[Carl] Johnson died as a result of his injuries. Hardy was injured , but survived.

1 

### Co - defendant DeForest Johnson filed a Motion for Severence [sic], which was granted. Co - defendant , Ken Thomas entered into an open guilty plea to murder of the third degree, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit robbery, VUFA [Violations of the Uniform Firearms Act] charges, aggravated assault, [PIC] and avoiding apprehension. N.T., 11/08/17 at pp. 200 – 202. Thomas testified in the instant matter pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement with the Commonwealth. He has not been sentenced yet. T rial Court Opinion, 6/6/18, at 3. 2 

### Following Appellant’s jury trial and convictions, the trial court sentenced him on November 16, 2017, “to concurrent terms of life without the possibility of parole for the first degree murder and conspiracy to commit mu rder convictions and a consecutive ten (10) to twenty (20) years confinement for the attempted murder conviction. No further penalty was imposed for the remainder of the charges.” Id. at 1 – 2. Appellant filed a post - sentence motion challenging the weight and sufficiency of the evidence. Post - Sentence Motion, 11/2 6 /17 , at ¶¶ 3, 4 . The trial court denied Appellant’s post - sentence motion without a hearing. Order, 12/11/17. This appeal followed. Notice of Appeal, 1/4/18. Appellant and the trial court co mplied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 

### Appellant was tried together with co - de fendants Corley and McKelvey. Co defendant Corley’s appeal is lodged at 209 EDA 2018, and co - defendant McKelvey’s appeal, at 65 EDA 2018.

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On appeal, Appellant presents the following two questions: I. Whether the adjudication of guilt is against the weight of the evidence and shocking to one’s sense of justice where there was no physical evidence linking the Appell ant to the crimes, where the cooperating co - defendant was a corrupt and polluted source who had lied on previous occasions to the police but who nevertheless established unequivocally that the Appellant did not share the intent to kill, where the cell phon e evidence was circumstantial and based upon an incomplete analysis and investigation of other calls and people associated with the cooperating co - defendant, and where the convictions are based upon the preposterous theory that the Appellant arranged for a n abduction of the v ictims in front of his own home? II. Whether t he adjudication of guilt for First Degree Murder , Attempted First Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder is based upon insufficient evidence were the Appella n t did not shoot the decedent or the other victim and where the Commonwealth did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he shared the intent to kill? Appellant’s Brief at 6 . Because a successful sufficiency - of - the - evidence claim warrants discharge on the pertinent crime, we address Appellant’s second issue first. Commonwealth v. Toritto , 67 A.3d 29, 33 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citing Commonwealth v. Stokes , 38 A.3d 846 (Pa. Super. 2011)). Appellant argues that there was insufficient evidence presented to s upport a finding of guilt on the charge s of first degree murder , attempted first degree murder, and conspiracy to commit murder . Appellant’ s Brief at 25 – 2 6 . Specifically, Appellant contends that the Commonwealth failed to prove that he shared his co - cons pirator’s specific intent to kill Carl Johnson and Ryan Hardy. Id. Our standard of review is well established:

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The standard we apply in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence is whether viewing all the evidence admitted at trial in the light most favor able to the verdict winner, there is sufficient evidence to enable the fact - finder to find every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In applying the above test, we may not weigh the evidence and substitute ou r judgment for the fact - finder[’ s]. In addition, we note that the facts and circumstances established by the Commonwealth need not preclude every possibility of innocence. A ny doubts regarding a defendant’ s guilt may be resolved by the fact - finder unless the evidence is so weak and inconcl usive that as a matter of law no probability of fact may be drawn from the combined circumstances. The Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt by means of wholly circumstantial evidence. Moreove r, in applying the above test, the entire record must be evaluated and all evidence actually received must be considered. Finally, the finder of fact while passing upon the credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence produced, is free to belie ve all, part or none of the evidence. Commonwealth v. E nix , 192 A.3d 78, 81 (Pa. Super. 2018) (quoting Commonwealth v

. E stepp , 17 A.3d 939, 943 – 944 (Pa. Super. 2011 ) ). “A criminal homicide constitutes murder of the first degree when it is committed by an intentional killing.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a). To prove murder in the first degree, the Commonwealth must demonstrate that a human being was unlawfully killed, that the d efendant did the killing, and that the killing was done in an intentional, deliberate, and premeditated manner. Commonwealth v. Bryant , 67 A.3d 716, 721 (Pa. 2013). “ What distinguishes first degree murder from all other forms of homicide is the existence of a specific . . . intent to kill. ” Commonwealth v. Wayne , 720 A.2d 456, 460 (Pa. 1998) (citation omitted) .

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“A person commits an attempt when, with intent to commit a specific crime, he does any act which constitutes a substantial step toward the comm ission of that crime.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 901(a). “A person may be convicted of attempted murder ‘if he takes a substantial step toward the commission of a killing, with the specific intent in mind to commit such an act.’ ” Commonwealth v. Jackson , 955 A.2d 441, 444 (Pa. Super. 2008) (quoting Commonwealth v. Dale , 836 A.2d 150, 152 (Pa. Super. 2003)). To convict a defendant of conspiracy, the trier of fact must find that: (1) the defendant intended to commit or aid in the commission of the criminal act; (2) the defendant entered into an agreement with another (a “ co - conspirator ” ) to engage in the crime; and (3) the defendant or one or more of the other co conspirators committed an overt act in furtherance of the agreed upon crime. The essence of a criminal conspiracy, which is what distinguishes this crime from accomplice liability, is the agreement made between the co - conspirators.

“ Mere association with the perpetrators, mere presence at the scene, or mere knowledge of the crime is insufficient” to establish that a defendant was part of a conspiratorial agreement to commit the crime. There needs to be some additional proof that the defendant intended to commit the crime along with his co conspirator. Direct evidence of the defendant’s criminal intent or the conspiratorial agreement, however, is rarely availab le. Consequently, the defendant’ s intent as well as the agreement is almos t always proven through circumstantial evidence, such as by “the relations, conduct or circumstances of the parties or overt acts on th e part of the co - conspirators.” Commonwealth v. Golphin , 161 A.3d 109, 1018 – 1019 (Pa. Super. 2017), appeal denied , 170 A. 3d 1051 (Pa. 2017) (quoting Commonwealth v. Murphy , 844 A.2d 1228, 1238 (Pa. 2004) (internal citatio ns and quotation marks omitted) ) .

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Where murder is committed in the furtherance of a conspiracy, e ach member of a conspiracy to commit murder can be convicte d of murder of the first degree, regardless of who inflicted the fatal wound. Specific intent to kill can be inferred from the use of a deadly weapon on a vital part of the body. Murphy , 844 A.2d 1238 . Accord Golphin , 161 A.3d at 1018 – 1019 (“Once the tr ier of fact finds that there was an agreement and the defendant intentionally entered into the agreement, that defendant may be liable for the overt acts committed in furtherance of the conspiracy regardless of which co conspirator committed the act.”). Vi ewing all the evidence admitted at trial in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, we agree with the trial court that there wa s sufficient evidence to enable the trier of fact to find every element of murder of the first degree , attempted first degr ee murder, and conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. N.T. (Ken Thomas) , 1 1/8/17, at 87 – 213; N.T. (Ladashe Johnson) , 11/9/17, at 53 – 69; N.T. (Detective James Dunlap) , 11/13/17, at 3 – 56. In support of our conclusion, we adopt as our own the well - reasoned analysis of the trial court in its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion. Trial Court Opinion, 6/6/18, at 23 – 28. Appellant’s remaining issue is a challenge to the weight of the evidence. Appellant’s Brief at 20. Appellant complains that the jury “capriciously disre garded” the lack of fingerprint, DNA, and video evidence linking him to the crimes. Id. at 21. Appellant also complains that the jury “capriciously

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disregarded the unrebutted testimony of Kenneth Thomas that . . . Appellant’s intention was to release the victims and not kill them.” Id. According to Appellant, Ken Thomas’ unrebutted testimony “soundly exonerated” Appellant “from having the mens rea for First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder.” Id. at 23 (italic s supplied). We have held that “[a] motion for [a] new trial on the grounds that the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence [] concedes that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the verdict.” Commonwealth v. Rayner , 153 A.3d 1049, 1054 (Pa. S uper. 2016) (quoting Commonwealth v. Widmer , 744 A.2d 745, 751 ( Pa. 2000)). Our Supreme Court has described the standard applied to a weight - of - the - evidence claim as follows:

The decision to grant or deny a motion for a new trial based upon a claim that t he verdict is against the weight of the evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial court. Thus, “the function of an appellate court on appe al is to review the trial court’ s exercise of discretion based upon a review of the record, rather than to consider de novo the underlying question of the weight of the evidence.” An appellate court may not overturn the trial court ’ s d ecision unless the trial court “ palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the weight claim.” Further, in reviewing a challe nge to the weight of the evidence, a verdict will be overturned only if it is “so contrary to the evidence as to shock one’ s sense of justice.” Commonwealth v. Cash , 137 A.3d 1262, 1270 ( Pa. 2016) (internal citations omitted). A trial court’ s determinati on that a verdict was not against the interest of justice is “[o]ne of the least assailable reasons” for denying a new trial. Commonwealth v. Colon – Plaza , 136 A.3d 521, 529 (Pa. Super. 2016) (quoting Commonwealth v. Clay , 64 A.3d 1049, 1055 ( Pa. 2013)). A verdict

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is against the weight of the evidence where “certain facts are so clearly of greater weight that to ignore them or to give them equal weight with all the facts is to deny justice.” Commonwealth v. Lyons , 833 A.2d 245, 258 (Pa. Super. 2003) (quot ing Widmer , 744 A.2d at 751 – 752). “[W]e do not reach the underlying question of whether the verdict was, in fact, against the weight of the evidence.... Instead, this Court determines whether the trial court abused its discretion in reaching whatever decision it made on the motion[.]” Commonwealth v. Ferguson , 107 A.3d 206, 213 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted). 3 

### Here, t he trial judge, who viewed the w itnesses’ demeanors at trial, determined that the verdict did not shock her sense of justice. We ascertain no abuse of discretion in this determination. In support of our conclusion , we adopt as our own the well - reasoned analysis of the trial court in it s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion. Trial Court Opinion, 6/6/18, at 1 7 – 23. We add an observation . According to Appellant , Thomas’ testimony that Appellant did not intend to kill the victims was unrebutted evidence that Appellant lacked the requisite mens rea f or murder . We remind Appellant that c o - conspirator McKelvey’s cellmate, Aaron Smith, contradicted Thomas’ testimony : Smith

_________________ ____________________ _______ 3 

### A challenge to the weight of the evidence must first be raised at the trial level “(1) orally, on the record, at a ny time before sentencing; (2) by written motion at any time before sentencing; or (3) in a post - sentence motion.” Commonwealth v. Akrie , 159 A.3d 982, 989 (Pa. Super. 2017). Appellant properly preserved his weight of the evidence claim by raising the is sue in his post - sentence motion filed on November 26, 2017 .

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testified that McKelvey confessed to killing Carl Johnson because Appellant believed that Carl Johnson would have identified Appella nt. N.T., 11/13/17, at 107 – 108. We discern no error of law or abuse of discretion by the trial court. Accordingly, Appellant is not entitled to relief. 4 

### Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 5/13/19

_________________ ____________________ _______ 4 

### The parties are directed to attach a copy of the trial court’s June 6, 2018 opinion in the event of further proceedings in this matter.Circulated 05/03/2019 11:21 AM 

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### h i m i n th e ab an d o n e d h o u s e . U l t i m at e l y , i t w a s d e c i d e d th at th e d e c e d e n t w o u l d h av e t o b e k ill e d s o h e w o u l dn ' t r e t a l i at e . 

### I d. at p p . 9 8
- 1 0 3 . T h o m a s t e s t i fi e d th at h e m e t u p w i th M c K e l v e y , C o rl e y , an d D e F o r e s t J o hn s o n at a h ar dw ar e s t o r e at 2 9 1 11 an d D au p h i n S tr e e t s i n S tr awb e rr y M an s i o n o n th e m o rn i n g o f th e i n c i d e nt. T h e fo ur m e n p ur c h a s e d d u c t t a p e an d s ar an wr a

p fo r th e p urp o s e o fty i n g u p th e d e c e d e nt. T h i s w a s th e D e f e n d an t ' s i d e a . T h e fo ur th e n w e n t t o th e D e fe n d ant ' s h o u s e . T h o m a s w a s dr i v i n g h i s G r an d P r i x fo ll o w e d b y th e M c K e l v e y , C o r l e y , an d D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n i n Jo hn s o n ' s b i g , g r e e n v an . T h o m a s h a d a . 3 8 c a li b e r g un o n h i s p e r s o n an d th e r e w a s a . 9
m i ll i m e t e r 

### g un i n th e v an . T h e . 9 m ill i m e t e r g un b e l o n g e d t o C o r l e y . T h e D e f e n d ant m e t th e o th e r s at th e v an , an d th e g r o u p d i s c u s s e d th e i r p l an , o ut s i d e o f th e D e fe n d ant ' s h o u s e o n Q u e e n L an e . T h e D e f e n d an t p l ann e d t o i nv i t e th e d e c e d e n t o v e r t o th e D e f e n d ant ' s h o u s e un d e r th e g u i s e o f p ur c h a s i n g dru g s fr o m h i m . T h e D e fe n d an t w o u l d a s k th e d e c e d e nt t o p ark h i s v e h i cl e i n th e r e ar dr i v e w ay w h e n h e arr i v e d . T h o m a s w o u l d b l o c k th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i cl e i n th e dri v e w ay w i th h i s G r an d P r i x . M c K e l v e y an d D e f o r e s t J o hn s o n w o u l d g r ab th e d e c e d e n t fr o m h i s c ar an d p l a c e h i m i n t o th e i r v an . C o rl e y w o u l d dr i v e th e v an an d th e D e fe n d ant w o u l d dr i v e th e d e c e d e nt ' s c ar . T o i n i t i at e th e s c h e m e , th e D e f e n d an t c a ll e d th e d e c e d e n t . T h e d e c e d e n t w a s at th e g y m , s o th e tw o a g r e e d th at th e d e c e d e n t w o u l d c a ll w h e n h e w a s fi n i s h e d . T h e gr o u p w a i t e d fo r a p p ro x i m at e l y o n e ( l ) t o tw o ( 2 ) h o ur s fo r th e d e c e d e n t t o arr i v e . T h o m a s w a s p o s i t i o n e d i n h i s
4G r an d P r i x t o b l o c k th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i c l e o n c e h e p u ll e d i n t o th e dr i v e w ay . M c K e l v e y , C o r l e y ,

an d D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n w e r e i n s i d e th e v an , w h i c h w a s a l r e a dy p ark e d i n th e D e fe n d an t' s dri v e w ay . T h e g ro u

p c o mmun i c at e d v i a c o n fe r e n c e c a ll s o n th e i r c e ll p h o n e s w h il e th e y w a i t e d . I d. at p p . 1 0 4 - 1 2 1. T h e d e c e d e n t c a ll e d th e D e f e n d ant an d t o l d h i m th at h e w a s l e av i n g th e gy m an d w a s o n h i s w ay t o th e D e f

e n d an t ' s h o u s e . A t th e s am e t i m e , th e D e fe n d ant ' s s t e p - fath e r arr i v e d an d t o l d th e D e f e n d an t th at h i s fri e n d s h a d t o r e m o v e th e v an fr o m th e dr i v e w ay . T h e v an e x it e d th e dr i v e w ay an d b e g an c i r c li n g 

### th e b l o c k . T h e d e c e d e n t arr i v e d , an d i n s t e a d 

### o f p u lli n g i n t o th e dr i v e w ay , p ark e d 

### h i s C am ar a 

### o n Kn o x S tr e e t , w h i c h w a s o n th e s i d e o fth e D e fe n d an t ' s h o u s e . T h o m a s s aw th e d e c e d e n t s t an d i n g o n th e c o rn e r t a l k i n g o n th e p h o n e . T h e D e f e n d an t t o l d th e o th e r fo ur m a l e s th at h e w a s t a l k i n g t o th e d e c e d e n t an d th at th e y w o u l d h av e t o a b d u c t h i m wh e r e h e w a s s t an d i n g o n th e c o rn e r . T h o m a s w a i t e d fo r th e v an t o c i r cl e ar o un d , an d fo ll o w e d b e h i n d i t. I

d. at p p . 

### 1 2 4
- 1 2 5 . T h e v an p u ll e d n e x t t o th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i cl e an d T h o m a s ' G r an d P r i x p u ll e d b e h i n d i t. M c K e l v e y , T h o m a s , D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n , an d C o rl e y e x i t e d th e i r r e s p e c t i v e v e h i cl e s . T h o m a s an d D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n , at p o i n t o f g un , g r ab b e d th e d e c e d e n t an d s h o v e d h i m i n t o th e v an . U nb e k n o w n s t t o th e g ro u

p , an o th e r m a l e , 

### R

y an H ar dy , h a d a c c o mp an i e d th e d e c e d e n t , an d w a s s e at e d i n th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i cl e . T h o m a s an d M c K e l v e y , at p o i n t o f g un , g r a b b e d H ar dy o ut o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i cl e an d s h o v e d h i m i n th e v an a s w e l l. T h o m a s r e t urn e d t o h i s G r an d P r i x an d th e D e f

e n d ant e n t e r e d th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i cl e . T h e thr e e v e h i cl e s ( T h o m a s ' G r an d P r i x , th e v an , an d th e d e c e d e n t ' s C am ara ) i n it i a ll y dro v e o ff i n th e s am e d i r e c t i o n , h o w e v e r , th e v an t urn e d o n t o H an s b e rr

y S tr e e t an d th e D e fe n d ant c o n t i nu e d dr i v i n g s tr a i g h t w i th T h o m a s fo ll o w i n g b e h i n d h i m . M c K e l v e y , C o rl e y , D e F or e s t Jo hn s o n , 

### H ar dy , an d th e d e c e d e n t w e r e


### 5i n s i d e th e v an . A s urv e ill an c e v i d e o w a s p l ay e d fo r th e j ury fr o m th e C o mp l e t e G r o c e r y an d 

### D e l i at th e c o rn e r o f Kn o x 

### an d H an s b e rr y S tr e e t s . T h e v an w a s v i s i b l e t urn i n g l e ft o n t o H an s b e r r y S tr e e t w h il e th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i c l e an d T h o m a s ' v e h i cl e c o nt i nu e d s tr a i g h t o n Kn o x 

### S tr e e t. T h o m a s d i d n o t kn o w w h e r e th e v an w e n t a ft e r i t t urn e d 

### o n t o H an s b e rr

y S tr e e t. 

### I

d. 

### at p p . 

### 1 2 5 - 13 9 . T h o m as fo ll o w e d th e D e f e n d an t b a c k 

### t o th e D e f

e n d an t ' s h o u s e . T h e D e f e n d an t fo un d dr u g s 

### an d j e w e l ry i n th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i c l e . T h o m a s j o i n e d th e D e f e n d an t i n th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i c l e an d th e y dr o v e t o th e D e f e n d an t ' s g r an dm o th e r ' s h o u s e an d r e m a i n e d th e r e fo r a p p ro x i m at e l y o n e 

### ( 1 ) t o tw o ( 2 ) h o ur s . D ur i n g th i s t i m e , 

### th e y w e r e i n 

### p h o n e c o n t a c t 

### w i th th e c o - d e f e n d an t s i n th e v an . 

### I

d. at 

### p p . 

### 1 4 4
- 1 4 5 . C o r l e y i n fo rm e d T h o m a s 

### th at th e 

### d e c e d e nt t o l d h i m th at th e 

### d e c e d e nt h a d s o m e dru g s at h i s h o u s e , h i d d e n i n th e b a s e m e n t ab o v e th e w a s h e r . T h o m a s an d th e D e fe n d an t dro v e t o th e d e c e d e n t ' s h o u s e 3 at F rank fo r d an d M a g e e A v e nu e s . N o o n e w a s h o m e , s o th e y e n t e r e d 

### th e h o u s e u s i n g th e h o u s e k e y o n th e d e c e d e n t' s c ar k e y r i n g . T h e D e fe n d an t r e tr i e v e d o n e - h a l f o f a k i l o o f c o c a i n e , w o rth a p p r o x i m at e l y tw e n ty - th o u s an d d o ll ar s ( $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) , w h i c h w a s h i d d e n i n th e 

### b a s e m e nt. T h o m a s t o o k a 

### l ar g e t e l e v i s i o n . A d d i t i o n a ll y , 

### th e d e c e d e n t 

### h a d a p p r o x i m at e l y n i n e ( 9 ) o un c e s o f c o c a i n e o n h i m 

### i n th e v an . T h o m a s an d th e D e f e n d an t th e n dr o v e t o m e e t u p 

### w i th th e v an 

### o n C l ar i s s a S tr e e t. 

### I d
. at p p . 

### 1 4 6
- 1 5 2 . Th e D e fe n d an t s a i d th at h e kn e w a " d u c k e y s p o t " , a l o n g th e 5 6 0 0 b l o c k o f N e wt o w n A v e nu e , w h e r e th e g r o u p c o u l d d

ump th e d e c e d e n t an d 

### H ar dy . O n c e th e D e fe n d an t , T h o m a s , 

### M c K e l v e y , C o rl e y , J o hn s o n , th e d e c e d e n t , an d H ar dy 

### arr i v e d at th e 5 6 0 0 b l o c k o fN e wt o w n A v e nu e , T h o m a s t o o k th e j e w e l r y th at h a d b e e n fo un d i n th e d e c e d e n t ' s c ar t o K e n s i n g t o n t o

3 T h e d e c e d e nt g av e C o r l e y , Jo hn s o n , an d M c K e l v e y h i s a d dr e s s , wh i c h C o r l e y r e l ay e d t o th e D e f e n d an t an d T h o m a s . 

### 6

### s e l l . " T h e D e fe n d ant , M c K e l v e y , C o r l e y , D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n , H ar dy , an d th e d e c e d e nt r e m a i n e d

o n N e wt o wn A v e nu e . I

d. 

### at p p . 1 5 1
- 1 5 8 . L at e r th e 

### s am e d ay , T h o m as m e t u p w i th th e D e f

e n d ant , M c K e l v e y , C o r l e y , an d D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n at J o hn s o n ' s h o u s e i n W e s t P h il a d e l p h i a . T h e c o c a i n e w as d i v i d e d u p e qu a ll y am o n g th e g r o u

p . 5 

### T h o m a s an d th e D e fe n d ant c l e an e d th e d e c e d e nt ' s v e h i c l e , i n s i d e an d o ut s i d e , w i th b l e a c h , t o r e m o v e any fi n g e rp r i n t s . T h e v e h i c l e w as l e ft i n W e s t P h i l a d e l p h i a o n P e nn s g ro v e S tr e e t. M c K e l v e y t o l d T h o m as th at h e h a d s h o t th e d e c e d e nt an d H ar dy w i th th e . 9 m ill i m e t e r g un . I

d 

### at p p . 1 5 8
- 1 6 8 . R y an H ar dy t e s t i fi e d th at h e an d th e d e c e d e nt b o th h a d a c h il d 

### by th e s am e w o m an . O n Ap r i l 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 , H ar dy m e t u p w i th th e d e c e d e nt at P l an e t F i tn e s s i n th e F r ank fo r d n e i g hb o r h o o d o f P h i l a d e l p h i a . Aft e r w o rk i n g o ut at th e g ym , H ar dy a c c o mp an i e d th e d e c e d e nt t o m e e t u p w i th th e d e c e d e nt ' s fr i e n d . H ar dy w a s dr i v i n g b e c au s e th e d e c e d e nt ' s arm s w e r e t i r e d fr o m h i s w o rk o ut. H ar dy p ark e d n e ar th e i nt e r s e c t i o n o f Q u e e n L an e an d H an s b e r ry S tr e e t i n th e G e rm ant o w n s e c t i o n o f th e c i ty . Ap p ro x i m at e l y t e n ( 1 0 ) t o fi ft e e n ( 1 5 ) m i nut e s a ft e r h e p ark e d , a g ro u p o f m a l e s w i th g un s s urr o un d e d th e v e h i cl e . A v an p u ll e d u p n e x t t o th e dr i v e r ' s s i d e d o o r . T h e m a l e s , at p o i n t o f g un , dr a g g e d th e d e c e d e nt an d H ar dy o ut o f th e v e h i c l e an d s h o v e d th e m i n th e v an . T h e m a l e s p l a c e d d u c t - t a p e o n th e i r m o uth s an d e y e s . T h e m a l e s a l s o d u c t t a p e d H ar dy ' s h an d s an d f

e e t t o g e th e r an d p ut h i m i n th e b a c k o f th e v an . H ar dy w a s h i t i n th e h e a d w i th a g un an d w a s t o l d b y 

### o n e o f th e m al e s t o p ut h i s h e a d d o w n . H e h e ar d th e m a l e s ay ,
" th i s a i n ' t fo r y o u , i t ' s fo r h i m . . . thi s a i n ' t fo r y o u , l i g h t s k i n . " " Y o u w e r e at th e wr o n g p l a c e at

4 T h o m a s c o u l d n o t r e c a ll wh e n th e j e w e l r y w a s h an d e d t o h i m , b ut th e D e fe n d an t h a d g i v e n i t t o T h o m a s t o s e l l. 5 T h e D e fe n d ant , Jo hn s o n , C o rl e y , T h o m a s , an d M c K e l v e y a ll r e c e i v e d a p p r o x i m at e l y " a c o u

p l e th o u s an d " d o ll ar s w o rth o f c o c a i n e . · 

### 7 i I I 

# I I I I 

# I I I I 

## I I 

### ! i ! I 

## ! i ' ith e t i m e . " H ar dy h e ar d th e m a l e s r e p e at e d l y a s k i n g th e d e c e d e n t fo r m o n e y . N . T . 1 1 /4 / 1 7 at p p .



### 4
- 1 3 , 2 6
- 4 1. H ar dy furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at th e m a l e s w e r e t o rt uri n g h i m ; c utt i n g h i m o n h i s wr i s t s , n e c k , an d e ar s . H ar dy c o u l d n o t s e e w h at th e y w e r e c utt i n g h i m w i th b e c au s e h i s e y e s w e r e c o v e r e d
w i th d u c t t a p e . H ar dy h e ar d thr e e o r fo ur d i ff e r e n t v o ic e s b ut w a s n o t fam i l i ar w i th any o fth e m . T h e m a l e s t o o k H ar dy ' s m o n e y , w a ll e t , an d c e ll p h o n e . H e fe l t l i k e h e w a s i n th e v an fo r " a c o u p l e 

### o f h o ur s " an d th e m a l e s w e r e b e at i n g th e d e c e d e n t th e w h o l e t i m e . 6 T h e v an e v e n tu a ll y c am e t o a s t o p an d th e m a l e s thr e w H ar dy fr o m th e v an , H ar dy w a s s h o t « fo ur o r fi v e t i m e s " a ft e r b e i n g thr o wn o ut o fth e v an . H ar dy p u ll e d th e t a p e o ff o f h i s e y e s an d s aw th e d e c e d e n t o n th e g r o un d , b l e e d i n g fr o m h i s m o uth , w i th d u c t t a p e o v e r h i s e y e s . H ar dy s t art e d t o a s k fo r h e l p fr o m e v e r y c ar th at p a s s e d 

### b y un t i l th e p o l i c e arr i v e d . 

### I d at p p . 1 4 - 1 7 , 4 3
- 4 5 , 5 0
- 5 3 . P o li c e tran s p o rt e d H ar dy t o A l b e rt E i n s t e i n M e d i c a l C e n t e r w h e r e h e r e m a i n e d fo r m o r e th an fi v e d ay s . H ar dy w a s s h o t i n th e r i g h t fo r e arm , l e ft r i b s , an d b a c k , H e h a d r a z o r c ut s t o h i s
n o s e , l e ft n e c k , l e ft w r i s t , an d l e ft e ar . H ar dy w a s tr an s fe rr e d t o M o s s R e h ab fa c i li ty fo r
a p p ro x i m at e l y tw o m o n th s b e c au s e h e w a s i n i t i a ll y p ar a l y z e d fr o m th e w a i s t d o wn d u e t o s p i n a l i n j ur i e s c au s e d b y a b u ll e t. H ar dy h a d t o r e - l e arn h o w t o w a l k an d w ill n e v e r w a l k w i th o ut i s s u e b e c au s e th e b ul l e t c o u l d n o t b e r e m o v e d fr o m h i s s p i n e . 

### I d. at p p . 1 8
- 2 2 , 4 6
- 4 8 . M i c h a e l G ut i e rr e z t e s t i fi e d th at at a p p r o x i m at e l y 5 : 4 2 p . m . , o n Ap r i l 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 , h e h e ar d g un s h o t s w h i l e dri v i n g d o w n A d am s Av e nu e fr o m F r o n t S tr e e t an d c r o s s i n g o v e r C r e s c e n tv ill e R o a d . Ap p r o x i m at e l y o n e ( 1 ) m i nut e l at e r , w h i l e dr i v i n g un d e r a tr a i n - b ri d g e o n N e wt o wn

6 I n h i s s t at e m e n t t o h o m i c i d e d e t e c t i v e s , H ar dy s t at e d th at h e c o u l d h e ar th e s o un d o f a g un b e at i n g o n th e d e c e d e nt ' s h e a d . H ar dy a l s o s t at e d th at th e m a l e s c ut th e d u c t t a p e o ff o f h i m an d r e - t a

p e d h i m b e c au s e th e y d i d n o t w ant fi n g e rp r i n t s o n th e t a p e . N . T . 1 1 / 1 4 / 1 7 at p . 5 4
- 5 6 . 8A v e nu e , G ut i e rr e z s aw a m a le l ay i n g o n th e g ro un d an d an o th e r m a l e n e x t t o h i m , s t an d i n g ,

p u ll i n g d u c t t a p e o ff h i s fa c e an d wr i s t s . G ut i e rr e z h a d t o s w e rv e t o av o i d h i tt i n g th e tw o m a l e s . T h e m a l e l ay i n g o n th e g r o un d w a s c url e d i n a fe t a l p o s it i o n , i n a p u d d l e o fb l o o d , w i th d u c t t a p e c o v e r i n g h i s fa c e . T h e o th e r m a l e h o b b l e d t o w ar d s G ut i e rr e z ' s v an , s ay i n g r e p e at e d l y th at h e h a d b e e n " h i t " , an d n e e d e d t o g o t o th e h o s p i t a l. G ut i e rr e z , fe ar i n g m o r e g un s h o t s , dr o v e p a s t th e tr a i n tr a c k s , p u ll e d o v e r t o th e r i g h t o n G o d fr e y A v e nu e 7 , an d c a ll e d 9 1 1. N . T . 1 1 / 0 8 / 1 7 at 

### p p . 8
- 1 1 , 1 4
- 2 3 . 

### D e nn i Gl e nn t e s t i fi e d th at s h e w a s i n 

### a r e l at i o n s h i p w i th D e F o r e s t J o hn s o n fo r a p p r o x i m at e l y s e v e n ( 7 ) y e ar s . T h e i r r e l at i o n s h i p e n d e d i n S e p t e mb e r o f 2 0 1 4 . Gl e nn t e s t i fi e d th at s h e w a s th e o w n e r o f a g r e e n , 1 9 9 7 , F o r d E - 1 5 0 v an w i th p l at e numb e r J S Y - 9 9 3 1. I n Ap r i l
o f 2 0 1 4 , h e r r e l at i o n s h i p w i th J o hn s o n w a s o n - an d
- o ff , b ut Jo hn s o n w a s p e rm i tt e d u s e o f h e r v an w h e n h e n e e d e d 

### i t. Gl e nn g av e th e v an t o Jo hn s o n a ft e r th e i r r e l at i o n s h i p e n d e d . N . T . 1 1/ 0 9 / 1 7
at p p . 5 - 1 3 . L a d a s h e Jo hn s o n t e s t i fi e d th at s h e i s fr o m th e G e rm an t o w n n e i g hb o r h o o d o f P h i l a d e l p h i a . M s . Jo hn s o n w a s fri e n d s w i th N a d i r ah A l s t o n ; th e D e fe n d an t ' s s i s t e r . S h e h a d kn o w n th e d e c e d e n t s i n c e 2 0 0 7 . I n 2 0 1 3 , th e y b e g an a r o m an t i c r e l at i o n s h i p . M s . Jo hn s o n w as 

### s t i ll i n a r e l at i o n s h i p w i th 

### th e d e c e d e n t w h e n h e 

### w a s mur d e r e d . A t th e t i m e o fh i s mur d e r , th e d e c e d e n t h a d 

### b e e n li v i n g i n th e K e n s i n g t o n n e i g hb o r h o o d o f P h i l a d el p h i a an d dr i v i n g a C arn ar o . M s . J o hn s o n a l s o k

n e w R y an H ar dy t o b e a fr i e n d o fth e d e c e d e n t. 

### I d
. at p p . 5 4
- 5 8 . I n 2 0 1 4 , p r i o r t o th e d e c e d e n t ' s mur d e r , N a d i r ah A l s t o n a s k e d M s . J o hn s o n fo r th e d e c e d e n t ' s p h o n e numb e r fo r h e r b ro th e r , th e D e fe n d ant. A t th e t i m e , th e d e c e d e n t d i d n o t h av e h i s o w n p h o n e an d w o u l d t ak e c a ll s o n M s . Jo hn s o n ' s p h o n e . M s . J o hn s o n t o l d th e d e c e d e n t

7 N e wt o wn A v e nu e i s a s h o rt , o n e - w ay s tr e e t b e tw e e n A d am s an d G o d fr e y A v e nu e s th at m e r g e s i n t o G o d fr e y A v e nu e . 9a

b o ut th e r e qu e s t an d s h e g av e N a d i r ah p e rm i s s i o n t o g i v e th e D e fe n d an t h e r 

### p h o n e numb e r. T h e r e a ft e r , th e D e f

e n d an t w o u l d c a ll M s . Jo hn s o n ' s p h o n e t o g e t i n c o n t a c t w i th th e d e c e d e nt. 8 M s . J o hn s o n p r o v i d e d h o m i ci d e d e t e c t i v e s w i th th e numb e r th at s h e h a d g i v e n N a d i r ah A l s t o n t o g i v e t o th e D e f

e n d ant. S h e a l s o p ro v i d e d th e numb e r t o th e p h o n e 9 th e d e c e d e n t w a s u s i n g o n th e d ay h e w a s mur d e r e d , an d th e numb e r fo r th e D e f e n d an t th at a

p p e ar e d o n h e r p h o n e w h e n h e c a ll e d . 

### M s . Jo hn s o n l a s t s p o k e t o th e d e c e d e n t o n th e d ay o f 

### h i s mur d e r b e tw e e n 1 2 : 0 0 p . m . an d 1 : 0 0 p . m . A t th at t i m e , th e d e c e d e n t t o l d h e r th at h e w a s l e av i n g th e g y m an d w a s o n h i s w ay h o m e t o t ak e a s h o w e r . 

### I

d. at p p . 

### 5 8
- 6 9 . D e b ra H o l m e s t e s t i fi e d th at s h e w a s l i v i n g o n th e 3 8 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g r o v e S tr e e t i n 2 0 1 4 . O n 

### Ap r il 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 at a p p ro x i m at e l y 7 : 0 0 p . m . , H o l m e s l o o k e d o ut o f h e r fr o n t w i n d o w an d s aw tw o A fr i c an - A m e ri c an m a l e s w a s h i n g a C h e v r o l e t C am ar o . T h e tw o m a l e s l e ft th e C arn ar o c o v e r e d i n a w h i t e 

### s ub s t an c e . H o l m e s w a s 

### th e b l o c k c a p t a i n , s o h e r 

### n e i g hb o r s c a ll e d h e r t o c o mp l a i n ab o ut th e c ar , b e c au s e i t h a d a w h i t e fi l m o v e r th e o ut s i d e , an d th e k e y s w e r e s i tt i n g i n s i d e 

### o f i t 

### w i th a w i n d o w o p e n . R e a li z i n g th e c ar w a s c o v e r e d i n b l e a c h , 1 0 

### H o l m e s c al l e d th e p o l i c e 

### t o r e p o rt th e s u s p i c i o u s v e h i c l e 

### o n Ap r il 1 8 , 2 0 1 4 . I d
. 

### at p p . 1 7 9
- 1 8 6 . A aro n S m i th t e s t i fi e d th at h e m e t B r an d o n M c K e l v e y i n j a i l , i n 2 0 1 5 , 

### w h e n S m i th w a s i n c ar c e r at e d 

### fo r a ro b b e ry c o nv i c t i o n . S m i th an d M c K e l v e y b o n d e d w h e n 

### th e y d i s c o v e r e d th at th e y h a d mut

u a l fr i e n d s i n N o rth P h i l a d e l p h i a . M c K e l v e y t o l d S m i th th at h e w a s w o rr i e d 

### b e c au s e o n e o f

h i s fr i e n d s w a s c h ar g e d w i th a c r i m e th at M c K e l v e y h a d 

### c o mm i tt e d w i th h i m . M c K e l v e y t o l d S m i th th at h e d i dn ' t un d e r s t an d h o w h i s 

### fr i e n d " K e n , ' g o t c au g h t , b e c au s e i t w a s 

### d o n e s o p e r fe c t l y . H e 

### a l s o a dm i tt e d th at h e w a s th e s h o o t e r , an d w a s f e ar fu l th at 

### i f

K e n

8 T h e d e c e d e nt w a s u s i n g h i s b ro th e r ' s p h o n e o n th e d ay o f th e mur d e r . 9 T h i s w a s th e numb e r t o th e d e c e d e nt ' s b r o th e r ' s p h o n e . T h e d e c e d e nt h a d m o v e d o n t o u s i n g h i s b r o th e r ' s p h o n e a ft e r u s i n g M s . J o hn s o n ' s p h o n e fo r a p e r i o d . 1 0 M s . H o l m e s t e s t i fi e d th at th e C am ara s m e l l e d o f b l e a c h . 1 0i mp l i c at e d h i m , h e c o u l d fa c e th e d e ath p e n a l ty . M c K e l v e y t o l d S m i th th at th i s c r i m e w a s a

r o b b e r y , k i dn a p p i n g , an d h o m i ci d e . M c K e l v e y s a i d th at o n e o fh i s fr i e n d s k n e w th e d e c e d e n t b e c au s e h e u s e d t o b uy dru g s fr o m h i m , an d th at th i s fr i e n d w a s th e p e r s o n th at s e t u p th e
r o b b e r y . M c K e l v e y s ai d th at h e an d h i s fr i e n d s o r d e r e d dru g s an d w a i t e d fo r th e d e c e d e n t t o m ak e th e d e li v e r

y . Wh e n th e d e c e d e n t arr i v e d , th e y b o x e d h i s v e h i cl e i n . T h e y u s e d tw o c ar s , 

### a g r e e n v an an d an o th e r c ar . M c K e l v e y an d h i s f r i e n d s k i dn a

p p e d th e d e c e d e n t an d an o th e r g uy an d 

### p ut th e m i n th e g r e e n v an . N . T . 11 / 1 3 /1 7 at p p . 10 3
- 1 0 7 . S m i th furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at M c K e l v e y t o l d h i m : " o n e o f th e g uy s c ut o n e o fth e g uy ' s fa c e s an d th e n th e y t o l d w h e r e th e dru g s w a s at , w h e r e th e r e s t o f th e dru g s w a s at an d h e ( M c K e l v e y ) s a i d th e y dr o v e t o th e n o rth e a s t s e c t i o n o f P h i l a d e l p h i a . O n c e th e g uy s c o n f e s s e d
w h e r e th e dru g s w a s at , h e ( M c K e l v e y ) p u s h e d th e g uy s o ut o fth e v an , an d o p e n e d fir e o n th e m b e c au s e o n e o f th e g uy s s a i d th at th e y h a d t o b e p ut d o w n b e c au s e h e ( d e c e d e n t ) , b a s i c a ll y , kn e w th e g uy , th e o n e w h o s e t i t u p . " M c K e l v e y a l s o t o l d S m i th th at h e h a d u s e d a . 9 m i ll i m e t e r g un t o s h o o t th e d e c e d e n t an d R y an H ar dy . 

### I

d. at p p . 1 0 7 - 10 8 , 1 3 6
- 1 4 2 . P h i l a d e l p h i a P o l i c e O ffi c e r , 

### Jo hn M a d o nn a , t e s t i fi e d th at at a p p r o x i m at e l y 5 : 4 2 p . m . , o n Ap r i l 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 , h e r e c e i v e d a r a d i o c a ll r e g ar d i n g g un s h o t s fi r e d o n th e 5 6 0 0 b l o c k o f N e wt o w n A v e nu e b y G o d fr e y A v e nu e . O ffi c e r M a d o nn a arr i v e d o n th e s c e n e a p p r o x i m at e l y tw o t o thr e e m i nut e s a ft e r r e c e i v i n g th e r a d i o c a l l. Up o n arr i v a l , O ffi c e r M a d o nn a g o t o ut o f h i s p o li c e c ru i s e r t o h e l p O ffi c e r s S c ar i n ci an d R i n g s t a ff p ut 

### R y an H ar dy i n t o th e i r p atr o l w a g o n . T h e o th e r m a l e w a s unr e s p o n s i v e an d h a d n o p u l s e . H i s e y e s an d wr i s t s w e r e d u c t - t a p e d , h i s fa c e w a s b l o o dy , an d h e a p p e ar e d t o h av e g un s h o t w o un d s t o h i s c h e s t an d l e g . T h e m a l e w a s p ro n o un c e d b y
m e d i c s , o n s c e n e , at a

p p r o x i m at e l y 6 : 0 0 p . m . T h e r e w a s a p i e c e o f d u c t t a p e o n th e g r o un d n e x t t o w h e r e th e p atr o l w a g o n h a d i n i t i a ll y s t o p p e d , an d th e r e w e r e s e v e r a l fir e d c artr i d g e c a s i n g s
1 I( h e r e a f

t e r ' F C C s ' ) o n th e g ro un d aro un d w h e r e th e d e c e d e n t h a d b e e n l ay i n g . N
. T : 1 1 / 0 8 / 1 7 at p p . 

### 3 9
- 5 6 , 6 1. O ffi c e r M a d o nn a p ro c e e d e d t o th e c o rn e r o f N e wt o w n an d G o d fr e y A v e nu e s , b e c au s e h e w a s fam i li ar w i th th e ar e a , an d kn e w th e r e w e r e s urv e i ll an c e c am e r a s . O f fi c e r M a d o nn a c a ll e d th e numb e r fo r B urk e P l umb i n g , l o c at e d at th at i n t e r s e c t i o n , an d w a s ab l e t o g e t th e o w n e r t o s u p p l y O ffi c e r B utl e r o f N o rth e a s t D e t e c t i v e s w i th th e v i d e o fo o t a g e . I d. at p p . 5 6
- 6 3 . P h il a d e l p h i a P o l i c e O f

fi c e r , D an i e l B ut l e r , t e s t i fi e d th at h e i s a v i d e o r e tr i e v a l o ffi c e r 

### fo r N o rth e a s t D e t e c t i v e s . O ffi c e r 

### B utl e r r e tr i e v e d th e 

### s urv e ill an c e v i d e o 

### fr o m B urk e 

### P l umb i n g at 5 5 9 8 N e wt o wn A v e nu e . 1 1 

### I d. at 

### p p . 6 7 - 7 9 . S e r g e an t W i lli am t e s t i fi e d th at o n Ap ri l 

### 1 4 , 2 0 1 5 , at a p p ro x i m at e l y 3 : 0 0 p . m . , h e an d h i s p artn e r s t o p p e d D e F o r e s t J o hn s o n fo r dri v i n g w i th 

### a b r o k e n b r ak e l i g h t o n th e 2 3 0 0 b l o c k o f N o rth 

### 2 9 t h S tr e e t. Jo hn s o n w a s dri v i n g 

### a g r e e n , 1 9 9 7 , F o r d v an w i th th e l i c e n s e p l at e numb e r 

### J S Y - 9 9 3 1 . S e r g e an t R o b b i n s ' r e p o rt 

### o f th e i n c i d e nt l i s t e d th e o w n e r o f th e v e h i c l e 

### a s D e nn i 

### Gl e nn an d th e dri v e r 

### o f th e v e h i cl e a s D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n . A t th e t i m e , Jo hn s o n p ro v i d e d h i s a d dr e s s a s 3 8 0 4 Wy a l u s i n g A v e nu e . N . T . 1 1 / 0 9 / 1 7 at p p . 1 8
- 2 6 . P h i l a d e l p h i a 

### P o li c e O ffi c e r , B r e n d an D o n ahu e , t e s t i fi e d 

### th at h e w as fam ili ar w i th 

### K e n T h o m a s fr o m h av i n g s e e n h i m aro un d 

### th e S tr awb e rr y M an s i o n n e i g hb o r

h o o d o fP h i l a d e l p h i a . A t a p p ro x i m at e l y 1 : 2 2 p . m . , o n Ap r i l 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 , O f fi c e r D o n � hu e c am e i n t o c o n t a c t w i th K e n T h o m a s an d th e D e f

e n d an t at 

### 3 2 n d an d Y o rk S tr e e t s 1 2 i n th at s am e n e i g hb o r h o o d . O ffi c e r D o n ahu e h a d n o t s e e n th e D e f e n d ant b e fo r e . T h o m a s an d th e D e f e n d an t w e r e i n a r e d , 2 0 0 4 P o nt i a c G r an d P r i x w i th li c e n s e p l at e numb e r 

### J M G
- 0 2 5 3 . T h e G r an d P r i x w a s r e g i s t e r e d t o

1 1 T h e v i d e o w a s p l ay e d fo r th e j ury . It s h o w e d th e g r e e n v an , G r an d P r i x , an d r e d C am ar o p a s s i n g th e i nt e r s e c t i o n o fN e w t o wn an d G o d fr e yj u s t a ft e r th e mur d e r . 1 2 T h i s l o c at i o n w a s a

p p r o x i m at e l y o n e b l o c k fr o m 3 1 2 7 W e s t D au p h i n S tr e e t , th e h o m e a d dr e s s g i v e n t o O ffi c e r D o n ahu e b y K e n T h o m a s . 1 2T h o m a s . T h e D e f e n d ant w a s i n th e dr i v e r ' s s e at an d T h o m a s w a s s i tt i n g i n th e p a s s e n g e r s e at. 

### I d at p p . 3 4
- 3 9 . P h i l a d e l p h i a P o l i c e O ffi c e r , J e ff r e y M c M ah o n , t e s t i fi e d th at h e w a s a s s i g n e d t o th e w e s t e n d s e c t i o n o f th e S tr awb e rr y M an s i o n n e i g hb o r

h o o d o f P h i l a d e l p h i a . O ffi c e r M c M ah o n t e s t i fi e d th at 

### h e w o u l d s e e K e n T h o m a s an d C hr i s t o p h e r C o r l e y i n S tr awb e r ry M an s i o n a p p ro x i m at e l y tw o ( 2 ) t o thr e e ( 3 ) t i m e s 

### a w e e k o v e r th e c o ur s e o f a p p ro x i m at e l y tw o y e ar s . P h i l a d e l p h i a P o l i c e O ffi c e r , R y an D o o l i n g , t e s t i fi e d th at o n Ap r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 4 , at
a p p ro x i m at e l y 1 : 1 S p . m . , h e r e c e i v e d a ra d i o c a ll t o i nv e s t i g at e an aut o m o b i l e 1 3 o n th e 3 8 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g r o v e S tr e e t. Wh e n O ffi c e r D o o li n g r an th e li c e n s e - p l at e numb e r , th e c ar c am e b a c k a s s t o l e n w i th a n o t e i n s tru c t i n g h i m t o h o l d th e c ar fo r fi n g e rp r i n t i n g . T h e i n fo rm at i o n a l s o i n d i c at e d th at th e c ar w a s b e i n g s o u g h t b y h o m i c i d e d e t e c t i v e s . O f fi c e r D o o l i n g c o n t a c t e d th e · h o m i c i d e d i v i s i o n an d h e l d th e c ar un t i l th e y arr i v e d . T h e g r ay , 2 0 1 0 , C h e v ro l e t C am ar a w a s c o v e r e d i n w h i t e r e s i d

u e . T h e k e y s w e r e i n th e dr i v e r ' s s e at an d th e w i n d o w s w e r e s l i g h t l y o p e n . T h e c ar w a s o w n e d b y th e d e c e d e nt. 

### I d. at p p . 77 - 9 0 . P h i l a d e l p h i a P o l i c e O f

fi c e r , C r a i g P e rr

y , t e s t i fi e dth at h e p r o c e s s e d th e c r i m e s c e n e at 5 6 0 0 N e wt o w n A v e nu e o n Ap r i l 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 . O ffi c e r P e rr y r e c o v e r e d fi v e ( 5 ) F C C s , a b u ll e t , s e v e r a l b u ll e t fr a g m e n t s , 1 4 an d s e v e r a l p i e c e s o f d u c t ta p e fr o m th e c r i m e s c e n e . F o ur o f th e F C C s w e r e d i s c o v e r e d i n th e g r a s s o n th e s i d e o f N e wt o wn A v e nu e . T h e d e c e d e nt ' s h an d s w e r e b o un d t o g e th e r w i th d

u c t t a p e an d th e r e w a s d

u c t t a p e o v e r h i s e y e s . Th e r e w a s a h i g h
- i mp a c t d i v o t i n th e g ro un d un d e rn e ath th e b o dy o f th e d e c e d e n t , i n d i c at i n g th at th e d e c e d e n t h a d b e e n s h o t w h i l e h e w a s l ay i n g o n th e g ro un d . 

### I d. at p p . 9 4
- 1 2 0 .

11 Wh e n a P h i l a d e l p h i a P o li c e O ffi c e r g e t s a r a d i o c a ll fo r " i nv e s t i g at e aut o " i t m e an s th at a c i v i li an h a s n o t i c e d a s u s p i c i o u s v e h i cl e a n d h a s c a ll e d 9 1 1 t o r e p o rt i t. 1 4 T h e b u ll e t fr a g m e n t s w e r e d i s c o v e r e d un d e rn e ath th e b o dy o fth e d e c e d e n t wh e n h e w a s r e m o v e d fr o m th e s tr e e t. 1 3P h i l a d e l p h i a P o li c e O f fi c e r , R o b e rt S t o tt , t e s t i fi e d a s an e xp e rt i n th e fi e l d o f fi r e arm s an d b a ll i s t i c s e v i d e n c e . O ffi c e r S t o tt i d e n t i fi e d th e fi v e ( 5 ) F C C s r e c o v e r e d fr o m th e s c e n e a s c o m i n g fr o m a . 9 m ill i m e t e r , L u g e r fi r e arm . O ffi c e r S t o tt d e t e rm i n e d th at a ll fi v e ( 5 ) F C C s w e r e fi r e d fr o m th e s am e . 9 m i lli m e t e r fir e arm . O ffi c e r S t o tt a l s o e x am i n e d a . 9 m ill i m e t e r b u ll e t th at
w a s r e c o v e r e d fr o m th e g r o un d un d e rn e ath th e b utt o c k s o f th e d e c e d e n t an d a . 9 m ill i m e t e r b u ll e t th at w a s r e m o v e d fr o m th e d e c e d e n t ' s c h e s t b y th e m e d i c a l e x am i n e r. O ffi c e r S t o tt d e t e rm i n e d



# . th at b o th b u ll e t s w e r e fi r e d fr o m th e s am e . 9 m ill i m e t e r fir e arm . 

### I d
. at p p . 1 5 7 - 1 7 5 . P h i l a d e l p h i a P o l i c e O f fi c e r , P atr i c k R ay t i k , t e s t i fi e d a s an e xp e rt i n th e fi e l d o f fi n g e rp r i n t c o mp ar i s o n an d an a l y s i s . O ffi c e r R ay t i k e x am i n e d tw o p a l m p r i n t i mp r e s s i o n s an d a fi n g e rp r i n t i mp r e s s i o n li ft e d fr o m th e d e c e d e n t ' s C arn aro th at w a s fo un d o n th e 3 8 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g r o v e S tr e e t. 1 5 O n l y o n e o f th e p r i n t s , a p a l m p r i nt fr o m th e e x t e r i o r o f th e p a s s e n g e r - s i d e r e ar w i n d o w , w a s s u i t ab le fo r i d e n t i fi c ati o n p urp o s e s . O ffi c e r R ay t i k d e t e rm i n e d th at th i s p a l m p r i n t m at c h e d th e p a l m o f K e n T h o m a s . 

### I d. at p p . 1 9 4
- 2 0 1. P h i l a d e l p h i a H o m i c i d e D e t e c t i v e ; J am e s D un l a p , t e s t i fi e d a s an e xp e rt i n h i s t o r i c a l c e ll
s i t e an a l y s i s . 1 6 D e t e c t i v e D un l a p an a l y z e d th e d at a a s s o c i at e d w i th fi v e c e ll u l ar p h o n e numb e r s : ( 4 8 4 ) 6 2 0 - 7 8 0 3 ( b i ll e d i n B ran d o n M c K e l v e y ' s n am e t o 2 4 1 3 N o rth 3 2 n d S tr e e t ) ; ( 2 1 5 ) 9 0 9
- 1 1 2 7 ( b i ll e d t o Z e g r e g o r

y C o rl e y 1 7 at 3 5 4 8 N o rth 13 t h S tr e e t ) ; ( 2 6 7 ) 8 8 8
- 1 8 8 3 ( th e D e fe n d an t ' s p h o n e ) ; ( 2 6 7 ) 2 8 8
- 8 8 1 8 ( K e n T h o m a s ' p h o n e ) ; an d ( 2 6 7 ) 3 0 0
- 8 8 9 1 ( th e d e c e d e n t ' s p h o n e ) . D e t e c t i v e D un l a

p d e t e rm i n e d th e l o c at i o n s o f th e s e p h o n e s o n Ap r i l 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 i n r e l at i o n t o 1 4 4 W e s t Q u e e n L an e at a

p p ro x i m at el y 2 : 0 0 p . m . ( th e t i m e an d l o c at i o n o f th e ab d u c t i o n ) ; an d 5 6 0 0

i s T r i a l c o un s e l s t i p u l at e d t o th e fa c t th at O f fi c e r F i d l e r li ft e d thr e e l at e nt p ri n t i mp r e s s i o n s fr o m th e C am ar o fo un d o n th e 3 8 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g r o v e S tr e e t : o n e fr o m th e e x t e ri o r o f th e p a s s e n g e r - s i d e , r e ar w i n d o w ; o n e fr o m th e t o p o f th e dri v e r - s i d e ro o f

; an d o n e fr o m th e dri v e r - s i d e , r e ar - v i e w m i rr o r. 1 6 H i s t o r i c a l C e l l S i t e An a l y s i s i s th e p r o c e s s thro u g h wh i c h th e c a ll d at a r e c o r d s fo r a p h o n e ar e u s e d t o i d e n t i fy th e p o t e nt i a l l o c at i o n o f th e p h o n e . 17 Z e g r e g o ry C o r l e y i s th e b r o th e r o f C hri s t o p h e r C o rl e y . 1 4

### N e wt o wn A v e nu e at a p p r o x i m at e l y 5 : 4 0 p . m . ( th e t i m e an d l o c at i o n o f th e h o m i c i d e ) . N . T . 1 1 / 1 3 / 1 7 at p p . 1 4
- 2 2 . T h e p h o n e s attr i b ut ab le t o M c K e l v e y , T h o m as , an d C o r l e y w e r e a ll ut il i z i n g t o w e r s i n th e S tr awb e rr

y M an s i o n n e i g hb o r

h o o d o f P h i l a d el p h i a b e tw e e n 9 : 0 4 a . m . an d 1 0 : 4 1 a . m . , o n th e d ay o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s mur d e r . 1 8 

### T h e d e c e d e n t ' s p h o n e an d th e D e f e n d ant ' s p h o n e h a d a t o t a l o f fi ft e e n ( 1 5 ) c o nn e c t i o n s w i th e a c h o th e r b e tw e e n 1 0 : 3 5 a . m . an d 2 : 0 4 p . m . Th e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o C o r l e y m a d e e l e v e n ( 1 1 ) c a ll s ut i l i zi n g t o w e r s w i th i n th e ar e a o f th e d e c e d e nt ' s ab d u c t i o n b e tw e e n 1 2 : 1 1 p . m . an d 

### 1 : 5 8 p . m . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o 

### th e D e f e n d ant m a d e tw e nty - fo ur ( 2 4 ) 

### c a ll s ut i li z i n g c e ll 

### p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a 1 9 

### o f th e d e c e d e nt ' s a b d u c ti o n b e tw e e n 9 : 4 3 a . m . an d 2 : 1 3 

### p . m . T h o m a s ' p h o n e m a d e s i x ( 6 ) c a ll s ut i l i z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n 

### th e ar e a o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s a b d u c t i o n b e tw e e n 1 2 : 2 5 p . m . 

### an d 

### 2 : 1 7 p . m . T h o m a s ' p h o n e an d 

### th e p h o n e attr i b ut a

b l e t o C o r l e y c a ll e d e a c h o th e r at 

### 1 2 : 4 5 p . m . , i n th e ar e a o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s ab d u c t i o n . T h at p h o n e c a ll l a s t e d a p p r o x i m at e l y s i x ty - n i n e ( 6 9 ) m i nut e s . T h e s am e tw o p h o n e s a l s o h a d a s i x t e e n - an d
- a - h a l f ( 1 6 . 5 ) m i nut e c a ll t o e a c h o th e r at 1 : 5 8 p . m . , an d an a p p r o x i m at el y fi f ty - o n e ( 5 1 ) 

### m i nut e c a ll t o e a c h o th e r at 2 : 3 3 p . m . , b o th i n th e ar e a o f th e ab d u c t i o n . I d. at p p . 2 2
- 5 2 . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o M c K el v e y w a s ut ili z i n g c e ll
- p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f 5 6 0 0 N e wt o w n A v e nu e at 5 : 1 3 p . m . , 5 : 1 6 p . m . , 5 : 4 5 p . m . , an d 5 : 4 9 p . m . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut a b l e t o C o rl e y m a d e fi v e ( 5 ) 

### c a ll s ut i l i z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f 5 6 0 0 N e wt o wn A v e nu e b e tw e e n 4 : 3 5 p m . an d 5 : 4 5 p . m . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o th e D e f e n d an t m a d e s i x ( 6 ) c a ll s

1 1 Wh il e th e C o urt a c k

n o w l e d g e s th at M c K e l v e y , T h o m a s , an d C o r l e y a ll li v e d i n th e S tr awb e rry M an s i o n ar e a , th e thr e e p h o n e s w e r e g e o g r a

p h i c a ll y l o c at e d i n th e sam e ar e a at th e sam e t i m e , thu s c o r r o b o r at i n g T h o m a s ' t e s t i m o ny th at th e thr e e m e n w e nt t o a h ar dw ar e s t o r e i n th e ar e a t o g e th e r , o n th e m o rn i n g o f th e mur d e r , t o p ur c h a s e d

u c t - t a pe an d s ar an wr a

p w i th wh i c h t o b i n d th e d e c e d e nt. 1 9 I t i s n o t e d th at th e D e f

e n d ant li v e s i n th e ar e a , h o w e v e r , th e tw e nty - fo ur ( 2 4 ) c a ll s w e r e m a d e b y a p h o n e ut ili z i n g th e s am e c e ll
- p h o n e t o w e r th at w a s ut il i z e d b y th e C o r l e y p h o n e wh e n i t m a d e e l e v e n ( 1 1 ) c a ll s b e tw e e n 1 2 : 1 1 p . rn . an d I : 5 8 p . rn . 1 5ut i li z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f 5 6 0 0 N e wt o wn A v e nu e b e tw e e n 4 : 3 7 p . m . an d 5 : 4 4



### p . m . A t 5 :4 4 

### p . m . , th at s am e p h o n e . 

### w a s u s i n g th e 

### c e ll u l ar p h o n e t o w e r th at M c K e l v e y ' s p h o n e u s e d 

### at 5 : 4 5 

### p . m . Th o m a s ' p h o n e ut i l i z e d c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f 5 6 0 0 N e wt o w n A v e nu e at a

p p r o x i m at e l y 4 : 3 2 p . m . , b ut w a s l o c at e d i n th e K e n s i n g t o n n e i g hb o r h o o d o f P h i l a d e l p h i a at a

p p r o x i m at e l y 5 : 4 0 p . m . 2 0 

### I d
. at p p . 2 7 - 3 7 . Th o m a s ' p h o n e an d th e D e fe n d an t ' s p h o n e w e r e ut i l i z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f 

### th e 3 9 0 0 b l o c k 

### o f P e nn s g ro v e S tr e e t b e tw e e n 

### 6 : 4 3 p . m . 

### an d 7 : 2 6 p . m . 2 1 

### I n a d d i t i o n , 

### th e p h o n e s attr i b ut ab l e t o M c K e l v e y , T h o m a s , C o r l e y , an d th e D e fe n d an t a ll u s e d th e s am e c e ll p h o n e t o w e r at 3 9 t h S tr e e t an d L an c a s t e r A v e nu e , i n th e ar e a o f th e 3 9 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g r o v e S tr e e t , b e tw e e n 6 : 3 8 p . m . an d 8 : 0 4 p . m . I d. at p p . 4 1
- 5 2 . D r. A l b e rt C hu t e s t i fi e d a s an e xp e rt i n th e fi e l d o f fo r e n s i c p ath o l o g y . D r. C hu an a l y z e d th e aut o p s y r e p o rt fo r th e d e c e d e n t th at h a d b e e n p r e p ar e d b y D r . M ar l o n O s b o urn e an d c am e t o h i s o w n c o n c l u s i o n r e g ar d i n g th e c au s e an d m ann e r o f th e d e ath o f th e d e c e d e nt. T h e d e c e d e n t h a d fo ur g un s h o t w o un d s : o n e b u ll e t e n t e r e d th e l e ft s i d e o f th e d e c e d e nt ' s 

### u p p e r b a c k , fr a c t

ur i n g o n e o f h i s v e rt e b r a e 2 2 ; o n e b u ll e t e n t e r e d th e l e ft s i d e o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s b a c k , h i tt i n g h i s s p i n e , h i s
a o rt a , an d tr a c h e a b e fo r e e x i t i n g th e u p p e r r i g h t s i d e o f h i s c h e s t ; o n e b u ll e t e n t e r e d th e r i g h t s i d e o f th e d e c e d e n t' s l o w e r b a c k , h i tt i n g th e d e c e d e n t ' s l i v e r an d s t o m a c h b e fo r e e x i t i n g th e fr o n t o f h i s u p p e r ab d o m e n ; an d o n e b u ll e t e n t e r e d an d e x i t e d th e d e c e d e n t' s l e ft th i g h , d am a g i n g s o ft t i s s u e . 

### Th e d e c e d e n t h a d tw o l a c e rat i o n s t o th e s c a l p o n th e r i g h t s i d e o fth e b a c k o f h i s h e a d , a numb e r o f s tr a i g h t c ut s o n h i s fo r e h e a d , a s tr a i g h t c ut o n h i s l e ft fo r e arm , a s c r a p e o n h i s r i g h t
e l b o w , an d a l a c e r at i o n o n th e b a c k o f h i s r i g h t th i g h . T h e i n

j ur i e s t o th e d e c e d e n t ' s h e a d w e r e

2 0 K e n T h o m a s t e s t i fi e d th at a ft e r h e dro p p e d th e D e f e n d ant o ff at th e 5 6 0 0 b l o c k o fN e wt o wn A v e nu e , h e dr o v e t o th e K e n s i n g t o n n e i g hb o r

h o o d o f P h il a d e l p h i a b e c au s e h e " h a d a h o u s e d o wn th e r e . " N . T . 1 1 / 0 8 / 1 7 at p p . 1 5 5 - 1 5 6 . 2 1 T h i s i s th e ar e a wh e r e th e d e c e d e nt ' s v e h i c l e w a s r e c o v e r e d an d wh e r e c o - d e fe n d ant D e F o r e s t J o hn s o n li v e d . n T h i s b u ll e t w a s th e o n l y o n e r e m o v e d fr o m th e d e c e d e nt ' s b o dy b y th e m e d i c a l e x am i n e r . 

### 1 6c o n s i s t e n t w i th b e i n g h i t w i th a h e av y o b j e c t. N o dr

u g s o r a lc o h o l w e r e fo un d i n th e d e c e d e n t ' s s y s t e m . D r . C hu t e s t i fi e d th at th e c au s e o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s d e ath w a s mu l t i p l e g un s h o t w o un d s an d th e m ann e r o fh i s d e ath w a s h o m i c i d e . N . T . 1 1 / 1 3 / 1 7 at 

### p p . 1 5 2
- 1 6 4 . 

### D r. C hu 

### a l s o e x am i n e d th e m e d i c a l r e c o r d s o f 

### R y an H ar dy fr o m A l b e rt E i ns t e i n M e d i c a l C e n t e r. 

### D r. C hu t e s t i fi e d th at H ar dy h a d tw o g un s h o t w o un d s : o n e t o h i s r i g h t fo r e arm th at e n t e r e d an d e x i t e d an d o n e o n th e l e ft s i d e o f h i s t o r s o . H ar dy a l s o h a d l a c e r at i o n s o n h i s " l e ft
u p p e r e x tr e m i ty " an d s c r a p e s o n h i s r i g h t ank l e . I d. at p p . 1 6 4
- 1 6 5 . T r i a l c o un s e l s t i p u l at e d t o th e fa c t th at D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n w a s arr e s t e d o n th i s m att e r o n M ar c h 8 , 2 0 1 6 at a

p p r o x i m at e l y 7 : 1 1 p . m . i n N e w ark , N e w J e r s e y . A t th e t i m e o fh i s arr e s t , Jo hn s o n w a s e x i t i n g a g r e e n , F o r d E - 1 5 0 v an ( p l at e numb e r J S Y - 9 9 3 1 ) , r e g i s t e r e d t o D e nn i G l e nn . T h e v an w a s t o w e d an d p h o t o g r a p h e d . T r i a l c o un s e l a l s o s t i p u l at e d t o th e fa c t th at A aro n S m i th an d B r an d o n M c K e l v e y w e r e i n th e s am e p r i s o n un i t tw i c e i n 2 0 1 6 . M c K e l v e y an d S m i th s h ar e d a c e ll fr o m Ap r i l 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 t o Ap r il 2 2 , 2 0 1 6 an d fr o m O c t o b e r 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 t o N o v e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 . L a s t l y , tr i a l c o un s e l s t i p u l at e d t o th e fa c t th at th e D e f e n d an t , B r an d o n M c K el v e y , an d C hr i s t o p h e r C o rl e y d i d n o t h av e a v a l i d li c e n s e t o c arr y a fir e arm . N . T . 1 1 / 0 9 /1 7 

### at 

### p p . 3
- 4 , N . T . 1 1 / 1 4 / 1 7 

### at 

### p p . 9 9
- 1 0 1. A N A L Y S E S 

### I S S U E I T h e a d j u d i c at i o n o f g u ilt i s a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e an d s h o c k i n g t o o n e ' s s e n s e 

### o f j u s ti c e 

### w h e r e th e r e w a s n o p hy s i c a l 

### e v i d e n c e li nki n g th e d e f e n d an t t o th e c r i m e s , w h e r e th e c o - o p e r ati n g c o - d e f e n d an t w a s a c o r

r u p t an d p o ll ut e d s o ur c e w h o h a d l i e d o n p r e v i o u s o c c a s i o n s t o th e p o li c e , wh e r e th e c e ll p h o n e e v i d e n c e w a s c i r c um s t an t i a l an d b a s e d u p o n an i n c o mp l e t e an a l y s i s an d i nv e s ti g at i o n o f o th e r

1 7

### c a ll s an d p e o p l e 

### a s s o ci at e d w i th th e c o - o p e r at i n g c o - d e f e n d an t , an d 

### w h e r e th e c o nv i c t i o n s ar e b a s e d u p o n th e p r e p o s t e r o u s th e o ry th at th e d e f e n d an t ar

r an g e d fo r an ab d u ct i o n o f th e 

### v ic t i m s i n fr o n t o f h i s o w n h o m e . T h e w e i g h t o f

th e e v i d e n c e i s e x cl u s i v e l y fo r th e fi n d e r o f fa c t w h o i s fr e e t o b e l i e v e a ll , p art , o r n o n e o f 

### th e e v i d e n c e an d t o d e t e rm i n e th e c r e d i b i l i ty o f w i tn e s s e s . 

### C o m . v . 

### D e v i n e, 2 6 A. 3 d 1 1 3 9 , 1 1 4 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) , a

p p . d e n i e d , 4 2 A. 3 d 10 5 9 ( P a . 2 0 1 2 ) ( ci t at i o n s o m i tt e d ) .
" ( A ) tru e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e c h a ll e n g e c o n c e d e s th at s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e e x i s t s t o s u s t a i n th e v e r d i c t b ut qu e s t i o n s w h i c h e v i d e n c e 

### i s t o 

### b e b e li e v e d . " 

### C o m . 

### v . T h o m p s o n , 

### 1 0 6 A .3 d 7 4 2 , 

### 7 5 8 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 4 ) . A c c o r d i n g l y , " [ o ] n e o f th e l e a s t a s s a i l ab l e r e a s o n s fo r g r an t i n g o r d e ny i n g a n e w tr i a l i s th e l o w e r c o urt ' s c o nv i c t i o n th at th e v e r d i c t w a s o r w a s n o t a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e an d th at a n e w tri a l s h o u l d b e g r an t e d i n th e i n t e r e s t o f j u s ti c e . " 

### C

o m . v , 

### Clay, 6 4 A. 3 d 

### I 0 4 9 , 1 0 5 5 ( P a . 2 0 1 3 ) . A tr i a l j u d g e s h o u l d n o t g r ant a n e w tr i a l d u e t o " a m e r e c o n fli c t i n th e t e s t i m o ny o r b e c au s e th e j u d g e o n th e s am e fa c t s w o u l d h av e arr i v e d at a d i ff e r e n t c o n cl u s i o n . " 

### C la y , 

### 6 4 A . 3 d at 1 0 5 5 . I n s t e a d , th e tr i al c o urt mu s t e x am i n e w h e th e r " n o tw i th s t an d i n g a ll 

### th e fa c t s , c e rt a i n 

### fa c t s ar e 

### s o c l e ar l y o f g r e at e r w e i g h t th at 

### t o i g n o r e th e m 

### o r t o g i v e th e m 

### equ a l
w e i g h t w i th a ll th e fa c t s i s t o d e ny j u s t i c e . " 

### I d. at 10 5 5 . O n l y w h e r e th e j ur y v e r d i c t " i s s o c o n tr ar y t o th e e v i d e n c e a s t o s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e ' ' s h o u l d a tr i a l c o urt a f fo r d a d e f

e n d ant 

### a n e w tr i a l. 

### I

d
. T h e j ur y d e t e rm i n e d th e c r e d i b il i ty o fth e e v i d e n c e i n th i s c as e aft e r h e ar i n g o v e rw h e l m i n g d i r e c t an d c i r c um s t ant i a l e vi d e n c e th at th e D e f e n d an t w a s a p r i n c i p a l a c t o r i n a c o n s p i r a c y t o 

### k i dn a

p , r o b , an d mur d e r th e 

### d e c e d e nt an d R y an 

### H ar dy . T h e D e f e n d an t cl a i m s 

### th at th e r e w a s n o 

### p hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e li nk i n g 

### th e D e fe n d an t t o 

### th e c r i m e s . 

### P hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e i s n o t 

### r e qu i r e d fo r a j ury t o fi n d g u il t b e y o n d 

### a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t. S e e
1 8

### C

o m . . v . K itc h e n , 1 8 1 A. 3 d 3 3 7 , 3 4 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 8 ) , c i t i n g 

### C

o m . v . W i s e, 1 7 1 A. 3 d 7 8 4 , 7 9 0 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 7 ) ( " I t i s w i th i n th e p ro v i n c e o fth e fa c t - fi n d e r t o d e t e rm i n e th e w e i g h t t o b e a c c o r d e d t o e a c h w i tn e s s ' s t e s t i m o ny an d t o b e li e v e a ll , p art , o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th 

### m ay s u s t a i n i t s b ur d e n 

### o fp ro v i n g e v e ry e l e m e nt 

### o fth e c r i m e b e y o n d 

### a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t b y m e an s 

### o f w h o ll y c i r c um s t ant i a l e v i d e n c e . " ) 

### I n a d d i t i o n , th e 

### " [ g [ e n e r a l ru l e o f l aw p e rt a i n i n g t o th e c u l p ab il i ty o f c o n s p i r at o r s i s th at e a c h i n d i v i d u a l m e mb e r o f th e c o n s p i r a c y 

### i s c r i m i n a ll y r e s p o n s i b l e 

### fo r th e a c t s 

### o f h i s c o - c o n s p i r at o r s c o mm i tt e d 

### i n furth e r an c e o f th e c o n s p i r a c y . 

### 1 8 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 9 0 3

_ ; , C o m . v . W a y n e, 

### 72 0 A. 2 d 4 5 6 , 4 6 3
- 6 4 ( P a . 

### 1 9 9 8 ) . T h e r e fo r e , th e p hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e fo un d , n am e l y , th e 

### p a l m p r i n t o f c o - c o n s p i r at o r K e n T h o m a s 

### o n th e d e c e d e nt ' s v e h i cl e , i s a l s o e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t th e D e f e n d ant. T h e 

### j ur y d e t e rm i n e d c r e d i b il i ty i n th i s c a s e . T h e j ur y h e ar d t e s t i m o ny fr o m K e n T h o m a s th at th e D e f

e n d ant d e v i s e d th e s c h e m e t o c o mm i t th i s c r i m e , a s h e a l o n e w a s th e · o n l y m e mb e r o f th e g r o u p th at kn e w th e d e c e d e nt. Th e D e f e n d an t r e c ru i t e d th e c o - c o n s p i r at o r s an d g av e o r d e r s o n th e i r v ari o u s ro l e s . T h e fa c t th at th e D e fe n d ant w a s th e m a s t e rm i n d o f th i s c r i m i n a l e nt e rp r i s e 

### i s b o rn e o ut b y d i r e c t ari d c i r c um s t ant i a l e v i d e n c e . T h e d i r e c t e v i d e n c e w a s p r o v i d e d b y T h o m a s , w h e r e i n h e d e t a il s th e m o v e m e n t s o f th e c o n s p i r at o r s o n th e d ay o fth e d e c e d e n t ' s k i dn a p p i n g , r o b b e ry , an d mur d e r . T h e c e ll
- s i t e an a l y s i s an d v i d e o e v i d e n c e , a s w e ll a s th e t e s t i m o ny p ro v i d e d 

### b y R y an H ar dy , L a d a s h e Jo hn s o n , A ar o n
· S m i th , D e b rah H o l m e s , O f fi c e r R o b e rt S t o tt , an d D e t e c t i v e D un l a p c o r r o b o r at e T h o m a s ' a c c o unt 

### o f th e m o v e m e nt s o f e a c h o f th e c o n s p i rat o r s o n th e d at e o f th e i n c i d e nt. R y an H ar dy d e s c ri b e d p ark i n g th e d e c e d e nt ' s v e h i c l e o n th e c o rn e r o f Q u e e n L an e an d Kn o x S tr e e t , w h e r e u

p o n a g r o u

p o f m a l e s s urr o un d e d th e v e h i cl e , p u ll e d h i m an d th e d e c e d e nt fr o m th e v e h i cl e , an d s h o v e d th e m i n a v an . 

### T h i s c o rr o b o r at e d K e n 

### T h o m a s ' t e s t i m o ny


### 1 9r e g ar d i n g th e c i r c um s t an c e s s urr o un d i n g th e ab d u c t i o n o f

th e d e c e d e n t an d H ar dy . M o r e o v e r , th e c e ll
- s i t e an a l y s i s c o n fi rm s th at , n o t o n l y w a s th e D e f e n d an t ' s p h o n e i n th e ar e a o fth e ab d u c t i o n , b ut th at 

### i t 

### w a s i n c o n t a c t w i th th e d e c e d e n t ' s p h o n e 1 5 ( fi ft e e n ) t i m e s b e tw e e n 1 0 : 3 5 

### a . m . an d 2 : 0 4 p . m . A d d i t i o n a ll y , C o rl e y ' s p h o n e an d T h o m a s ' p h o n e w e r e ut i li l z i n g c e ll t o w e r s i n th e s am e ar e a d

ur i n g th e s am e t i m e fr am e . M o r e o v e r , th e v i d e o e v i d e n c e s h o w s th e v e h i cl e s o f D e fo r e s t Jo hn s o n , T h o m a s , an d th e d e c e d e n t a ll p a s s thr o u g h an i n t e r s e c t i o n l o c at e d o n th e c o rn e r o f t � e ab d

u c t i o n j u s t a ft e r th e ab d u c t i o n . T h o m a s t e s t i fi e d th at th e d e c e d e n t an d H ar dy w e r e t ak e n t o a " d u c k e y " s p o t t o b e k ill e d
an d d ump e d . T h o m a s m e t th e o th e r s at th i s s p o t , l o c at e d at 5 6 0 0 N e wt o wn A v e nu e , at
a p p r o x i m at e l y 4 : 3 0 p . m . , b ut th e n 

### l e ft t o 

### g o fe n c e th e s t o l e n j e w e l r y 

### i n K e n s i n g t o n . C e ll
- s i t e
an a l y s i s s h o w e d th at th e p h o n e s attr i b ut ab l e t o T h o m a s , th e D e f e n d an t , C o r l e y , an d M c K e l v e y w e r e a ll ut ili z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f 5 6 0 0 N e wt o w n A v e nu e at a p p r o x i m at e l y 4 : 3 0 p . m . T h o m a s ' p h o n e th e n tr av e l e d t o K e n s i n g t o n , w h i l e th e o th e r c o n s p i r at o r s ' p h o n e s r e m ai n e d
at 

### 5 6 0 0 N e wt o w n A v e . , un t i l th e t i m e o f th e mur d e r at 5 : 4 5 p . m . M o r e o v e r , th e v i d e o e v i d e n c e s h o w e d th e v e h i cl e s o f th e d e c e d e n t an d D e fo r e s t J o hn s o n p a s s thr o u g h th e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f N e wt o w n an d G o d fr e y Av e nu e s j u s t aft e r th e mur d e r, F urth e rm o r e ) th e d e c e d e n t an d H ar dy w e r e fo un d at 5 6 0 0 N e wt o w n A v e nu e m o m e n t s a ft e r th e mur d e r. T h o m a s t e s t i fi e d th at h e 

### an d th e D e f e n d an t d ump e d th e d e c e d e nt ' s v e h i c l e at th e 

### 3 9 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g r o v e S tr e e t fo ll o w i n g th e mur d e r , an d th at th e y w i p e d i t d o wn w i th b l e a c h . T h e c e ll
- s i t e an a l y s i s s h o w e d th at b o th th e d e f e n d an t ' s p h o n e an d Th o m a s ' p h o n e w e r e ut i li z i n g c e ll t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o fth e 3 9 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g r o v e b e tw e e n 6 : 4 3 p . m . an d 7 : 2 6 p . m . o n th e d at e 

### o f th e i n c i d e n t.



### 2 0

### T h o m a s t e s t i fi e d th at a ll o f th e c o n s p i rat o r s m e t at D e F o r e s t Jo hn s o n ' s h o u s e o n 3 9 th an d

L an c a s t e r a ft e r th e mur d e r t o d i v i d e th e p r o c e e d s fr o m th e ro b b e r y . C e ll
- s i t e an a l y s i s d e t e rm i n e d th at th e c e ll p h o n e s attr i b ut ab l e t o T h o m a s , th e D e f e n d ant , C o r l e y , an d M c K e l v e y w e r e a ll
ut i l i z i n g th e s am e c e ll p h o n e t o w e r l o c at e d at 

### 3 9 th an d L an c a s t e r b e tw e e n 

### 6 : 3 8 

### p . m . an d 

### 8 : 0 4 p . m . 2 3 A s t o th e D e fe n d an t ' s c l a i m th at th e c o o p e r at i n g c o - d e fe n d an t w a s a c o rr u p t an d p o ll ut e d
s o ur c e , th e j ur

y w a s i n s tru c t e d o n a c c o mp l i c e t e s t i m o ny , b i a s , an d c r i m e n fa l s i w i th r e s p e c t t o e v a l u at i n g th e c r e d i b il i ty o f K e n Th o m as . T h e j ur y i s p r e s um e d t o fo ll o w th e c o urt ' s i n s tru c t i o n s o n th e l aw . S e e 

### C

o m . v . 

### C h m i e l , 3 0 A . 2 d 1 1 1 1 , 1 1 8 4 ( P a . 2 0 1 1 ) ( " Th e l aw p r e s um e s th at th e j ur y w i ll fo ll o w th e i n s tru c t i o n s o f th e c o urt . " c i t i n g 

### C

o m . v . S p o tz, 8 9 6 A . 2 d at 1 2 2 4 ( c i t at i o n o m i tt e d ) ; s e e a l s o 

### C

o m . v . 0 ' H a n n o n , 5 5 7 P a . 2 5 6 , 7 3 2 A .2 d 1 1 9 3 , 1 1 9 6 ( 1 9 9 9 ) ( " Ab s e nt e v i d e n c e t o th e c o n tr ar

y , th e j ur y i s 

### p r e s um e d t o h av e 

### fo ll o w e d th e tr i a l c o urt ' s i n s tru c t i o n s . " ) . T h e j ur y h e ar d t e s t i m o ny fr o m L a d a s h e Jo hn s o n , th e d e c e d e nt ' s g i r l f r i e n d , th at s h e s p o k e t o th e d e c e d e n t at a

p p r o x i m at e l y 

### 1 2 : 0 0 p . m . o n th e d ay o f h i s mur d e r . T h e d e c e d e nt t o l d Jo hn s o n th at h e w a s o n h i s w ay h o m e fr o m th e g ym . T h i s c o rr o b o rat e d K e n T h o m a s ' t e s t i m o ny

. th at w h e n th e D e fe n d an t 

### c a ll e d th e d e c e d e nt t o g e t h i m t o b ri n g 

### dr u g s t o th e 

### D e f

e n d an t ' s h o u s e , th e d e c e d e nt t o l d th e D e f e n d ant th at h e h a d j u s t l e ft th e 

### g ym an d w a s o n h i s w ay t o m e e t h i m . T h e j ur y h e ar d t e s t i m o ny fr o m D e b r a H o l m e s th at s h e o b s e rv e d tw o A fr i c an A m e ri c an m a l e s w a s h i n g a C h e v ro l e t C am ar o o n th e 2 8 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g r o v e S tr e e t at a p p ro x i m at e l y 

### 7 : 0 0 p . m . , i n th e e v e n i n g , a ft e r th e d e c e d e n t ' s mur d e r. H o l m e s t e s t i fi e d th at th e c ar s m e ll e d o f b le a c h an d w a s c o v e r e d i n a w h i t e s ub s t an c e . Th i s c o rr o b o rat e d K e n T h o m a s ' t e s t i m o ny th at h e

2 3 3 9 t h a n d L a n c a s t e r i s a p p ro x i m a t e l y o n e b l o c k fr o m 3 9 t h a n d P e n n s g r o v e S t r e e t. 

### 2 1an d th e D e f e n d an t d i s p o s e d o f

th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i c l e o n th e 3 8 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g ro v e S tr e e t a f t e r w i p i n g i t d o w n w i th b l e a c h . T h e j ur y h e ar d t e s t i m o ny fr o m O ffi c e r R o b e rt S t o tt th at th e F C C s r e c o v e r e d fr o m th e c r i m e s c e n e an d th e d e c e d e n t ' s b o dy w e r e fi r e d fr o m th e s am e . 9 m ill i m e t e r L u g e r fi r e arm . T hi s c o rr o b o r at e d K e n T h o m a s ' t e s t i m o ny th at th e d e c e d e n t h a d b e e n s h o t w i th a . 9 m i lli m e t e r g un th at b e l o n g e d t o c o - c o n s p i r at o r C hr i s t o p h e r C o rl e y . D e f e n d an t c l a i m s th at th e " th e c e ll p h o n e e v i d e n c e w a s . . . b a s e d u p o n an i n c o mp l e t e an a l y s i s an d i nv e s t i g at i o n o f o th e r c a ll s an d p e o p l e a s s o c i at e d w i th th e c o - o p e r at i n g c o d e f e n d ant. " T h e j ur

y h e ar d e v i d e n c e th at th e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o th e D e f e n d an t w a s u s i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s ab d u c ti o n , th e ar e a o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s mur d e r , an d th e ar e a w h e r e th e c o - c o n s p i r at o r s r e c o nv e n e d a ft e r th e mur d e r o f th e d e c e d e n t . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o th e D e f

e n d an t w a s ut ili z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s at t i m e s an d l o c at i o n s th at d i r e c tl y
c o rr e s p o n d e d w i th th e t i m e li n e an d l o c at i o n s s e t o ut 

### b y K e n T h o m a s a s h e w a s d e p i c t i n g th e e v e n t s o f th e d ay i n c l u d i n g : th e p ur c h a s e o f s u p p l i e s , th e k i dn a

p p i n g , th e mur d e r , an d th e
r e c o nv e n i n g o f th e c o - c o n s p i r at o r s a ft e r th e mur d e r . 

### F i n a ll y , th e d e fe n d an t ' s p h o n e an d th e d e c e d e n t ' s p h o n e w e r e i n c o n t a c t fi ft e e n (1 5 ) t i m e s o n th e m o rn i n g o f th e mur d e r . D e f e n d an t cl a i m s th at " th e c o nv i c t i o n s ar e b a s e d u p o n th e p r e p o s t e r o u s th e o r y th at th e d e f e n d an t arr an g e d fo r an ab d u c t i o n o f th e v i c t i m s i n fr o n t o f h i s o w n h o m e . " A c t

u a ll y , th i s w as n o t th e D e fe n d an t ' s o r i g i n a l p l an . T h e o r i g i n a l p l an w a s t o k i dn a p th e d e c e d e n t i n th e r e ar dr i v e w ay o f th e D e fe n d an t ' s h o u s e , w h i c h w a s a s e c l u d e d ar e a . T h at p l an w a s thw art e d b y th e D e f e n d an t ' s s t e p fath e r , w h e n h e t o l d th e D e f e n d an t th at h i s fr i e n d s h a d t o r e m o v e th e i r v e h i cl e fr o m th e r e ar dr i v e w ay . A s a r e s u l t , at th e l a s t m i nut e , th e D e f e n d an t t o l d h i s c o - c o n s p i r at o r s th at th e y w o u l d h av e t o k i dn a p th e d e c e d e n t fr o m th e c o rn e r w h e r e th e d e c e d e n t w a s s t an d i n g 

### b y h i s



### 2 2c ar. F urth e rm o r e , th i s " p r e p o s t e ro u s th e o ry " w a s b a s e d o n th e t e s t i m o ny o f tw o e y e w i tn e s s e s , v i d e o t a p e e v i d e n c e , an d c e ll s i t e an a l y s i s . T h e e v i d e n c e s h o w e d th at 

### th e D e fe n d ant an d h i s c o h o rt s c o n c o c t e d a p l an t o l ur e th e d e c e d e n t t o th e D e f

e n d an t ' s h o u s e w h e r e th e g r o u p , w h o li e i n w a i t , th e n a b d u c t e d th e d e c e d e n t an d 

### H ar dy at g unp o i n t , t o rt ur e d th e m , r o b b e d th e m , s h o t th e m , d i s p o s e d o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s v e h i cl e , an d d i v i d e d th e p ro c e e d s . B a s e d o n th e fo r e g o i n g , a s w e ll a s th e e v i d e n c e d i s c u s s e d i n th e s u ffi ci e n c y an a l y s i s b e l o w , th e j ur

y ' s v e r d i c t d o e s n o t s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e . T h e r e fo r e th e v e r d i c t w a s n o t
a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o fth e e v i d e n c e . 

### I S S U E II T h e a d j u d i c at i o n o f g u il t fo r F i r s t D e g r e e M ur d e r i s b a s e d u p o n i n s u ffi ci e n t e v i d e n c e w h e r e th e d e f

e n d an t d i d n o t s h o o t th e d e c e d e n t an d w h e r e th e e v i d e n c e th at h e i n t e n d e d t o k ill i s d e r i v e d s o l e l y 

### fr o m a c o - o p e r a t i n g 

### c o - d e f e n d an t .

" T h e s t an d ar d w e a

p p l y w h e n r e v i e w i n g th e s u ffi c i e n c y o fth e e v i d e n c e i s w h e th e r v i e w i n g a ll th e e v i d e n c e a dm i tt e d at tr i al i n th e li g h t m o s t fav o r ab l e t o th e v e r d i c t w i nn e r , th e r e i s s uf fi ci e n t e v i d e n c e t o e n ab l e th e fa c t - fi n d e r t o fi n d
e v e r y e le m e n t o f th e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t. I n a p p l y i n g th e a

b o v e t e s t , w e m ay n o t w e i g h th e e v i d e n c e an d s ub s t i t ut e o ur j u d g m e n t fo r th e fa c t - fi n d e r . I n a d d i t i o n , w e n o t e th at th e fa c t s an d ci r c um s t an c e s e s t ab l i s h e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th n e e d n o t p r e cl u d e e v e r y p o s s i b i l i ty o f i nn o c e n c e . A ny d o ub t s
r e g ar d i n g a d e fe n d an t ' s g u il t m ay b e r e s o l v e d b yth e fa c t - fi n d e r un l e s s th e e v i d e n c e i s s o w e ak an d i n c o n cl u s i v e th at a s a m att e r o fl aw n o p r o b ab i l i ty o f fa c t
m ay b e dr aw n fr o m th e c o mb i n e d c i r c um s t an c e s . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th m ay

2 3

### s u s t a i n i t s b ur d e n o f p r o v i n g e v e ry e l e m e n t o f th e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e

d o u b t b y m e an s o f 

### wh o ll y ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e . M o r e o v e r , i n a p p l y i n g th e ab o v e t e s t , th e 

### e n t i r e r e c o r d mu s t b e e v a l u at e d an d a ll 

### e v i d e n c e a c t u a ll y r e c e i v e d
mu s t b e c o n s i d e r e d . F i n a ll y , th e tr i e r o f fa c t , w h i l e p a s s i n g u p o n th e c r e d i b ili ty o f
w i tn e s s e s an d 

### th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e p r o d u c e d , i s fr e e t o b e li e v e a ll , p art 

### o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e . F urth e rm o r e , wh e n r e v i e w i n g a s u ffi c i e n c y cl a i m , [ th e ] C o urt i s r e qu i r e d t o g i v e th e p r o s e c ut i o n th e b e n e fi t o f a ll r e as o n ab l e i n f e r e n c e s t o b e draw n fr o m th e 

### e v i d e n c e . H o w e v e r , th e i n f

e r e n c e s mu s t fl o w fr o m fa c t s an d ci r c um s t an c e s p r o v e n i n th e r e c o r d , an d mu s t 

### b e o f s u c h v o l um e an d qu a li ty 

### a s t o o v e r c o m e th e p r e s ump t i o n o f i nn o c e n c e an d s at i s f

y th e j ury o fan a c c u s e d ' s g u i lt b e y o n d a r ea s o n ab l e d o ub t . T h e tr i e r o f fa c t c ann o t b a s e a c o nv i c t i o n o n c o n j e c t ur e an d s p e c u l at i o n an d a v e r d i c t w h i c h i s p r e m i s e d o n s u s p i c i o n 

### w ill fa i l e v e n un d e r th e li m i t e d s c rut i ny 

### o f
a p p e ll at e r e v i e w . " 

### C o m . v . S lo c u m , 8 6 A. 3 d 2 72 , 2 7 5 - 7 6 

### ( P a . S u p e r . 

### 2 0 1 4 ) ( ci t i n g 

### C

o m . v . B o s ti c k

, 9 5 8 A. 2 d 

### 5 4 3 , 5 6 0 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) , a

p p . d e n i e d , 9 8 7 A. 2 d 1 5 8 ( P a . 2 0 0 9 ) ( qu o t i n g 

### C o m . v . S m it h, 9 5 6 A . 2 d 10 2 9 , 1 0 3 5 - 3 6 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) 

### (

e n b a n e ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) ) .


### " T o s u s t a i n 

### a c o nv ic t i o n 

### fo r fir s t - d e g r e e mur d e r , 

### th e C o mm o nw e a l th mu s t p ro v e 

### th at: (I ) a hum an be i n g w a s un l aw fu ll y k ill e d ; ( 2 ) th e a c c u s e d w a s r e s po n s i b l e fo r th e ki lli n g ; an d ( 3 ) th e a c c u s e d a c t e d w i th m a li c e an d 

### a s p e c i fi c i nt e n t 

### t o k ill . " 

### C o m . v. W i lli a m s , 1 7 6 A . 3 d 

### 2 9 8 , 3 0 6
- 0 7 ( P a . S u p e r. 

### 2 0 1 7 ) . F i r s t - d e g r e e mur d e r 

### i s an 

### i nt e nt i o n a l k ill i n g , i . e . , 

### a " w ill fu l , d e l i b e r at e an d p r e m e d i t at e d k i lli n g . " 1 8 P a . C . S . 

### § 2 5 0 2 ( a ) , ( d ) . " A j ur y m ay i n f

e r m a li c e . .. b a s e d o n th e d e f e n d ant ' s u s e o f a d e a d l y w e a p o n o n a v i t a l p art o f th e v i c t i m ' s b o dy . " 

### I d
. at 3 0 8 ( c i t i n g 

### C

o m .
2 4 

### i



### . / jv , Hi

t ch o , 

### 6 3 3 P a . 5 1 , 1 2 3 A . 3 d 7 3 1 , 7 4 6 ( 20 1 5 ) ) . " S p e c i fi c i n t e n t 

### t o k i ll 

### m ay b e i n f e rr e d b y th e 

### u s e o f a d e a d l y w e a

p o n u p o n a v i t a l o r g an o f th e b o dy . " 

### C o m . v . M u rra y, IV, 6 2 3 P a . 5 0 6 , 5 2 9 ( P a . 2 0 13 ) ( c i t i n g 

### C

o m . v . S p e ll , 6 1 l P a . 5 8 4 , 2 8 A . 3 d 1 2 7 4 , 1 2 7 8 ( 2 0 1 1 ) ) . " T h at th i s p r e s ump t i o n i s a r e a s o n ab l e o n e fo un d e d o n hum an e xp e r i e n c e i s o b v i o u s : o n e d o e s n o t n o rm a ll y u s e a d e a d l y w e a

p o n o n a v i t a l p art o f an o th e r ' s b o dy un l e s s h e i n t e n d s t o ki l l . " 

### C o m . v. 0 ' S e a ro , 3 5 2 A . 2 d 3 0 , 3 7 ( P a . 1 9 7 6 ) . S e c t i o n 9 0 3 o fth e C r i m e s C o d e s e t s fo rth th e c r i m e o f c o n s p i r a c y .

" ( a ) D e fi n i t i o n o f c o n s p i r a c y . - A p e r s o n i s g u i l ty o f c o n s p i r a c y w i th an o th e r p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s t o c o mm i t a c r i m e 

### i f w i th th e i nt e n t o f p r o m o t i n g o r fa c i li t ati n g i t s c o mm i s s i o n h e : 

### (1 ) a g r e e s w i th s u c h o th e r p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s th at th e y o r o n e o r m o r e o f th e m wi ll e n g a g e i n c o n d u c t w h i c h c o n s t i t

ut e s s u c h c r i m e o r an att e mp t o r s o l i c i t at i o n t o c o mm i t s u c h c r i m e ; o r ( 2 ) a g r e e s t o a i d s u c h o th e r p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s i n th e p l ann i n g o r C o mm i s s i o n o f s u c h c r i m e o r o f an att e mp t o r s o l i c i t ati o n t o c o mm i t
s u c h c r i m e . " 

### 1 8 P a . C. S . § 

### 9 0 3 .
" T o s u s t a i n a c o nv i c t i o n fo r c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a c y , th e C o mm o nw e a l th mu s t e s t ab li s h th e d e f e n d an t : 1 ) e nt e r e d i nt o an a g r e e m e n t t o c o mm i t o r a i d i n an un l aw fu l a c t w i th an o th e r p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s ; 2 ) w i th a s h ar e d c r i m i n a l i nt e nt ; an d 3 ) an o v e rt a c t w a s d o n e i n f urth e r an c e o fth e
c o n s p i r a c y . " 

### C

o m . v . D e v i n e, 2 6 A .3 d 1 1 3 9 , 1 1 4 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) . " T h e c o n d

u c t o f th e p art i e s an d th e ci r c um s t an c e s s urr o un d i n g s u c h c o n d u c t m ay c r e at e a w e b o f e v i d e n c e li nk i n g th e a c c u s e d t o th e a ll e g e d c o n s p i r a c y b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t. " 

### I d. T h e c o n s p i r at o r i a l a g r e e m e nt


### 2 5

### " c an b e i n fe rr e d fr o m a v ar i e ty o f c i r c um s t an c e s i n cl u d i n g , b ut n o t l i m i t e d t o , th e r e l at i o n

b e tw e e n th e p art i e s , kn o w l e d g e o f an d p art i c i p at i o n i n th e c r i m e , an d th e c i r c um s t an c e s an d c o n d u c t o f th e p art i e s s urr o un d i n g th e c r i m i n a l e p i s o d e . " I d. , F e li c i a n o , 

### s u

p r a at 2 5 - 2 6 , C

o m . v . 

### W a tle y , 2 0 1 3 P A S u

p e r 3 0 3 , 8 1 A .3 d 10 8 , 1 1 5 - 1 6 ( 2 0 1 3 ) . T h e " [ g j e n e r a l ru l e o fl aw p e rt a i n i n g t o th e c u l p ab i l i ty o f c o n s p i r at o r s i s th at e a c h i n d i v i d u a l m e mb e r o fth e c o n s p i ra c y i s c r i m i n a ll y r e s p o n s i b l e fo r th e a c t s o f h i s c o c o n s p i rat o r s c o mm i tt e d i n furth e r an c e o f th e c o n s p i ra c y . 1 8 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 9 0 3 . " 

### C

o m . v. W a y n e, 7 2 0 A. 2 d 4 5 6 , 4 6 3
- 6 4 ( P a . 1 9 9 8 ) .
" A ll c o - c o n s p i r at o r s t o a mur d e r m ay b e fo un d g u il ty o ffi r s t - d e g r e e mur d e r , r e g ar d l e s s o f wh i c h p e r s o n a c t

u a ll y i n fli c t e d th e w o un d w h i c h r e s u l t e d i n d e ath . " C o m . v . S m a ll , 

### 7 4 1 A . 2 d 6 6 6 . 6 72 ( P a . 1 9 9 9 ) . S e e C o m . v, 

### G i b s o n , 

### 6 8 8 A . 2 d 1 1 5 2 , 1 1 6 7 - 6 8 ( P a . 1 9 9 7 ) ( fi n d i n g th at th e

" C o urt p r o p e rl y i n s tru c t e d o n a c c o mp li c e l i ab i l i ty i n p ro s e c ut i o n fo r fi r s t d e g r e e mur d e r b y s t at i n g th at p e r s o n i s g u il ty o f a c r i m e i fh e i s an a c c o mp l i c e o f an o th e r p e r s o n w h o c o mm i t s th e c r i m e an d th at h e i s an a c c o mp l i c e i f, w i th th e i n t e n t o fp ro m o t i n g o r fa c i l i t at i n g th e c o mm i s s i o n o f th e c r i m e , h e s o li c i t s , c o mm an d s , e n c o ura g e s . o r r e qu e s t s th e o th e r p e r s o n t o c o mm i t i t , o r h e a i d s , a g r e e s t o a i d , o r att e mp t s t o a i d th e o th e r p e r s o n i n p l ann i n g o r c o mm i tt i n g . " ) . S e e 

### C o m . v . Pa t te r s o n , 9 1 A. 3 d 5 5 , 6 6 - 7 ( P a . 2 0 1 4 ) ( fi n d i n g th at " c o nv i c t i o n fo r fi r s t - d e g r e e mur d e r a s a c o n s p i rat o r w a s s u

p p o rt e d b y c o n f

e s s e d s h o o t e r ' s t e s t i m o ny th at h e k i ll e d v i c t i m at r e qu e s t o f d e fe n d ant an d an o th e r c o - c o n s p i r at o r , w h o t o l d s h o o t e r th e y w an t e d v i c t i m k ill e d b e c au s e h e w a s a s n i t c h , b y e v i d e n c e th at s h o t gun u s e d i n k ill i n g h a d b e e n tr a d e d t o d e f e n d an t i n e x c h an g e fo r dru g s , an d b y e v i d e n c e o f a s e r i e s o f p h o n e c a ll s i n wh i c h d e f e n d ant i n s tr

u c t e d s h o o t e r o r o th e r c o - c o n s p i r at o r t o " t ak e c ar e o f ' o r " d e a l w i th " th e v i c t i m o n c e d e fe n d ant g av e th e w o r d . 1 8 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 2 5 0 2 ( a ) . " ) . V i e w i n g th e e v i d e n c e i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th a s v e r d i c t


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### w i nn e r , th e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e n t e d s u ffi c i e nt e v i d e n c e t o e s t ab l i s h th at th e D e f e n d an t c o n s p i r e d w i th K e n T h o m a s , B r an d o n M c K e l v e y , an d C hr i s t o p h e r C o r l e y t o mur d e r th e d e c e d e nt. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e fr o m K e n T h o m a s th at th e p l an t o c o mm i t th i s c r i m e w a s d e v i s e d b y th e D e fe n d ant. I t w a s th e D e f e n d ant a l o n e w h o h a d a c o nn e c t i o n t o th e d e c e d e nt. S i n c e th e d e c e d e n t k n e w th e D e f

e n d ant , th e D e fe n d ant d e c i d e d th at th e d e c e d e nt n e e d e d t o b e k i ll e d . T h e r e fo r e , th e D e fe n d ant h a d th e s p e c i fi c i n t e nt t o k ill th e d e c e d e nt. U n d e r th e d o c tr i n e o f c o n s p i r a c y , i t m att e r s n o t wh e th e r th e D e f e n d ant a c t

u a ll y fi r e d th e g un . I t w as a g r e e d t o b y th e m e mb e r s o f th e c o n s p i ra c y th at a k ill i n g w o u l d b e p art o f th e i r s c h e m e , s o a s t o av o i d a p p r e h e n s i o n b e c au s e th e d e c e d e nt c o u l d i d e nt i f y th e D e fe n d ant. B ut fo r th e D e f e n d an t ' s i nv o l v e m e n t a s th e p r i n c i p a l m a s t e rm i n d i n th i s c o n s p i r a c y , th e k i dn a p p i n g , r o b b e r

y , an d mur d e r w o u l d n o t h av e o c c urr e d . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e nt e d c o rr o b o rat i v e e v i d e n c e o f th e d e f e n d an t' s c o nn e c t i o n t o th e d e c e d e n t b y w ay o f e v i d e n c e th at th e D e fe n d an t i n i t i a ll y o b t a i n e d th e d e c e d e n t' s p h o n e numb e r b y h av i n g h i s s i s t e r , N a d i r ah A l s t o n , a s k L a d a s h e J o hn s o n fo r 

### i t. L a d a s h e Jo hn s o n t e s t i fi e d th at th e D e f

e n d ant c a ll e d th e d e c e d e nt o n h e r p h o n e . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th p r e s e nt e d e v i d e n c e th at th e d e f e n d ant w as p art o f a c o n s p i r a c y th at i nv o l v e d C o rl e y , M c K e l v e y an d T h o m a s b y w ay o f ci r c um s t an t i a l e v i d e n c e o b t a i n e d fr o m th e p h o n e r e c o r d s . T h e p h o n e attr i b utab l e t o th e D e fe n d ant m a d e fi ft e e n ( 1 5 ) c o nn e c t i o n s t o th e d e c e d e n t ' s p h o n e b e tw e e n 1 0 : 3 5 a . m . an d 2 : 0 4 p . m . o n th e d ay o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s mur d e r . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o th e D e fe n d ant m a d e tw e n ty - fo ur ( 2 4 ) c a ll s ut i l i z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s ab d u c t i o n b e tw e e n 9 : 4 3 a . m . an d 2 : 1 3 p . m . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o C hr i s t o p h e r C o rl e y w a s u s i n g th e s am e c e ll p h o n e t o w e r a s th e D e fe n d an t ' s p h o n e fo r e l e v e n
2 7( 1 1 ) c a ll s m a d e b e tw e e n 1 2 : 1 1 p . m . an d 1 : 5 8 p . m . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o th e D e fe n d an t m a d e

s i x 

### ( 6 ) c a ll s ut i l i z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f 

### 5 6 0 0 N e wt o w n A v e nu e b e tw e e n 4 : 3 7 p . m . an d 5 :4 4 p . m . o n th e d ay 

### o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s mur d e r . A t 5 : 4 4 

### p . m . th at s am e p h o n e w a s u s i n g th e s am e c e ll u l ar p h o n e t o w e r th at B r an d o n M c K e v l e y ' s p h o n e w a s u s i n g at 5 : 4 5 p . m . T h e p h o n e attr i b ut ab l e t o th e D e fe n d an t an d K e n T h o m a s ' p h o n e w e r e ut i li z i n g c e ll p h o n e t o w e r s i n th e ar e a o f 3 9 0 0 P e nn s g r o v e S tr e e t b e tw e e n 6 : 4 3 p . m . an d 7 : 2 6 p . m . th at s am e d ay . L a s tl y , th e p h o n e s anr i b ut ab l e t o M c K e l v e y , C o rl e y , T h o m a s , an d th e D e fe n d ant a ll u s e d th e s am e c e ll p h o n e t o w e r at 3 9 th S tr e e t an d L an c a s t e r A v e nu e , i n th e ar e a o fth e 3 9 0 0 b l o c k o f P e nn s g ro v e S tr e e t , b e tw e e n 6 : 3 8 p . m . an d 8 : 0 4 p . m . A ll o f th e s e l o c at i o n s c o rr o b o r at e K e n T h o m a s ' t e s t i m o ny o fth e c o - c o n s p i r at o r s ' m o v e m e n t s o n th e d ay o f th e d e c e d e n t ' s mur d e r. B a s e d o n th e fo r e g o i n g an d th e r e a s o n ab l e i n fe r e n c e s d e d u c e d th e r e fr o m , th e C o mm o nw e a l th e s t ab l i s h e d b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o ub t , b y b o th d i r e c t an d c i r c um s t an t i a l
e v i d e n c e th at th e D e f

e n d an t w a s g u i l ty o f fi r s t d e g r e e mur d e r . • 

### C O N C L U S I O N B a s e d o n th e fo r e g o i n g , th e j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n c e o f th e tr i a l c o urt s h o u l d b e a f fi rm e d . 

### B y th e C o urt :

R o s e M ar i e D e f i n o - N a s t a s i , J.



### 2 8

### C o mm o nw e a l th v . N y s ar e O ' N e il O A l s t o n

C P - 5 l
- C R - 0 0 0 7 4 1 6
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- 2 0 1 6 O p i n i o n 

### P r o o f o f S e rv i c e I h e r e b y c e rt i fy th at I am th i s d ay s e rv i n g th e fo r e g o i n g C o urt O r d e r u p o n th e p e r s o n ( s ) , an d i n th e m ann e r i n d i c at e d b e l o w , w h i c h s e rv i c e s at i s fi e s th e r e qui r e m e n t s o f P a . R. C r i m . P . 1 1 4 : 

### Ap p e ll an t :

T y p e 

### o f S e rv i c e : 

### C o un s e l :

T yp e 

### o f S e rv i c e : D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y :

T yp e 

### o f S e rv i c e :

D at e : 0 6 / 0 6 / 2 0 1 8 

### M r. N y s ar e O ' N e i l 

### O A l s t o n , JU 

### 5 0 7 1 S C I B e nn e r T o w n s h i p 

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ut i o n D r i v e B e ll e fo n t e , 

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### P l e a s e S p e c i fy : G ary S an fo r d S e rv e r , E s qu i r e 

### 5 2 1 0 3 D e l a i r e 

### L an d i n g 

### P h i l a d e l p h i a , P A 1 9 1 1 4 ( ) P e r s o n a l 

### ( x ) F i r s t C l a s s 

### M a il ( ) O th e r , 

### P l e a s e S p e c i fy : P h il a d e l p h i a D i s tr i c t 

### A tt o rn e y ' s O ffi c e Ap p e a l s 

### U n i t W i d e n e r B l d g . 3 S o uth 

### P e nn S qu ar e . P h i l a d e l p h i a , P A 1 9 1 0 7 ( ) P e r s o n a l ( ) F i r s t C l a s s M a il ( x ) I n t e r - O ffi c e



### o s e M ar i e D e F i n o - N a s t a s i