J - S33015 - 23

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

v. JOSHUA LEE DIEGDIO

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

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 866 WDA 2022 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered March 18, 2022 In the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County Criminal Division at

No(s): CP - 04 - CR - 0001795 - 2020 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., McCAFFERY, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E. * MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED: December 29, 2023 Appellant, Joshua Lee Diegdio, appeals from the judgment of sentence of an aggregate term of life imprisonment, without the possibility of parole, imposed after a jury convicted him of f irst - degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery. On appeal, Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his convictions, the court’s denial of his pretrial motion to suppres s evidence, and the court’s admission of certain evidence . After careful review, we affirm. The trial court set forth a detailed summary of the facts and procedural history of Appellant’s case, which we adopt herein. See Trial Court Opinion (TCO), 11/7/ 22, at 1 - 24. Briefly, Appellant was convicted of the above - stated offenses based on evidence that he shot Latrell Parker and Alessandra Briggs

_________________ ____________________ _______ * Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.J - S33015 - 23

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during a home invasion in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania , on September 25, 2020 . While Parker unfortunately died from his wounds, Briggs survived and was able to testify against Appellant at his trial, identifying him as one of the two men who forcibly entered her home and shot her and Parker. On March 2, 2022, the jury convicted Appellant of t he above - stated crimes. On March 18, 2022, he proceeded to sentencing. Although the Commonwealth sought the death penalty in this case, the jury could not reach a verdict on that penalty and, therefore, the court imposed an aggregate term of life impriso nment, without the possibility of parole. On March 28, 2022, Appellant filed a timely, post - sentence motion. O n July 26, 2022 (120 days later), Appellant filed a notice of appeal. However, a t no point between the filing of his post - sentence motion and the filing of his appeal did it appear that an order was entered formally denying the post sentence motion. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3)(a) (stating that, when presented with a post - sentence motion, the trial court “shall decide the post sentence motion ... within 120 days of the filing of the motion. If the judge fails to decide the motion within 120 days
... the motion shall be deemed denied by operation of law.” ) ; Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(B)(3)(c) (directing that, w hen th e court fails to decide a post - sentence moti on within 120 days, “the clerk of courts shall forthwith enter an order on behalf of the court
... that the post sentence motion is deemed denied” ). An appeal filed after a timely , post sentence motion is premature if the trial court has not yet entered an order disposing of the motion, or the clerk of courts has not entered an orderJ - S33015 - 23

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denying the motion by operation of law, as without any such order the judgment of sentence is not final. Commonwealth v. Claffey , 80 A.3d 780, 783 (Pa. Super. 2013) (finding that, “when post - sentence motions are filed, the judgment of sentence does not become final until those motions are decided”). Such an appeal, therefore, should be quashed as not from a final order. I

d. Accordingly, this Court entered a September 1, 2022 r ule to s how c ause o rder directing Appellant to show cause why the instant appeal should not be quashed as premature. On September 13, 2022, Appellant filed a response stating that a praecipe had be en filed with the trial court pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 301(d) (mandating that the clerk of the lower court shall prepare, sign, and enter appropriate orders upon praecipe of any party) . The trial court’s docket has now been updated, showing entries for a Sep tember 13, 2022 “Praecipe to Enter Order by Operation of Law,” and a September 15, 2022 “Order Denying Post - Sentence Motion by Operation of Law.” 1 Because there is now a final order denying Appellant’s post - sentence motion, we find that the instant appeal was timely filed from th at final order. See Pa.R.A.P. 905(a)(5) (stating that an initially premature notice of appeal shall be treated as filed on the date the appealable order is entered).

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 We note that the court’ s September 15, 2022 order shows that it improperly attempted to back date the denial of Appellant’s post - sentence motion to July 25, 2022.J - S33015 - 23

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Appellant thereafter complied with the trial court’s order to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal, and the trial court filed a responsive Rule 1925(a) opinion on November 7, 2022. Herein, Appellant states four issues for our review: 1. The trial court erred b y not granting Appellant ’ s motion for judgement [ sic ] of acquittal, at the conclusion of the Commonwealth ’ s case, on the basis that the Commonwealth failed to prove that ... Appellant was the actual person that committed the following charges: f irst [ - ]d egree m urder, c riminal a ttempt - m urder of the f irst d egree, a ggravated a ssault, r obbery – i nflict se rious b odily i njury, b urglary – o vernig h t a ccommodations [,]
... and c onspiracy to c ommit r obbery - i nflict s erious b odily i njury .... 2. The t rial c ourt erred by not granting Appellant ’ s motion for judgement [ sic ] of acquittal, at the conclusion of the Commonwealth ’ s case, on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to support all of the charges [ of:] first[ - ]degree murder, criminal attempt - murder of the fi rst degree, aggravated assault, robbery – inflict serious bodily injury, burglary – overnight accommodations [,] ... and conspiracy to commit robbery - inflict serious bodily injury. 3. The t rial c ourt erred and/or abused its discretion when it denied Appella nt ’ s omnibus pre - trial motion, including the motion to suppress the photo array of
... Appellant and the motion to suppress any evidence seized from
... Appellant ’ s ZTE cellular phone. 4. The t rial c ourt erred and/or abused its discretion when it determined Ap pellant ’ s statement about being treated like El Chapo was an admission and/or statement against interest and permitted the testimony of Deputy Sheriff [] Doug Hanna. Appellant ’ s Brief at 12 - 13 (unnecessary capitalization and footnote omitted). 2

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 Appellant indicates that his first two issues will be analyzed together and are supported by the same facts and law. See id. at 13 n.1.J - S33015 - 23

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In assessing Appellant’s claims, we have reviewed the briefs of the parties, the certified record, and the applicable law. We have also considered the thorough and well - reasoned opinion of the H onorable Mitchell P. Shahen of the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County . We conclude that Judge Shahen’s opinion correctly and cogently disposes of Appellant’s issues and demonstrates that no relief is due. 3 Therefore, we adopt Judge Shahen’s decision as our own, and affirm Appellant’s judgment of sentence for the reasons set forth therein. Judgment of sentence affirmed.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 3 We note that in Appellant’s third issue, he contends that the photo graphic array shown to Brittany Lavette was unduly suggestive because he is Latino, and “[t]here were no other Latino men in the line - up.” Appellant’s Brief at 56. Judge Shahen does not address this argument in his opinion, as it was not raised in Appellant’s omnibus pretrial motion to suppress . Therein, Appellant focused only on the fact that he was one of the only individuals in the array with visible tattoos on his neck. See Omnibus Pretrial Motion, 8/25/21, at 11 ¶ 38 (arguing that “[u]sing a photograph of [Appellant] as the only male with numerous tattoos is unduly suggestive and taints the identification”); id. at 11 ¶ 39 (stating that, “[a]t issue here is that while [Appellant’s] photograph is similar in skin tone and hair style and color with the other photographs it is the only one with highly visible tattoos[,] ... which uniquely and specifically draw attention to [Appellant]”) (emphasis omitted) ; id. at 12 ¶ 41 (“Fatal to the Com monwealth is that [Appellant’s] photograph is unduly suggestive as it portrays a characteristic unshared by other members depicted in the photographic array. This characteristic, namely the visible chest and neck tattoos, immediately draws attention to [A ppellant] in a manner that is likely to induce a misidentification as it causes his photograph to stand out more than the others.”). Moreover, Appellant does not point to where in the record of the suppression hearing that he raised the claim about his be ing the only Latino man in the lineup. Thus, Appellant has waived this argument on appeal. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (“Issues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.”).J - S33015 - 23

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12/29/2023Circulated 12/14/2023 10:21 AM

IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F B E A V E R C O UN T Y ,

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### 5 A v e , B e a v e r F al l s , P A ( " P r e mi s e s " ) , i n th e e arl y m o rn i n g h o u r s o f S e p t e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 . T h i s i n c i d e n t i n v o l v ed th e i n v a s i o n o f th e h o m e a n d s h o o ti n g d e ath o f v i c ti m L atr e ll P ark e r ( " P ark e r " ) , an d th e s h o o ti n g o f v i c ti m A l e s s an dr a B ri g g s ( " M s . B ri g g s" ) .
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c h ar g e d a s fo ll o w s , o n e ( 1 ) C o u n t o f M u r d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e ( F i r s t D e g r e e F e l o n y ) ; 7 o n e ( 1 ) C o u n t o f M u r d e r o f th e S e c o n d D e g r e e ( F i rs t D e g r e e F e l o n y ) ; 8
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### I d e n ti fi c a ti o n b y B r i tt a n y L a v e tt e T h i s c o u rt fi n d s th at th e b a c k g r o u n d o f e a c h p h o t o i s s i m il ar , e a c h p h o t o i s a h e a d s h o t , th e fa ci a l fe atu r e s o f a ll o f th e m e n ar e s i m i l ar an d a ll o f th e m e n d e p i c t e d ap p e ar t o be o f a s i mi l ar a g e . T h e m e n h a v e s i mi l ar fa c i al c h ar a c t e ri s ti c s , fa c i a l h ai r , an d h ai rli n e s . T h e r e i s a mi l d v ari ati o n i n th e c o mp l e x i o n o f th e i n d i v i d u a l s h o wn i n p h o t o g r ap h fi v e ( 5 ) an d th e p h o t o g rap h o f th e A p p e ll an t s h o w s a t att o o o n h i s n e c k w h il e th e o n l y o th e r m a n w i th an o b s e rv ab l e t att o o w a s th e m a n i n p h o t o g rap h t w o ( 2 ) . T h e c o mp l e t e n e c kl i n e o f th e m e n i n th e p h o t o g r ap h s o n e ( 1 ) , fi v e ( 5 ) an d s e v e n ( 7 ) ar e p arti a ll y o b s tru c t e d s o th at n o n e c k t att o o s ar e o b s e rv ab l e an d th e r e m ai n i n g m e n i n th e p h o t o g rap h s h a v e n o n e c k t att o o s . T h e s e v ari ati o n s d i d n o t m ak e A p p e ll a n t ' s p h o t o gr ap h s t an d o u t m o r e th an o th e rs . I n th i s c a s e , i n c o n s i d e ri n g th e t o t a l i ty o f th e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , th e c o u rt c o n cl u d e s th at B ri tt an y L a v e tt e ' s o u t - o f

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### n o t i mp o s e th e d e ath p e n al ty . T h e A p p e ll an t w a s s e n t e n c e d o n M ar c h 1 8 , 2 0 2 2 . T h e A p p e ll a n t w a s s e n t e n c ed o n C o u n t I t o li fe i mp ri s o n m e n t i n a S t at e P e n al o r C o rr e c ti o n al I n s ti tu ti o n o r F a c il i ty , w i th o u t th e p o s s i b i l i ty o f p ar o l e ; t e n t o tw e n ty y e ar s o n C o u n t II , t o ru n c o n c u rr e n tl y w i th th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s ed at C o u n t I ; t e n t o t w e n ty y e ar s o n C o u n t V , t o ru n c o n c u rr e n tl y w i th th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d at C o u n t I ; s e v e n t o t w e n ty y e ar s o n C o u n t V I , t o ru n c o n c u rr e n tl y w i th th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d o n C o u n t I ; s e v e n t o t w e n ty y e ar s o n C o u n t V II , t o ru n c o n c u rr e n tl y w i th th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s ed o n C o u n t I. N o s e n t e n c e w a s i mp o s ed fo r C o u n t I V , a s i t w a s d e e m e d t o h a v e m e r g e d w i th th e s e n t e n c e i mp o s e d o n C o u n t II . T h e A p p e ll an t fi l e d a P o s t - S e n t e n c e M o ti o n f o r R e l i e f fo ll o w i n g s e n t e n ci n g o n M ar c h 2 8 , 2 0 2 2 . A N o ti c e o f A p p ea l w a s fi l e d b y th e A p p e ll a n t o n J u l y 2 6 , 2 0 2 2 . T h e A p p e ll an t w a s o r d e r e d t o fi l e a C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t o f M att e r s C o mp l ai n e d o f o n A p p e al o n J u l y 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 . T h e A p p e ll a n t ti m e l y fi l e d a C o n ci s e

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### S t at e m e n t o f M att e r s C o mp l ai n e d o n A p p e al an d a C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t o f Err o rs

C o mp l ai n e d o n A p p e a l o n A u g u s t 9 , 2 0 2 2 . T RIAL T h e C o mm o n w e a lth c a ll e d mu lti p l e w i tn e s s e s du ri n g th e i r c a s e i n c h i e f. F o r p u rp o s e s o f th i s o p i n i o n , t e s ti m o n y o f A l e s s an dr a B ri g g s , J u s ti n L an e v e , J u s ti n S c h i l e , B o nn i e S e d l a c e k , D an i e l V i s c u s o , T i m o th y H i g b y , an d M i c h a e l M o tt o n w ill b e s u m m ari z e d . O n F e b ru ary 1 6 , 2 0 2 2 , A l e s s an dr a B ri g g s ( " M s . B ri gg s " ) w a s c a ll e d b y th e C o m m o n w e a lth t o t e s ti fy . M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi ed th at s h e h a d b e e n 

### i n a r e l ati o n s h i p w i th L atr e ll P ark e r ( " P ark e r " ) fo r al m o s t t w o y e ar s an d th at th e y h a d b e e n l i v i n g t o g e th e r at th e P r e mi s e s fo r ab o u t a m o n th at th e ti m e o f th e i n c i d e n t . ' ° M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at s h e kn e w o f P ark e r ' s fri e n d s , an d th at o n e o f P ark e r ' s fri e n d s , M i c h a e l W at e r s ( " W at e r s " ) , l i v e d thr e e h o u s e s d o w n fr o m th e P r e mi s e s . 1 6 M s . B ri g g s s t at e d th at P ark e r s o c i a li z e d an d h u n g o u t at W at e r s ' h o u s e fr e q u e n tl y . " M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at s h e kn e w o f a m an n i c kn am e d " P u n " w h o w as an a c q u ai n t an c e o f P ark e r , b u t th at s h e d i d n o t h a v e a fri e n d s h i p o r r e l ati o n s h i p w i th h i m . M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at s h e h a d s e e n P ark e r b ri e fl y i n t e r a c t w i th D i e g d i o ,

S T r ans c ri p t o f R e c o r d : F e b ru ary 1 6 , 2 0 2 2 , at 1 7 7 , Co m m o n w ea l th v . D i e g di o , ( 2 0 2 2 ) (N o. 1 7 9 5 o f 2 0 2 0 ). 1 6 1 d
. at 1 8 0. I d . at 1 8 3. P a g e 6 o f 5 6s t ati n g th at P ark e r h a d g i v e n D i e g d i o an e i g h th o f m ari j u an a b e fo r e th e i n c i d e n t . " " M s . B ri g g s i d e n ti fi e d P u n a s th e A p p e ll an t , J o s h u a D i e g d i o , du ri n g h e r c o u rtro o m t e s ti m o n y . " M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at o n th e d ay o f th e i n c i d e n t , s h e w o rk e d u n ti l 7 : 0 0 P M an d w h e n s h e r e tu rn e d h o m e P ark e r w a s o u t p l ay i n g b a s k e tb a ll . Wh e n P ark e r d i d arri v e h o m e l at e r , M s . B ri g g s an d P ark e r at e d i nn e r an d r e ti r e d t o b e d aro u n d 1 1 : 0 0 P . M . ? M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at s h e w a s w o k e n u p a c o u p l e h o u r s l at e r b y l o u d b an g i n g o n h e r fr o n t d o o r . M s . B ri g g s a s k e d w h o w a s th e r e an d r e c e i v e d n o r e s p o n s e . 2 1 M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at s h e h e ar d s o u n ds c o n s i s t e n t w i th s o m e o n e w al ki n g d o w n th e fr o n t s t e p s o f h e r p o r c h , s o s h e th o u g h t w h o e v e r w a s at h e r d o o r h a d l e ft . A m o m e n t l at e r , M s . B ri g g s h e ar d s o u n d s c o n s i s t e n t w i th s o m e o n e w al ki n g u p th e s t e p s o f h e r fr o n t p o r c h an d h e ar d p o u n d i n g at h e r fr o n t d o o r a g ai n . M s . B ri g g s a s k e d a g ai n w h o w as th e r e , an d th e p e r s o n r e s p o n d e d , " i t ' s B i g P u n , I n e e d s o m e fu c ki n g w e e d . " 2 2 M s . B ri g g s t o l d h i m i t w a s o n e i n th e m o rn i n g an d t o g o a w ay . 2 3 A t th at p o i n t M s . B ri g g ' s fr o n t d o o r w a s ki c k e d i t , tw o m e n e n t e r e d th e p r e mi s e s w i th g u n s . P ark e r r o ll e d o ff th e b ed , att e mp ti n g t o c o n c e al h i m s e l f fr o m v i e w . 2 4

I " I d. at 1 8 4 1 9 I d . 3 0 1 d. at 1 8 8 2 ' 1 d. at 1 9 2 3 1 d. at 1 9 3 2 3 I d . 2 4 I d . P a g e 7 o f 5 6M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at th e m e n w e r e w e ari n g h o s p i t a l m a s k s , th e A p p e ll an t

w a s w e ari n g a g r ay h o o d i e an d b a s k e tb a ll s h o rt s , an d th e o th e r m a l e ( P atri c k H ay n e s ) w a s w e ari n g s w e atp an t s an d a b l a c k h o o d i e . 2 5 M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at w h e n D i e g d i o s p o k e t o h e r h e p u l l e d d o w n h i s m a s k . 

## 3 ° M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at th e m e n b e g an as ki n g h e r w h e r e P ark e r w a s w h il e w ai v i n g th e i r g u n s i n h e r fa c e . 2 7 A t th i s p o i n t , P ark e r s t o o d u p fr o m th e s i d e o f th e b e d an d a sk ed th e A p p e l l an t w h y h e w a s d o i n g th i s . ? T h e A p p e l l an t a s k e d P ark e r fo r m o n e y , w h e n P ark e r g av e th e A p p e ll an t c a s h , h e d e m an d e d m o r e m o n e y . 2 9 P ark e r d i r e c t e d th e A p p e ll an t t o a b a g c o n t ai n i n g s i n g l e an d fi v e - d o ll ar b ill s th at h e k e p t b e h i n d a t e l e v i s i o n o n t o p o f h i s fi r e p l a c e m an t e l . 3 T h e A p p e l l an t r e m o v ed th e t e l e v i s i o n an d p l a c e d i t o n th e fl o o r . 3 1 T h e A p p e ll a n t o p e n e d th e b a g , a s k e d P ark e r i f th at w a s i t , at w h i c h p o i n t h e tu rn ed ar o u n d an d s h o t P ark e r . 3 2 M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at o n c e s h e h e ar d g u n s h o t s , s h e cl o s e d h e r e y e s , b a c k e d u p a g ai n s t th e w a ll an d l o w e r e d h e r s e l f o n th e fl o o r , an ti ci p ati n g th at s h e w o u l d b e s h o t n e x t . ° ? M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at H ay n e s a s k e d th e A p p e l l an t wh y h e s h o t P ark e r, b e fo r e r e c e i v i n g a r e s p o n s e , H ayn e s s h o t M s . B ri g g s . "

2 5 1 d. a t 1 9 5 2 6 I d . I d. at 1 9 4 2 8 I d . 2 9 I d. at 1 9 7 3 0 I d . 3 1 4. 3 2 I d . 3 3 1 d. at 1 9 7 , 1 9 8 3 4 1 d. at 1 9 8 P a g e 8 o f 5 6A ft e r b e i n g s h o t b y H ayn e s , M s . B ri g g s att e mp t e d t o r e a c h fo r h e r c e ll

p h o n e t o c a l l 9 1 1 . ° O n c e M s . B ri g g s r e a c h e d h e r p h o n e , th e s c r e e n i l l u mi n at e d , at w h i c h p o i n t th e A p p e ll a n t w a l k e d o v e r t o h e r an d s h o t h e r i n th e c h e s t. 3 6 M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at s h e p l ay e d d e a d u n ti l b o th m e n fl e d o u t th e b a c k d o o r . 3 7 O n c e M s . B ri g g s f

e l t s a fe , s h e c a ll e d 9 11 an d w a s ai rli ft ed t o a h o s p i t al i n P i tt s b u r g h . 3 8 M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at s h e w a s s h o t a t o t a l o f s i x ti m e s d u ri n g th e i n ci d e n t ; an d r e c e i v e d g u n s h o t w o u n d s t o h e r b a c k , l e g , c h e s t , an d h i p . 3 9 M s . B ri g g s s t at e d th at th e b u ll e t fr a g m e n t s i n h e r b o d y c ann o t b e r e m o v e d b e c au s e th e y ar e i n cl o s e p ro x i mi ty t o v i t a l o r g an s an d ar e a s th at w o u l d c au s e a d d i ti o n al m e d i c al i s s u e s . " Wh il e M s . B ri g g s w a s r e c e i v i n g c ar e at U P M C P r e s b yt e ri an E m e r g e n c y R o o m , a fe m al e d e t e c ti v e c am e t o s e e h e r an d a s k e d h e r t o l o o k at a p h o t o l i n e u p . 4 1 M s . B ri g g s t e s ti fi e d th at s h e w a s n o t i n th e e m o ti o n a l s t at e t o c o o p e r at e w i th th e l i n e u p at th i s ti m e an d th at s h e a s k e d th e d e t e c ti v e t o l e a v e . 4 2 T h e C o m m o n w e a l th ' s n e x t w i tn e s s w a s J u s ti n L an e v e ( " L a n e v e " ) , a s t at e tro o p e r fo r th e P e n n s y l v a n i a S t at e P o l i c e . 4 3 L an e v e t e s ti fi e d th at h e w as p atr o lli n g B e a v e r F a ll s o n th e n i g h t o f S e p t e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 , w i th h i s p artn e r , T ro o p e r D ill o n

3 ° J d. at 1 9 9 3 6 I d . 3 7 1 d. at 2 0 0 " 1 d. at 2 0 0 , 2 0 2 3 I d. at 2 1 9 " 1 d. at 2 0 3 " I d. at 2 0 5 I d. at 2 0 6 4 T rans c ri p t o f R ec o r d : F e b ru ary 1 7 , 2 0 2 2 , at 6 2 , 6 3 , Co m m o n w e a l th v . D i e g d i o , ( 2 0 2 2 ) (N 0 . 1 7 9 5 o f 2 0 2 0 ) . P a g e 9 o f 5 6B u rk arth . 4 4 L an e v e p r o v i d e d t e s ti m o n y i n c o n j u n c ti o n w i th C o m m o n w e a lth E x h i b i t 8 4 a , w h i c h c o n s i s t e d o f o n b o ar d c am e ra fo o t a g e fr o m h i s p atro l c ar . 4 5 L an e v e t e s ti fi e d th at th e v i d e o d e p i c t e d h i m an d h i s p artn e r p u lli n g o v e r a v e h i c l e i n B e a v e r F a ll s ab o u t a b l o c k a w ay fr o m th e P r e mi s e s . 4 6 L an e v e t e s ti fi ed th at at a p o i n t i n th e v i d e o , ti m e s t amp e d I : 1 6 A . M . , h e o b s e rv e d a w h i t e J e e p Gr an d C h e r o k e e g o th r o u g h th e i n t e r s e c ti o n at a r ap i d p a c e w i th o u t c o mi n g t o a c o mp l e t e s t o p at th e s t o p s i g n . 4 7 L an e v e t e s ti fi e d th at h e f o u n d i t o d d th at s o m e o n e w o u l d fai l t o c o m e t o a c o mp l e t e s t o p an d tr a v e l s o q u i c kl y n e x t t o a p atr o l c ar th at h a d i t s l i g h t s a c ti v at e d w h i l e p o li c e w e r e c o n d u c ti n g a tr a f fi c s t o p . 4 8 I mm e d i at e l y a ft e r o b s e rv i n g th e v e h i cl e , L an e v e s c an n e d th e B e a v e r C o u n ty c h ann e l an d b e c am e a w ar e o f s h o t s fi r e d n e arb y o n 

### 5 " A v e n u e i n th e c i ty o f B e a v e r F al l s . " L an e v e an d h i s p artn e r arri v e d o n th e s c e n e a ft e r th e tr a f fi c s t o p e n d e d . " L an e v e s p o k e w i th h i s p artn e r an d m e mb e r s o f th e B e a v e r F a ll s P o li c e D e p artm e n t ab o u t th e w h i t e J e e p G r a n d C h e r o k e e h e o b s e rv e d d u ri n g th e tr a f fi c s t o p . 5 1 Lat e r th at n i g h t , o n c e th e s c e n e w a s cl e ar e d , L an e v e an d h i s p artn e r att e mp t e d t o l o c at e th e J e e p w i th o u t s u c c e s s . 5 2

44 I d . at 6 5 " 1 d. at 6 8 4 I d. at 6 9 4 1 4. 4 " 1 4.

" 9 1 d. at 7 0 s o I d . 9 1 d. at 7 9 9 1 d . P a g e 10 o f 5 6T h e C o m m o n w e a l th c a ll e d D e t e c ti v e J u s ti n S ch l i e ( " D e t . S c h l i e " ) o f th e

B e a v e r F a ll s P o li c e D e p artm e n t. 5 3 D e t. S c h li e w a s o n d u ty th e n i g h t o f S e p t e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 , an d h a d j u s t b e e n r e li e v e d o f h i s s h i ft w h e n h e r e c e i v e d a c a ll fr o m C ap t ai n M arti n , o f th e B e a v e r F a ll s P o l i c e D e p artm e n t , a s ki n g h i m t o r e s p o n d t o a s h o o ti n g s c e n e . ? C ap t ai n M arti n s t at e d th at o n e v i c ti m w a s d e c e a s e d an d an o th e r s h o o ti n g v i c ti m h a d b e e n ai rl i ft e d t o a h o s p i t al i n P i tt s b u r g h . 5 5 C ap i t al M arti n a s k e d D e t. S c h l i e i f h e kn e w s o m e o n e b y th e s tr e e t n am e

" P u n . " 5 6 D e t. S c h l i e t e s ti fi ed th at at th i s p o i n t i n ti m e , h e kn e w o f a m an n am e d J o s h D i e g d i o w h o w e n t b y th e n i c kn am e o f Pu n . 5 7 D e t. S c h li e c o rr e c tl y i d e n ti fi e d th e A p p e l l an t a s P u n i n th e c o u rt r o o m . ° D e t. S c h l i e t e s ti fi e d th at o n c e h e w a s o n th e s c e n e , h e w a s a s k e d t o g o t o th e p o li c e s t ati o n i n o r d e r t o a s s i s t th e i n v e s ti g ati o n , at w h i c h p o i n t h e b e g an w o rki n g o n a p h o t o l i n e u p o f D i e g d i o . " D e t . S c h l i e t e s ti fi e d th at h e b e g an w o rki n g o n th e li n e u p ri g h t a w ay b e c au s e a p o t e n ti al s u s p e c t w a s i d e n ti fi e d , an d d e t e c ti v e s b e l i e v e d th at a v i c ti m w a s i n c ri ti c a l c o n d i ti o n i n P i tt s b u r g h .

8 3 1 d . a t 8 2 9 I d. at 8 3 8 1 d. at 8 3 , 8 4 5 6 I d. at 8 4 9 7 1 4. I d. " 9 I d. at 8 5 ; s e e a ls o , C o mm o n w e a l th E x hi b i t 8 5 60 Id
. P a g e 11 o f 5 6

### D e t. S c h l i e t e s ti fi e d th at th e p h o t o arr ay w a s g e n e r at e d thr o u g h a d at ab a s e

c a ll e d JN E T . 6 1 D e t. S c h li e t e s ti fi e d th at JN E T i s au th o ri z e d b y th e C o m m o n w e al th o f P e nn s y l v an i a t o a c c e s s dri v e r ' s li c e n s e p h o t o s th at c an b e u s e d i n a p h o t o li n e u p ; th e p h o t o s ar e s e l f

- g e n e r at e d b y e i th e r th e s u b j e c t th at i s s e ar c h e d fo r o r a d e s c ri p ti o n o f th e s u b

j e c t . ° D e t . S c h l i e t e s ti fi e d th at th e l i n e u p w a s e i g h t p a g e s , o n e p h o t o p e r p a g e , b e c au s e o f th e p r o t o c o l h e i s r e q u i r e d t o fo ll o w . 6 3 D e t. S c h l i e t e s ti fi e d th at th e y g e n e r a l l y u s e e i g h t p h o t o s o f d i ffe r e n t i n d i v i d u a l s . O n c e D e t. S c h l i e c o mp l e t ed th e li n e u p , i t w a s e m ail ed t o D e t ec ti v e B o nn i e S e d l a c e k , w h o w a s i n r o u t e t o th e h o s p i tal i n P i tt s b u r g h t o s e e M s . B ri g g s at th i s ti m e . D e t e c ti v e S c h l i e t e s ti fi e d ab o u t th e i n s tru c ti o n s g i v e n w h e n i n v e s ti g at o r s c o n d u c t p h o t o arr ay s w i th v i c ti m s --d e t e c ti v e s t e ll v i c ti m s t o t ak e th e i r ti m e , t o l o o k at e a c h p h o t o g r ap h , an d t o m ak e s u r e th at th e y v i e w e v e ry p h o t o b e fo r e th e y m ak e th e i r d e ci s i o n . 6 6 T h e p h o t o arr ay an d i d e n ti fi c ati o n ar e ti m e d , w h e n th e v i c ti m i d e n ti fi e s a s u s p e c t , i n v e s ti g at o r s h a v e th e m i n i ti a l n e x t t o th e p h o t o th e y s e l e c t e d . 6 7 D u ri n g th e p h o t o gr ap h i c arr ay , th e v i c ti m i s p r e s e n t e d w ith th e p h o t o g r ap h s w h il e th e p h o t o g r ap h s ar e fa c e d o w n an d th e s u b j e c t s ar e n o t v i s i b l e . T h e v i c ti m i s th e n t o l d th at w h e n e v e r th e y ar e r e a d y th e i n v e s ti g at o r w ill b e g i n t o

6 J 4. 1 d. at 9 4 0 1 d. at 8 5 6 1 d. 6 1 d. at 8 7 66 I d . at 9 8 6 7 1 d. at 9 9 P a g e 12 o f 5 6fl i p th e p h o t o g r ap h s o v e r o n e at a ti m e. T h e v i c ti m s ar e a d v i s e d t o l o o k at e v e ry

p a g e d u ri n g th i s p r o c e s s . 6 9 D e t. S c h l i e t e s ti fi e d th at o n S e p t e mb e r 2 6 th , w h i l e h e w a s w o rki n g th e d ay s h i ft , M s . B ri g g s c a ll e d th e s tati o n w an ti n g t o s p e ak t o s o m e o n e i n r e fe r e n c e t o th e i n c i d e n t . " D e t. S c h l i e r e tu rn ed M s . B ri g g s ' p h o n e c al l , at w hi c h p oi n t h e w as t o l d s h e h a d r e c e i v e d a F a c e b o o k r e q u e s t fr o m th e m a l e th at h a d s h o t h e r b o y fri e n d . D e t. S c h li e t e s ti fi e d th at w h e n h e a s k e d w h o th at m a l e w a s , M s . B ri g g s s t at ed th e F a c e b o o k n am e w a s J o s h u a D i e g d i o . 7 1 D e t. S c h li e p u ll e d u p D i e g d i o ' s F a c e b o o k an d a s k e d i f M s . B ri g g s c o u l d d e s c ri b e th e m a l e s h e w a s l o o ki n g at. 72 S h e s t at e d th at i t w a s a l ar g e , li g h t - s ki n n e d b l a c k m a l e w e ari n g a g r ay j u mp s u i t an d th at h e w as c ro s s i n g h i s fi n g e r s . 7 3 D e t. S c h l i e as k ed M s . B ri g g s 

### i f s h e kn e w th i s m a l e , an d s h e s t at e d s h e kn e w h i m a s Pu n , an d th at h e w a s th e m a l e th at s h o t h e r . 7 4 D e t. S c h l i e a s k ed h o w s h e kn e w h i m , an d s h e s t at e d th at s h e kn e w h i m fr o m M i d l an d an d th at s h e h a d s e e n h i m h u g P ark e r e arl i e r i n th e d ay p ri o r t o th e s h o o ti n g . ' T h e C o m m o n w e a l th c a ll e d D e t e c ti v e B o nn i e S e d l a c e k ( " D e t . S e d l a c e k " ) o f th e B e a v e r C o u n ty D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y ' s O f fi c e t o t e s ti fy . 7 6 D e t. S e d l a c e k r e s p o n d ed

6 1 d . at 1 0 8 0 9 1 d. 70 1 d. at 8 9 7 1 d. at 9 0 72 I d . 1 3 I d . 7 I d. at 9 1 7 5 1 4. 7 6 1 d. at 1 1 0 P a g e 1 3 o f 5 6

### t o U M P C P r e s b yt e ri an o n th e n i g h t o f th e i n c i d e n t an d r e a c h e d th e h o s p i t al at

ab o u t 2 : 1 0 am . " U p o n h e r arri v al , M s . B ri g g s w a s i n th e tr au m a b ay b e i n g tr e at e d . 7 8 

### D e t. S e d l a c e k w a s ab l e t o s p e ak w i th M s . B ri g g s o n c e s h e w a s m o v e d t o a r o o m i n th e e m e r g e n c y r o o m . " M s . B ri g g s d e s c ri b e d th e i n c i d e n t t o D e t . S e d l a c e k , an d s t at e d th at s h e kn e w o n e o f th e m e n w h o s h o t h e r w e n t b y 

### " P u n . 8 D e t. S e d l a c e k r e l ay e d th at i n fo rm ati o n t o i n v e s ti g at o r s o n th e i n i ti al s c e n e . 8 1 

### D e t. S e d l a c e k t e s ti fi ed th at w h i l e s h e w a s i n th e e m er g e n c y r o o m w i th M s . B ri g g s th i n g s w e r e c h a o ti c an d th e r e w a s a fl u rry o f a c ti v i ty du e t o M s . B ri g g s b e i n g tr e at ed fo r h e r i n

j u ri e s . " D e t . S e d l a c e k t e s ti fi e d th at M s . B ri g g s " w a s a w r e c k , " an d th at s h e h a d b e e n a d mi n i s t e r e d m e d i c ati o n thr o u g h an I V mu lti p l e ti m e s du ri n g th e c o u r s e o f th e i r c o n v e r s ati o n . " D e t . S e d l a c e k t e s ti fi e d th at M s . B ri g g s w a s v e ry u p s e t an d d i s tra c t e d at d i ff e r e n t p o i n t s du ri n g th e i r c o n v e r s ati o n , an d c ry i n g o n an d o ff , h o w e v e r s h e w a s fo c u s e d at s o m e p o i n t s . D e t . S e d l a c e k s ai d th at M s . B ri g g s w a s i n q u i s i ti v e ab o u t w h at w a s h ap p e n in g b a c k at th e s c e n e ,

77 I d . at 11 2 7 1 d. 7 9 1 d. at 1 1 3 8 0 I d. at 1 1 5 8 1 I d . 1 d. at 1 1 4 1 d. a t 1 3 7 8 4 I d . 8 5 1 d. at 1 3 8 P a g e 1 4 o f 5 6

### t a l ki n g t o th e n u r s e s ab o u t h e r i n j u ri e s , an d try i n g t o fi n d o u t i n fo rm ati o n ab o u t P ark e r . 8 6 

### D e t. S e d l a c e k att e mp t e d t o a d mi n i s t e r e d a p h o t o l i n e u p t o M s . B ri g g s w h i l e s h e w a s i n th e e m e r g e n c y r o o m . " D e t. S e d l a c e k t e s ti fi e d th at s h e w a s a c c o mp an i e d b y a s e c u ri ty g u ar d w h o a s s i s t e d i n ti mi n g th e p h o t o g r ap h i c arr ay , b u t th at n o o th e r m e d i c al p e r s o n n e l w e r e p r e s e n t i n th e r o o m w h e n th e p h o t o arr ay w a s a dmi n i s t e r e d t o M s . B ri g g s . " D e t . S e d l a c e k t e s ti fi e d th at s h e g a v e i n s tru c ti o n s t o M s . B ri g g s , i n cl u d i n g h o w t o o b s e rv e th e p h o t o gr ap h s , an d t o l d h e r th at th e i n d i v i d u al m ay o r m ay n o t b e d e p i c t e d i n th e p h o t o s . " I f M s . B ri g g s w a s n o t I 0 0 % c e rt ai n th at th e p h o t o g rap h d e p i c t e d th e s u s p e c t , s h e w a s a d v i s e d th at s h e s h o u l d n ' t s e l e c t an y o n e . " D e t . S e d l e c ak b e g an l ayi n g th e p h o t o g r ap h s o n e at a ti m e i n fr o n t o f M s . B ri g g s . 9 1 

### D e t. S e d l a c e k t e s ti fi e d th at s h e w o u l d t ak e th e fi r s t p h o t o g r ap h a w ay , an d th e n p u t d o w n th e s e c o n d p h o t o , t ak e th e s e c o n d o n e a w ay an d p u t d o w n th e th i r d o n e , an d c o n ti n u e d t o d o s o fo r al l e i g h t p h o t o g r ap h s . " D e t e c ti v e S ed l a c e k s t at e d th at i n th e e v e n t s o m e o n e n e ed s t o s e e a p h o t o g r ap h i n th e arr ay a g ai n , s h e w o u l d s t art fr o m th e b e g i n n i n g o f th e s eq u e n c e an d n o t j u s t h an d o v e r o n e p h o t o g r ap h . D e t. S e d l e c ak t e s ti fi e d th at th i s p r o c e s s t o o k u n d e r fi v e

8 6 1 d. at 1 3 9 8 7 I d . 1 d. at 1 3 1 9 1 d. at 1 2 0 90 I d . 9 1 I d . 9 ? 1 4. P a g e 1 5 o f 5 6mi n u t e s , M s . B ri g g s d i d n o t d e p i c t an y b o d y an d r e fu s e d t o p arti c i p at e an y fu rth e r

at th at ti m e . T h e C o mm o n w e a lth c a ll e d D e t e c ti v e D an i e l V i s c u s o o f th e B e a v e r C o u n ty D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y ' s O f

fi c e . 9 4 D e t. V i s c u s o t e s ti fi e d th at h e p u ll e d s u rv e ill an c e fr o m s e v e r al ar e a s ar o u n d th e s c e n e an d o b s e rv e d a w h i t e J e e p Gr an d C h e ro k e e i n th e ar e a at th e ti m e o f th e i n c i d e n t . " D e t . V i s c u s o s t at ed th at h e w a s ab l e t o d e t e rmi n e th at th e J e ep G r an d C h e r o k e e w a s r e n t e d fr o m an E n t e rp ri s e C ar R e n t al , o n D arli n g t o n R o a d i n C h i p p e w a , u n d e r M i c h a e l W at e r s n am e . 9 6 T h e c ar h a d b e e n r e n t e d fr o m mi d

- S e p t e mb e r t o O c t o b e r 

### 1 " . T h e C o mm o n w e a l th ' s n e x t w i tn e s s w a s T i m o th y H i g b y ( " D e t. H i g b y" ) , D e t e c ti v e an d C ap t ai n f o r th e B e a v e r C o u n ty F a ll s P o li c e D e p artm e n t. 9 7 A t th e ti m e o f th e i n ci d e n t , D e t. H i g b y w a s a D e t e c ti v e an d S ar g e n t fo r th e B e a v e r C o u n ty F a ll s P o l i c e D e p artm e n t. 9 8 H e h a d b e e n a s s i g n e d l e a d i n v e s ti g at o r fo r th i s i n c i d e n t . 

# ° D e t. H i g b y s t at e d th at a s p art o f th e i n v e s ti g ati o n h e c o ll e c t e d s u rv e ill an c e fr o m s e v e r al ar e a s ar o u n d th e p r e mi s e s . ' H i g b y t e s ti fi e d th at h e v i e w e d s u rv e ill an c e fr o m Fr an kl i n T o w e r , E arl y H e a d S t art , S w e e t P e a ' s G a s S t ati o n , an d

9 I d. at 1 2 1 94 I d . at 1 4 3 9 · I d. at 1 5 3 6 I d. at 1 5 4 9 7 1 d. a t 1 5 7 9 8 I d . 99 I d . at 1 5 8 1 o I d. at 2 4 5 P a g e 1 6 o f 5 6

### a S h e e t z g a s s t ati o n l o c at e d i n th e ar e a . " D e t . H i g b y t e s ti fi e d th at s u rv e i l l an c e

s h o w e d a w h i t e J e e p Gr an d C h e r o k e e (" v e h i c l e " ) tr a v e l l i n g n o rth an d e n t e ri n g th e 1 4 0 0 b l o c k o f T h o m a s A l l e y . " A t o n e p o i n t , th e fo o t a g e s h o w s th e v eh i c l e ' s l i g h t s s w i t c h o ff

, th e c ar e v e n tu a ll y p u ll s o ff t o th e s i d e o f th e a ll e y an d r e m ai n s th e r e . H i g b y t e s ti fi e d th at th i s w a s n o t e w o rth y , s u s p i ci o u s a c ti v i ty i n h i s i n v e s ti g ati o n , e s p e c i al l y w h e n b e i n g r e v i e w e d i n l i g h t o f a h o mi c i d e . ' S u rv e i l l an c e w a s al s o p u l l e d fr o m 1 6 2 2 6 " A v e n u e . " P o l i c e o b s e rv ed th at th i s l o c ati o n h a d an u n s e c u r e d s y s t e m an d a c am e r a fa c i n g o u t t o w ar d s th e fr o n t p o r c h w h i c h p o s s i b l y c ap tu r e d th e r o a d w ay . ' ° T h i s fo o t a g e w a s r e c o v e r e d , an d i t al s o s h o w e d a w h i t e J e e p Gr an d C h e r o k e e i n th e ar e a . ' ° T h e v e hi cl e w a s s p o tt e d a g ai n o n S w e e t P e a ' s s e c u r e d s u rv e ill an c e fo o ta g e , tr a v e l i n g u p R o u t e 1 8 g o i n g N o rth . I T h e v e h i c l e w a s s e e n a g ai n o n s e c u r e d s u rv e ill an c e fo o t a g e p u ll e d fr o m S h e e t z tr a v e lli n g n o rth o n R o u t e 1 8 , ti m e s t amp e d 1 : 1 9 : 1 1 A. M . I T h e C o mm o n w e al th c al l e d M i c h a e l M o tt o n (" M o tt o n " ) a s a w i tn e s s . I M o tt o n l i v e d i n B e a v e r F al l s at th e S u p e r 8 M o t e l an d w a s a fri e n d o f P ark e r. '

I o ! J d. a t 2 2 5 1 0 I d. 1 0 3 I d . I o I d. at 2 3 4 1 0 I d. 1 o I d. at 2 3 7 I 0 I d. at 2 4 7 I o8 I d. at 2 4 9 I o9 T r ans c ri p t o f R ec o r d : F e b ru ary 2 2 , 2 0 2 2 , at 1 6 , Co m m o n w e a l th v. D i e g d i o, ( 2 0 2 2 ) (N o . 1 7 9 5 o f 2 0 2 0 ) . I o I d. at 1 9 P a g e 1 7 o f 5 6

### M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h e o ft e n dr o v e a Wh i t e J e e p G ran d C h e ro k e e du ri n g

S e p t e mb e r 2 0 2 0 th at w a s r e n t e d u n d e r M i c h a e l W at e r s ' ( " W at e r s " ) n am e . 1 1 1 

### M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h e w a s c h ar g e d w i th c o n s p i ra c y t o c o m mi t r o b b e ry i n c o n n e c ti o n w i th th i s c a s e . ' M o tt o n al s o h a d c h ar g e s fi l e d a g ai n s t h i m r e g ar d i n g an u n r e l at ed i n ci d e n t , p e r s o n n o t t o p o s s e s s a fi r e arm , i n A u g u s t 2 0 1 9
. 1 1 3 

### M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h e e n t e r e d a g u il ty p l e a o n th i s c h ar g e an d r e c e i v e d a t w e n ty - y e ar p ar o l e an d fi v e - y e ar h o u s e arr e s t s e n t e n c e . ' ! H e w a s g i v e n an i n c e n ti v e t o t e s ti fy at th e A p p e ll an t ' s tri a l. I n e x c h an g e fo r h i s tru th fu l t e s ti m o n y , M o tt o n w o u l d h a v e th e ti m e fo r p ar o l e dr o p p e d fr o m t w e n ty y e ar s t o t e n y e ar s . ' ' ° M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at o n th e n i g h t o f S e p t e mb e r 2 4 , th e A p p e ll an t w a s s o c i al i z i n g w i th M o tt o n an d o th e r p e o p l e i n W at e r s ' fr o n t y ar d . 1 1 6 

### M o tt o n s t at ed th at " L atr e ll a c tu a ll y c am e ru nn i n g d o wn th e s tr e e t an d j u mp e d i n [ D i e g d i o ] ' s arm l i k e a b ab y . " 7 A t o n e p o i n t i n th e n i g h t , W at e r s dr o v e th e J e ep Gran d C h e ro k e e t o a S p e e d w ay g as s t ati o n w i th J o s h D i e g d i o , P atri c k H ay n e s an d M i c h a e l M o tt o n . 1 1 8 

### M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at th e y r e tu rn e d t o W at e r s ' h o u s e an d , at ar o u n d I : 0 0 am , D i e g d i o an d H ay n e s a s k e d i f M o tt o n w o u l d " p i c k th e m u p a ft e r th e y h i t th e I d. at 2 I 1 1 d. a t 2 2 1 d. at 2 4 1 1 d. at 2 5 H > p d ; s e e a ls o , C o mm o n w e a l th E x h i b i t 1 7 0 : P l e a a gr e e m e n t 1 6 I d. at 2 9 1 ? I d. at 5 3 I I d. at 2 9 P a g e 1 8 o f 5 6l i c k. " 9 M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h i t a l i c k m e an s t o ro b o r t o t ake s o m e b o d y ' s

p o s s e s s i o n s . 2 M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h e w a s a d v i s e d t o p i c k D i e g d i o an d H ayn e s u p i n T h o mp s o n A ll e y , b e h i n d W at e r s ' h o u s e . 1 2 1 W at e r s ' h o u s e w a s l o c at e d thr e e h o u s e s a w ay fr o m th e P r e mi s e s w h e r e P ark e r w a s ki ll e d an d M s . B ri g g s w a s w o u n d e d . 2 2 M o tt o n th e n p r o c ee d e d t o dri v e d o w n th e a ll e y , b u t d i dn ' t s e e an y o n e . 1 2 3 A t th at p o i n t , M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h e r e tu rn e d t o th e fr o n t o f W at e r s ' h o u s e . 1 2 4 A ft e r a c o u p l e o f mi n u t e s w e n t b y , W at e r s ' i n s tru c t e d M o tt o n t o r e tu rn t o th e a ll e yw ay an d p ark i n th e c h u r c h p arki n g l o t . ' ° Wh e n h e p u l l e d b a c k o ff i n th e al l e y , h e c o u l d s e e H ay n e s an d th e A p p e ll an t g o i n t o th e y ar d o f th e P r e mi s e s an d w al k u p t o th e p o r c h . A t th i s p o i n t , M o tt o n l o s t s i g h t o f th e m. ' 2 ° A ft e r a fe w mi n u t e s , M o tt o n d i d n o t s e e an y o n e an d p r o c e e d e d t o dri v e b a c k t o h i s h o t e l r o o m , t e s ti fy i n g th at at th i s p o i n t h e f e lt u n c o m f

o rt ab l e . 1 2 7 A s h e w a s p u ll i n g d o wn th e a ll e y , h e c am e a c r o s s H ayn e s an d th e A p p e ll an t s t an d i n g o n b o th

I 9 J d. at 3 2 1 a0 1 d. at 3 3 1 2 1 I d . 1 2 1 d. at 3 4 1 2 3 1 d. at 3 6 I d . n s 1 4. 1 2 6 J 4. 1 7 1 d. at 3 8 P a g e 1 9 o f 5 6

### s i d e s o f th e s tr e e t . 2 8 M o tt o n p r o c e ed e d t o s t o p th e v e h i cl e an d a ll o w e d th e

A p p e l l an t an d H ay n e s t o g e t i n . 2 

### M o tt o n t e s ti fi ed th at h e d i dn ' t tal k t o H ay n e s o r th e A p p e ll an t u n ti l h e s a w a p atr o l c ar c o n d u c ti n g a tra f fi c s t o p ab o u t a b l o c k a w ay , at th i s p o i n t h e m e n ti o n ed t o th e A p p e l l an t th at h e d i d n ' t h a v e a l i c e n s e . ' O n c e th e y r e a c h e d th e S u p e r 8 , 

### th e A p p e ll an t a s k e d i f M o tt o n w o u l d g o t o th e fr o n t d e s k an d g e t th e A p p e ll an t' s r o o m k e y . 1 3 1 

### O n c e h e g a v e th e m th e k e y , th e p arti e s s e p ar at e d . A t o n e p o i n t , th e A p p e l l an t r e - ap p r o a c h e d M o tt o n an d a s k e d fo r a c i g ar e tt e . 3 M o tt o n t o l d h i m th at h e h a d t o a s k M o tt o n ' s g i rl fri e n d , B ri tt an y L a v e tt e (" L a v e tt e " ) , w h o w a s i n M o tt o n ' s h o t e l r o o m . 1 3 4 

### A p p e ll an t th e n t o l d M o tt o n th at i f M o tt o n w e n t b a c k d o wn t o wn , t o a s k W at e r ' s b r o th e r i f h e w a s s till g o i n g t o fr o n t th e A p p e ll an t m o n e y t o b u y w e e d . 1 3 5 

### M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h e f o u n d th i s s t at e m e n t t o b e w e i r d , b e c au s e A p p e l l an t s h o u l d h a v e h a d m o n e y t o b u y w e e d . ' 3 O n c e th e A p p e ll an t l e ft , M o tt o n r e c e i v e d a c a ll fr o m W at e r s ' t e ll i n g h i m th at h e th o u g h t L atr e ll P ark e r an d A l e s s an dr a B ri g g s h a d b e e n s h o t. 1 3 7 

### A t th at po i n t ,

1 2 8 1 d. at 3 9 1 2 9 I d . 1 0 I d . I 3 1 I d. at 4 0 1 3 I d. at 4 133 I d . I I 4. 1 3 5 1 d. at 4 2 13 6 I d . 1 3 7 1 d. at 4 3 P a g e 2 0 o f 5 6M o tt o n dr o v e th e w h i t e J e ep Gr an d C h e r o k e e b a c k t o 5 th A v e . 1 3 8 M o tt o n arri v e d

at th e s c e n e an d tri e d t o g e t W at e r s ' att e n ti o n . 1 3 9 A c c o r d i n g t o M o tt o n , h e w a s u n ab l e t o s p e ak t o W at e r s u n ti l a c o u p l e o f h o u r s l at e r . A t th i s p o i n t , W at e r s an d M o tt o n a g r e ed t o g o b a c k t o th e S u p e r 8 w i th a fi r e arm t o g e t s tr e e t j u s ti c e . M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at th i s m e an t " d o s o m e th i n g b a c k t o th e m . . . an yth i n g th at w e c an , s h o o t th e m , r o b th e m , an yth i n g th at w e c an . " Wh e n M o tt o n an d W at e r s r e tu rn e d b a c k t o th e S u p e r 8 , M o tt o n ' s g i rl fri e n d , L a v e tt e , t o l d th e m th at th e A p p e ll an t h a d c o m e b a c k t o th e h o t e l r o o m a ft e r M o tt o n l e ft , th at s h e d i d n o t kn o w w h at r o o m h e w a s i n b u t s h e b e li e v e d th at th e A p p e ll an t an d H ay n e s h a d l e ft i n a 

### c ab . ' T h e C o m m o n w e a l th a l s o c a ll e d D e p u ty D o u g H ann a ( " D e p u ty H ann a " ) , w h o w a s i n v o l v e d i n th e tr an s p o rt o f th e A p p e ll an t fr o m P h il a d e l p h i a t o B e a v e r C o u n ty . 1 4 2 Pri o r t o D e p u ty H ann a ' s t e s ti m o n y , a s i d e b ar b e fo r e th e C o u rt t o o k p l a c e , at w h i c h p o i n t an o r al m o ti o n b y th e C o m m o n w e a l th w a s m a d e fo r th e a d mi tt an c e o f th e A p p e ll an t ' s s t at e m e n t t o D e p u ty H an n a d u ri n g tr an s p o rt . 1 4 3 Wh e n D e p u ty H ann a w a s tr an s p o rti n g th e A p p e ll an t , th e A p p e ll an t s p o n t an e o u s l y s ai d , w i th o u t q u e s ti o n i n g , th at h e d i d n o t u n d e r s t an d w h y th e d e p u ti e s w e r e tr e ati n g h i m li k e E l C h ap o j u s t b e c au s e o f a c o u p l e o f b o d i e s . T h e

1 8 I d. 1 9 I 4. 1 4 0 1 d. at 4 6 . 4 I d. at 4 7 1 + T r ans c ri p t o f R ec o r d : F e b ruary 2 8 , 2 0 2 2 , at 2 8 , Co m m o n w ea l t h v. D i e g d i o , ( 2 0 2 2 ) (N o . 1 7 9 5 o f 2 0 2 0 ) . 1 4 3 I d . P a g e 2 1 o f 5 6C o m m o n w e a lth ar g u ed th at th e s t at e m e n t m a d e b y th e A p p e ll a n t du ri n g tr an s p o rt

w a s an a d mi s s i o n b y th e A p p e ll an t b e c au s e h e h a d kn o w l e d g e th at th e r e w e r e t w o v i c ti m s i n v o l v e d . T h e A p p e ll an t ' s c o u n s e l o b j e c t e d t o th e s t at e m e n t b e i n g u s e d a s an a d mi s s i o n , an d a l s o r ai s e d th e i s s u e o f th e s t at e m e n t b e i n g " p r e j u d i ci a l. " 1 4 4 T h e d e fe n s e ar gu e d th at th i s w a s n o t a d i r e c t a d mi s s i o n an d a ll o w i n g th e s t at e m e n t i n w o u l d a ll o w th e j u ry t o i n fe r t o o mu c h fr o m a " r e l ati v e l y v a g u e s t at e m e n t " w i th o u t c o n t e x t a s t o w h e th e r th e A p p e ll an t kn e w o r d i d n o t kn o w o f th e fa c t th at h e w a s b e i n g arr e s t e d fo r mu r d e r . 1 4 5 T h e C o u rt o v e rru l e d th e d e fe n s e ' s o b j e c ti o n t o th e a d mi tt an c e o f th e a d mi s s i o n . T h e c o u rt r e a s o n e d th at , i n li g h t o f th e fa c t th at th e C ri mi n al C o mp l ai n t w a s fi l e d o n S e p t e mb e r 2 8 th , an d th at th e i n c i d e n t g i v i n g ri s e t o th e s t at e m e n t o c c u rr e d a m o n th l at e r , th e t e s ti m o n y o f D e p u ty H ann a s h o u l d b e a ll o w e d . T h e C o u rt s t at e d th at th e r e w a s n o q u e s ti o n th at th e A p p e ll an t m a d e th e s t at e m e n t , an d th at i t s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d an o p p o s i n g p arty ' s s t at e m e n t ( d e cl ar ati o n a g ai n s t h i s i n t e r e s t ) . 1 4 6 D e p u ty H an n a t e s ti fi e d th at o n O c t o b e r 2 7 , 2 0 2 0 , h e w e n t t o P h i l a d e l p h i a i n o r d e r t o p i c k u p th e A p p e ll an t an d tr an s p o rt h i m b a c k t o B ea v e r C o u n ty J ai l . '

I I d. at 3 0 + 5 I d. at 3 5 4 6 I d. at 1 6 5 4 7 1 d. at 4 3 P a g e 2 2 0 f 5 6

### D e p u ty H an n a t e s ti fi e d th at h e w a s u n a w ar e 

### i f th e A p p e ll an t w o u l d h a v e b e e n

i n fo nn e d o f h i s c h ar g e s p ri o r t o b e i n g tr an s p o rt e d . 1 4 8 

### D e p u ty H an n a t e s ti fi e d th at h e d i d n ' t kn o w th e e x a c t d o c u m e n t s th e fa c i l i ty r e c e i v e d , b u t th at h e i s u s u a ll y s e n t t o p i c k u p an i n m at e w i th a p a c k e t o f p ap e rw o rk c o n t ai n i n g c o p i e s o f d o c u m e n t s w h i c h ar e f

ax e d t o th e fa c i l i ty p ri o r t o th e d e p u ti e s g o i n g o u t t o r e tri e v e th e i n m at e . ' D e p u ty H ann a s t at e d h e w a s u n a w ar e o f th e p r o t o c o l s fo l l o w e d b y th e fa c i li ty i n P h i l a d e l p h i a , s p e c i fi c a ll y h e w a s u n a w ar e i f th e y w o u l d h a v e p r o v i d e d p ap e rw o rk t o th e i nm at e o r i n fo rm e d h i m o f h i s c h ar g e s p ri o r t o b e i n g p i c k e d u p . 1 5 0 

### D e p u ty H an n a t e s ti fi e d th at w h e n h e w a s p i c ki n g u p th e A p p e ll an t , " h e m a d e a s t at e m e n t t o m e th at w e w e r e tr eati n g h i m li k e [ s i c ] E l C h ap o j u s t b e c au s e o f a c o u p l e o f b o d i e s . " ! 5 O n c e t e s ti m o n y c o n cl u d e d , th e C o u rt m e t w i th b o th p arti e s p ri o r t o r e a d i n g i n s tru c ti o n t o th e j u ry . T h e C o u rt s t at ed th at at th e v e ry l e a s t th i s s t at e m e n t c o u l d b e v i e w e d a s a s t at e m e n t a g ai n s t i n t e r e s t . 5 T h e C o u rt s t at ed th at , al th o u g h th i s s t at e m e n t w a s n o t m a d e i n r e s p o n s e t o p o l i c e q u e s ti o n i n g , th e e v i d e n c e p r o v i d e d du ri n g t e s ti m o n y a d dr e s s e d an a d mi s s i o n an d j u ry i n s tru c ti o n s w o u l d h a v e t o p r o v i d e fo r w h at i s c o n s i d e r e d a s p o n t an e o u s a d mi s s i o n an d a v o l u n t ary

1 4 8 I d. at 4 5 1 4 9 

# I
. I S O I d . I S I d. at 4 3 1 9 1 d. at 1 6 4 P a g e 2 3 0 f 5 6

### a d mi s s i o n . ' 5 T h e C o u rt i n s tru c t ed th e j u ry th at th e y m ay n o t c o n s i d e r th e

s t at e m e n t as e v i d e n c e a g ai n s t th e A p p e ll an t u n l e s s th e y fo u n d b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t th at th e al l e g e d c ri m e s h a d b e e n c o mmi tt e d . ' I S S UE S 

### A p p e ll an t ' s C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t o f M att e r s C o mp l ai n e d o f o n A p p e al ar e a s fo ll o w s ( r e c i t e d v e rb ati m ) : 

### I. T h e T ri al C o u rt e rr e d b y n o t g r an ti n g A p p e ll an t ' s m o ti o n f o r j u d g e m e n t o f a c q u i ttal , at th e c o n cl u s i o n o f th e C o mm o n w e al th ' s c as e , o n th e b a s i s th at T h e C o m m o n w e al th fail e d t o p r o v e th at th e A p p e ll an t w a s th e a c tu al p e rs o n th at co m mi tt e d th e fo ll o w i n g c h ar g e s : F i r s t D e gr e e M u r d e r , C ri mi n al A tt e mp t - M u r d e r o f th e F i r s t D e gr e e , A g g r a v at e d A s s au l t , R o b b e ry - I n fl i c t S e ri o u s B o d il y I n j u ry , B u r g l ary -O v e rn i g h t A c c o mm o d ati o n s ; P e r s o n P r e s e n t B o d i l y I n j u ry C ri m e an d C o n s p i r a c y t o C o mmi t R o b b e ry - I n fl i c t S e ri o u s B o d il y I n j u ry ( W e i g h t o f E v i d e n c e ) . II . T h e T ri al C o u rt e rr e d b y n o t g r an ti n g A p p e ll an t ' s m o ti o n fo r j u d g e m e n t o f a c q u i ttal , at th e c o n cl u s i o n o f th e C o mm o n w e al th ' s c a s e , o n th e b a s i s th at th e r e w a s i n s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o rt a ll o f th e c h ar g e s ; F i r s t D e g r e e M u r d e r , C ri mi n al A tt e mp t - M u r d e r o f th e F i r s t D e g r e e , A g g r a v at e d A s s au l t , R o b b e ry - I n fl i c t S e ri o u s B o d il y I n j u ry , B u r g l ary -O v e rn i g h t A c c o mm o d ati o n s ; P e r s o n P r e s e n t B o d il y I n j u ry C ri m e an d C o n s p i r a c y t o C o mmi t R o b b e ry - I n fl i c t S e ri o u s B o d il y I n j u ry II I. T h e T ri al C o u rt e rr e d an d/o r ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e ti o n i n fai l i n g t o g r an t th e A p p e ll an t ' s m o ti o n f

o r j u d g m e n t o f a c q u i tt al at th e c o n cl u s i o n o f th e C o mm o n w e al th ' s c a s e i n c h i e f , a s th e r e w a s i n s u f

fi c i e n t e v i d e n c e a s t o all c o u n t s , b e c au s e th e C o mm o n w e a lth fail e d t o e s t ab li s h th at th e A p p e ll an t c o mmi tt e d th e c ri m e s . I V . T h e T ri a l C o u rt e rr e d an d/o r ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e ti o n w h e n 

### it d e n i e d th e A p p e ll an t ' s o mn i b u s p r e - tri a l m o ti o n , i n cl u d i n g th e m o ti o n t o s u p p r e s s th e

1 8 3 1 d . at 1 5 3 1 5 1 d. at 4 3 P a g e 2 4 0 f 5 6p h o t o arr ay o f th e A p p e ll an t an d th e m o ti o n t o s u p p r e s s an y e v i d e n c e

s e i z e d fr o m th e A p p e ll an t ' s Z TE c e ll u l ar p h o n e . V . T h e T ri a l C o u rt e rr e d an d/o r ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e ti o n w h e n i t d e t e rmi n e d th e A p p e ll a n t ' s s t at e m e n t ab o u t b e i n g tr e at e d l i k e E l C h ap o w a s an a d mi s s i o n an d p e rmi tt e d th e t e s ti m o n y o f D e p u ty S h e ri ff , D o u g H an n a . AN A L Y S I S T H E C O M M O N WE A L T H E S T AB L I S HE D B E Y O N D A RE A S O N AB L E D O UB T T H A T A P P E L L A N T C O M M I TT E D T HE C RI M E S C H A R G E D A G A I N S T H I M W E I G H T O F T H E E VID E N C E D i e g d i o ' s fi r s t cl ai m i s th at th e v e r d i c t s ar e a g ai n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e . H e c o n t e n d s th at an o th e r i n d i v i d u a l , B r an d o n C ann o n , p u t a " h i t " o u t o n th e v i c ti m b e c au s e th at i n d i v i d u a l b e l i e v e d th at th e v i c ti m fi r e d s h o t s i n t o th at p e r s o n ' s r e s i d e n c e . T h i s , D i e g d i o c o n ti n u e s , e s t ab l i s h e d a m o ti v e fo r M r . C ann o n t o mu r d e r th e v i c ti m e s p e c i a ll y w h e n th e e v i d e n c e s h o w e d th at e arl i e r o n th e d ay o f th e kill i n g , D i e g d i o " e mb r a c e d th e v i c ti m . " E v e n th o u g h th e s u rv i v i n g v i c ti m i d e n ti fi ed D i e g d i o i n c o u rt at tri a l an d , e v e n th o u gh th at s am e s u rv i v i n g v i c ti m kn e w D i e g d i o an d i d e n ti fi e d h i m at th e s c e n e an d n am e d h i m i n th e 9 1 1 c a ll m a d e mi n u t e s a ft e r th e as s au l t , D i e g d i o m ai n t ai n s th at o n l y th e c o rru p t an d p o ll u t e d s o u r c e w i tn e s s , M i c h a e l M o tt e n " p u t [ D i e g d i o ] at th e s c e n e . "

" A c h a ll e n g e t o th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e i s d i s ti n c t fr o m a c h a ll e n g e t o th e s u f fi c i e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e i n th at th e fo rm e r c o n c e d e s th at th e C o m m o n w e al th h a s p r o d u c e d s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e o f e a c h e l e m e n t o f th e c ri m e , b u t q u e s ti o n s w h i c h
P a g e 2 5 o f 5 6e v i d e n c e i s t o b e b e l i e v e d . " 

### C o m m o n w e a l th v . C h a r l t o n , 9 0 2 A . 2 d 5 5 4 , 5 6 1 ( P a .

S u p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) ; s e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a lth v . E d w a r d s , 2 2 9 A .3 d 2 9 8 , 3 0 6 , ap p e a l g ran t e d i n p art , 2 3 7 A . 3 d 9 7 8 ( P a . 2 0 2 0 ) , a n d a f f d , 2 5 6 A . 3 d 1 13 0 ( P a . 2 0 2 1 ) ( s am e ) . " Th 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 li e v e a ll , n o n e [ , ] o r s o m e o f th e e v i d e n c e a n d t o d e t e rmi n e th e c r e d i b ili ty o f th e w i tn e s s e s . " C o m m o n w e a l th v . T a l b e r t , 1 2 9 A . 3 d 5 3 6 , 5 4 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 5 ) ( q u o t ati o n s o mi tt e d ) . " R e s o l v i n g c o n tr a d i c t o ry t e s ti m o n y a n d q u e s ti o n s o f c r e d i b i l i ty ar e m att e r s f o r th e fi n d e r o f fa c t. " C o m m o n w e a l th v . D e l m o n i c o , 2 5 1 A . 3 d 8 2 9 , 8 3 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 2 1 ) . A c o u rt m ay n o t s u b s ti tu t e i t s o w n j u d g m e n t fo r th at o f th e tri e r o f fa c t. S e e I d . ( c i ti n g T a l b e rt , 1 2 9 A . 3 d at 5 4 5 ) .

" I n o r d e r fo r a n A p p e ll an t t o p r e v ai l o n a c h a ll e n g e t o th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e , th e e v i d e n c e mu s t b e s o t e n u o u s , v a gu e an d u n c e rt ai n th at th e v e r d i c t s h o c k s th e c o n s ci e n c e o f th e c o urt . " T a l b e rt , 1 2 9 A . 3 d at 5 4 5 ( i n t e rn a l q u o t ati o n m ark s a n d c i t ati o n s o m i tt e d ) . Wh e n ru li n g o n 

### a w e i g h t cl ai m , th e tri a l c o u rt mu s t d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r " c e rt ai n fa c t s ar e s o cl e arl 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 e q u al w e i gh t w i th a ll th e fa c t s , i s t o d e n y j u s ti c e . " C o m m o n w e a l th v . H o l t , 2 7 3 A . 3 d 5 1 4 , 5 3 2 ( P a . 2 0 2 2 ) , c e rt . de n i e d s u b
n o m . H o lt v . P e n n s y l v a n i a , 2 2

- 5 4 6 3 , 2 0 2 2 W L 1 6 5 4 2 0 3 4 ( U . S . O c t . 3 1 , 2 0 2 2 ) ( c i t ati o n o mi tt e d ) .

P a g e 2 6 o f 5 6I n C o m m o n w e a lt h v . S m y s e r , 1 9 5 A . 3 d 9 1 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 8 ) , th e

S u p e ri o r C o u rt p o i n t e d o u t th at i d e n ti ty i s al s o an e l e m e n t o f e a c h c ri m e th at mu s t b e p ro v e n b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t:

" I n a d d i ti o n t o p r o v i n g th e s t atu t o ry e l e m e n t s o f th e c ri m e s c h ar g ed b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t , th e C o m m o n w e a l th mu s t a l s o e s t ab l i s h th e i d e n ti ty o f th e A p p e ll an t a s th e p e rp e tr at o r o f th e c ri m e s . " C o m m o n w e a l th v . B r o o ks , 

### 7 A. 3 d 8 5 2 , 8 5 7 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 1 0 ) , ap p e a l d e n i e d , 6 1 0 P a. 6 1 4 , 2 1 A .3 d 1 1 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) . " E v i d e n c e o f i d e n ti fi c a t i o n n e e d n o t b e p o s i t i v e an d c e rt ai n t o s u s t a i n a c o n v i c ti o n . " C o m m o n w e a lth v . O r r , 3 8 A . 3 d 8 6 8 , 8 7 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ( e n b an e ) ( c i t ati o n o mi tt e d ) , ap p e a l d e n i ed , 6 1 7 P a . 6 3 7 , 5 4 A .3 d 3 4 8 ( 2 0 1 2 ) . A s o u r S u p r e m e C o u rt h as s tat e d " a n y i n d e fi n i t e n e s s an d u n c e rt ai n ty i n th e i d e n ti fi c ati o n t e s ti m o n y g o e s t o i t s w e i g h t. D i r e c t e v i d e n c e o f i d e n ti ty i s , o f c o u r s e , n o t n e c e s s ary an d an A p p e ll an t m ay b e c o n v i c t e d s o l e l y o n c i r c u m s t an ti a l e v i d e n c e . " C o m m o n w e a l t h v . H i c km a n , 4 5 3 P a . 4 2 7 , 4 3 0 , 3 0 9 A . 2 d 5 6 4 , 5 6 6 (1 9 7 3 ) ( c i t ati o n s o mi tt e d ) . I d . at 9 1 5 . F u rth e r , t o th e e x t e n t th at D i e g d i o c h a ll e n g e s w h e th e r h e w a s p r o v e n t o b e th e p e rp e tr at o r o f th e c ri m e s d u e t o q u e s ti o n s s u rr o u n d i n g th e r e li ab ili ty o f th e w i tn e s s ' i d e n ti fi c ati o n at tri al , th at cl ai m g o e s t o th e w e i gh t o f th e e v i d e n c e , n o t th e s u f fi c i e n c y. " [ A ] n y u n c e rt ai n ty i n an e y e w i tn e s s ' s i d e n ti fi c ati o n o f an A p p e ll a n t i s a q u e s ti o n o f th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e , n o t i t s s u f fi c i e n c y . " C o m m o n w e a l th v . C a i n , 9 0 6 A . 2 d 1 2 4 2 , 1 2 4 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) ( d e e mi n g i d e n ti fi c ati o n e v i d e n c e s u f fi ci e n t , e v e n w h e r e w i tn e s s e s h a d p r e v i o u s l y i d e n ti fi e d th e ap p e ll a n t i n a p h o t o arr ay an d at a p r e l i mi n ary h e ari n g , b u t th e n e x p r e s s e d u n c e rt ai n ty i n th e i r i d e n ti fi c ati o n at tri a l ) ; s e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a lth v . Ki n n e y , 1 5 7 A . 3 d 9 6 8 , 9 7 1

- 7 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 7 ) ( " A p p e l l an t ar g u e s th at th e v i c ti m s p r o v i d e d ' u n c o n v i n c i n g ' an d P a g e 2 7 o f

5 6Circulated 12/14/2023 10:21 AM

' v a g u e ' i d e n ti fi c ati o n s an d ' i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s r e g ar d i n g th e C o m m o n w e a lth ' s p h y s i c al e v i d e n c e . ' S u c h cl ai m s ar e d i r e c t e d e n ti r e l y t o th e c r e d i b i l i ty o f th e v i c ti m ' s t e s ti m o n y , an d , a s s u c h , c h a ll e n g e th e w e i g h t , n o t th e s u f fi ci e n c y , o f th e e v i d e n c e . " ) ( c i t ati o n s o mi tt e d ) . I n th i s , c a s e , th e c a l ami t o u s e v e n t s o f th at e v e n i n g b e g an w h e n D i e g d i o an n o u n c e d h i s n am e t o h i s i n t e n d e d v i c ti m s a s h e p o u n d e d o n th e p o rt al t o th e v i c ti m s ' ab o d e . T h e o b s e rv ati o n s o f th e s u rv i v i n g v i c ti m c o n fi rm e d th at th e i n tru d e r w a s th e p e r s o n w h o ann o u n c e d h i s p r e s e n c e o u t s i d e th e d o o r an d p o s i ti v e tri a l i d e n ti fi c ati o n t e s ti m o n y o f D i e g d i o w a s th e n p r o v i d e d b y M s . B ri g g s . T h i s t e s ti m o n y w h e r e i n th e s u rv i v i n g v i c ti m p o s i ti v e l y i d e n ti fi e d D i e g d i o a s th e s h o o t e r , du ri n g D i e g d i o ' s tri al , al o n e , p r o v i d e s a s u f fi c i e n t b a s i s t o e s tab l i s h h i s i d e n ti ty a s th e p e rp e tr at o r o f th e c ri m e s fo r w h i c h h e w a s c o n v i c t e d . S e e C o m m o n w e a l th v . D u n c a n , 3 7 3 A . 2 d 1 0 5 1 , 1 0 5 3

- 5 4 ( P a . 1 9 7 7 ) ( t e s ti m o n y o f a s i n g l e e y e w i tn e s s s u f fi c i e n t t o s u p p o rt c o n v i c ti o n fo r th i r d

- d e g r e e mu r d e r ) ; C o m m o n w e a lth v . J o h n s o n , 1 8 0 A .3 d 4 7 4 , 4 7 8 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 8 ) ( " A v i c ti m' s i n - c o u rt t e s ti m o n y , i d e n ti fy i n g th e A p p e ll an t a s th e p e rp e tr at o r o f a c ri m e , i s b y i t s e l f s u f fi ci e n t t o e s t ab li s h th e i d e n ti ty e l e m e n t o f th at c ri m e . " ) . V i d e o s u rv e ill an c e e v i d e n c e p l a c e d D i e g d i o at th e s c e n e w h e n th e att a c k o c c u rr e d an d M i c h a e l M o tt o n th e n w h i s k e d D i e g d i o an d h i s c o mp an i o n fr o m th e s c e n e a s w a s h i s t a s k i n th e p l o t o f D i e g d i o an d an o th e r t o " h i t a l i c k " at th e h o m e P a g e 2 8 o f 5 6w h e r e o n e p e r s o n w a s kill e d an d an o th e r w a s c ri ti c a ll y w o u n d e d . T h i s c o u rt , u n d e r

th e s e fa c t s , c an n o t fi n d th at th e e v i d e n c e o f g u i l t w a s s o t e n u o u s , v a g u e an d u n c e rt ai n th at th e v e r d i c t s h o c k s th e c o n s c i e n c e o f th e c o u rt . T h e r e fo r e , th e p o s t s e n t e n c e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e cl ai m w a s p r o p e rl y d e n i e d . S UF F I C I E N C Y O F T HE E VID E N C E D i e g d i o n e x t a s s e rt s th at th e C o mm o n w e al th d i d n o t s u f fi c i e n tl y e s t ab l i s h th at h e w a s th e s h o o t e r o n th e d ay i n q u e s ti o n . I n e s s e n c e , h e c h a ll e n g e s th e s u f fi c i e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e s h o w i n g th at h e w a s th e p e rp e tr at o r o f c ri m e s fo r w h i c h h e w a s c o n v i c t e d . T h e s t an d ar d an d s c o p e o f r e v i e w o f c h a ll e n g e s t o th e s u f fi ci e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e i s w e ll

- s e ttl e d : [ W] e e v a l u at e th e r e c o r d i n th e li g h t m o s t fa v o r ab l e t o th e C o mm o n w e al th a s v e r d i c t wi nn e r , g i v i n g i t th e b e n e fi t o f all r e a s o n ab l e i n fe r e n c e s t o b e dr a w n fr o m th e e v i d e n c e . E v i d e n c e w ill b e d e e m e d s u f fi c i e n t t o s u p p o rt th e v e r d i c t w h e n i t e s t ab li s h e s e a c h m at e ri a l e l e m e n t o f th e c ri m e c h ar g ed an d th e c o m mi s s i o n th e r e o f b y th e a c c u s e d , b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t. An y d o u b t ab o u t th e A p p e ll an t' s g u il t i s t o b e r e s o l v e d b y th e fa c t - fi n d e r u n 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 m att e r o f l a w , n o p r o b ab i li ty o f fa c t c an b e dr a w n fr o m th e c o mb i n e d c i r c u m s t an c e s . A d d i ti o n a ll y , th e C o m m o n w e a l th m ay s u s t ai n i t s b u r d e n s o l e l y b y m e an s o f c i r c u m s t an ti a l e v i d e n c e . C o m m o n w e a l th v . L a k e , 

## - - -

P a g e 2 9 0 f 5 6A. 3 d

- - - , 2 0 2 2 P A S u p e r 1 4 2 , at * 2 ( P a . S u p e r . fi l e d A u g . 1 5 , 2 0 2 2 ) ( c i t ati o n s an d

q u o t ati o n s o mi tt e d ) . I n ap p l yi n g th e ab o v e t e s t , th e e n ti 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 tu a ll y r e c e i v e d c o n s i d e r e d . [ T ] h e tri e r o f fa c t w h i l e p as s i n g u p o n th e c r e d i b i l i 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 be 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 . C o m m o n w e a lt h v . O r r , 3 8 A . 3 d 8 6 8 , 8 7 2

- 7 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) . F i n a ll y , th e fa c t s an d c i r c u m s t an c e s e s t ab l i s h e d b y th e C o mm o n w ea l th n ee d n o t p r e cl u d e e v e ry p o s s i b il i ty o f i nn o c e n c e . I d . at 8 7 2 . A l th o u g h c h a ll e n g e s t o i d e n ti ty g e n e r a ll y s p e ak t o th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e , a n arr o w c l a s s o f cl ai m s g i v e ri s e t o v a li d s u f fi c i e n c y c h a ll e n g e . C o m m o n w e a l th v . O r r , 3 8 A .3 d 8 6 8 , 8 7 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) ( e n b an e ) . T o s u s t ai n a c o n v i c ti o n , e v i d e n c e o f i d e n ti fi c ati o n n e e d n o t b e p o s i ti v e an d c e rt ai n , an d an y i n d e fi n i t e n e s s o r u n c e rt ai n ty i n th e i d e n ti fi c ati o n t e s ti m o n y g o e s t o i t s w e i g h t. C o m m o n w e a lth v . M i n n i s , 4 5 8 A . 2 d 2 3 1 , 2 3 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 8 3 ) .

" [ A ] !th o u gh i d e n ti fi c ati o n b as e d s o l e l y o n c o m m o n i t e m s o f cl o th i n g an d g e n e ra l p h y s i c a l c h ar a c t e ri s ti c s i s i n s u f fi c i e n t t o s u p p o rt a c o n v i c ti o n , s u c h e v i d e n c e m ay b e c o n s i d e r e d t o e s t ab li s h i d e n ti ty a l o n g w i th o th e r c i r c u m s t an c e s an d th e p r o ff e r e d i d e n ti fi c ati o n t e s ti m o n y . " I d . at 2 3 3 ( c i t ati o n s o mi tt e d ) . I n th e p r e s e n c e o f a d d i ti o n al e v i d e n ti ary c i r c u m s t an c e s , " an y i n d e fi n i t e n e s s an d u n c e rt ai n ty i n th e

P a g e 3 0 o f 5 6i d e n ti fi c ati o n t e s ti m o n y g o e s t o i t s w e i g h t. " C o m m o n w e a l th v . O r r , 3 8 A . 3 d 8 6 8 ,

8 7 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) ( c i t ati o n o mi tt e d ) . I n M i n n i s , s u p r a . , th e C o u rt fo u n d th at e v i d e n c e w as s u f fi c i e n t t o e s t ab l i s h th e i d e n ti ty o f th e p e rp e tr at o r o f a r o b b e ry w h e r e a w i tn e s s i d e n ti fi e d th e A p p e ll an t b y h i s j a c k e t , th e C o m m o n w e a l th e s t ab l i s h e d th at th e A p p e ll an t w a s p art o f a g ro u p s t an d i n g th r e at e n i n g l y cl o s e t o th e v i c ti m , an d th e v i c ti m w a s fam ili ar w i th A p p e ll an t a s a m e mb e r o f th at g r o u p . 

### I d . 4 5 9 A . 2 d at 2 3 4 . D i e g d i o att a c k s th e s u f

fi c i e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e u n d e rp i nn i n g h i s c o n v i c ti o n s o n i d e n ti c al g ro u n d s a s th o s e th at w e r e a ll e g ed i n h i s w e i g h t o f e v i d e n c e cl ai m . I n p arti c u l ar , D i e g d i o a ll e g e s th at th e C o mm o n w e a lth p r e s e n t e d i n s u f fi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o i d e n ti fy h i m , b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t , a s th e i n tru d e r w h o e n t e r ed h o m e o f th e h o m e L atr e ll P ark e r an d A l e s s an dr a B ri g g s . I n C o mm o n w e a lth v . J o h n s o n , 2 0 1 8 P A S u p e r 4 0 , 1 8 0 A . 3 d 4 7 4 , 4 7 8 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 8 ) , th e A p p e ll an t cl ai m e d th at i n s u f fi c i e n t e v i d e n c e e x i s t e d t o s u p p o rt " h i s i d e n ti ty a s th e p e rp e tr at o r o f th e r o b b e ry c o m m i tt e d a g ai n s t th e v i c ti m . " H i s ar g u m e n t w a s th at " th e v i c ti m ' s t e s ti m o n y c o u l d n o t e s tab l i s h , b y i t s e l f , h i s i d e n ti ty a s th e p e rp e tr at o r o f th e r o b b e ry . " 

### I d . T h e c o u rt h e l d th at , u n d e r th o s e c i r c u m s t an c e s w h e r e a v i c ti m p r o v i d ed i n - c o u rt t e s ti m o n y i d e n ti fyi n g th e A p p e ll an t a s th e p e rp e trat o r , th e ar g u m e n t o f th e A p p e ll an t i n th at c a s e h a d " n o s u p p o rt i n e x i s ti n g c a s e l a w . " P a g e 3 1 o f 5 6T h e J o h n s o n c o u rt fo u n d th at 

### " [ A ] v i c ti m' s i n - c o u rt t e s ti m o n y , i d e n ti f y i n g th e A p p e ll an t a s th e p e rp e tr at o r o f a c ri m e , i s b y i t s e l f s u ffi ci e n t t o e s t ab l i s h th e i d e n ti ty e l e m e n t o f th at c ri m e . ( c i t ati o n o mi tt e d ) . T h e c o u rt d i s m i s s e d th at att e mp ts o f th e A p p e ll an t t o " e nh an c e h i s ar g um e n t b y a s s e rti n g th at th e C o m m o n w e a l th fai l e d t o p r e s e n t an y c o rr o b o r ati n g e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o rt th e v i c ti m ' s i n - c o u rt i d e n ti fi c ati o n t e s ti m o n y " a s th e c o u rt h e l d th at th e l a c k o f c o rr o b o r ati n g e v i d e n c e " d o e s n o t e s t ab li s h th at th e i d e n ti ty e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f fi c i e n t. " I d . E v e n th e " a s s e rti o n th at th e v i c ti m ' s t e s ti m o n y w a s c o n tr a d i c t e d b y h i s o wn " t e s ti m o n y w a s fo u n d t o b e " i rr e l e v an t " t o a s u f fi c i e n c y an a l y s i s . I d . " V ari an c e s i n t e s ti m o n y . . . g o t o th e c r e d i b i l i ty o f th e w i tn e s s e s an d n o t th e s u ffi c i e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e . " I d . ( ci t ati o n o mi tt ed ) . T h e s u f fi c i e n c y a s s e rti o n i n th at c a s e w a s th u s fo u n d t o b e w i th o u t m e ri t. I d . T h e s u f fi c i e n c y cl ai m s a s d e v e l o p e d b y D i e g d i o ar e a s s e rt e d w i th th e b a c k dr o p c o n s i s ti n g o f e v i d e n c e th at A l e s s an dr a B ri g g s , th e s u rv i v i n g v i c ti m , i d e n ti fi e d D i e g d i o a s th e a s s ai l an t at tri a l. E v e n D i e g d i o a s h e fi r s t att e mp t e d t o g ai n a c c e s s t o th e B e a v e r F a ll s ap artm e n t t o l d M s . B ri g g s th at i t w a s " B i g P u n " at th e d o o r th at e arl y m o rn i n g an d th at h e w a s s e e ki n g t o e n t e r th e P ark e r an d B ri g g s ' ap artm e n t. " B i g P u n " w a s th e n o m d e q u e rr e fo r w h i c h D i e g d i o w a s kn o w n b y i n th e c o mmu n i ty . M i n u t e s a ft e r D i e g d i o s h o t M s . B ri g g s o n h i s w ay o u t o f th e

P a g e 3 2 o f

5 6P r e mi s e s , M s . B ri g g s c a ll e d 9 1 1 an d i d e n ti fi ed D i e g d i o b y h i s s tr e e t m o n i k e r an d a

p h y s i c al d e s c ri p ti o n . M i c h a e l M o tt o n , w i th t e s ti m o n y c o rr o b o r at e d b y s e q u e n ti a l v i d e o s , d e s c ri b e d th e p l ann i n g o f th e r o b b e ry o f th e P ark e r - B ri g g s h o m e an d h e p l o tt ed o u t th e c o u r s e o f tr a v e l w i th D i e g d i o , fr o m th e ti m e th at D i e g d i o g o t i n t o th e c ar n e ar th e s c e n e i mm e d i at e l y a ft e r th e s h o o ti n g , u n til h i s arri v a l at th e m o t e l. O n c e D i e g d i o w a s at th e m o t e l , B ri tt an e y L aV e tt e r e c a ll e d h o w M i c h a e l M o tt o n an d D i e g d i o arri v e d t o g e th e r i n t o h e r r o o m an d th e n s h e d e s c ri b e d D i e g d i o ' s a c ti o n s i n r e m o v i n g a g u n fr o m h i s w ai s t an d p u tti n g i t o n a p i e c e o f fu rn i tu r e i n th e m o t e l r o o m . U n d e r th e s e c i r c u m s t an c e s , an d i n v i e w i n g th e r e c o r d i n th e l i g h t m o s t fa v o rab l e t o th e C o m m o n w e a lth a s v e r d i c t w i n n e r , g i v i n g i t th e b e n e fi t o f a ll r e a s o n ab l e i n fe r e n c e s t o b e dr a w n fr o m th e e v i d e n c e , th e s u f fi c i e n c y o f e v i d e n c e cl ai m i s w i th o u t m e ri t. T h e i s s u e s e t f

o rth i n th e n u mb e r th r e e o f th e C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t fi l e d b y D i e g d i o r ai s e s th e s a m e s u f fi c i e n c y o f e v i d e n c e c l ai m s a d dr e s s e d i n th e p ri o r s e c ti o n o f th i s O p i n i o n an d ar e d e e m e d t o b e w i th o u t m e ri t f o r th e s am e r e a s o n . 

### T H E T RI AL C O U R T D I D N O T E RR O R AB U S E I T S D I S C RE T I O N 

### WH E N D E N YI N G T H E A P P E L L A N T ' S O M N I B U S P RE - T RI A L M O T I O N O n A u g u s t 2 5 , 2 0 2 1 , th e A p p e ll an t fi l e d an O m n i b u s P r e - T ri al M o ti o n , c o n s i s ti n g o f a M o ti o n t o S u p p r e s s th e S e ar c h W arr an t fo r A p p e ll an t ' s F a c e b o o k A c c o u n t , M o ti o n t o S u p p r e s s th e S e ar c h W arr an t fo r A p p e ll an t ' s C e ll u l ar P a g e 3 3 o f

5 6T e l e p h o n e , a M o ti o n t o S u p p r e s s th e I d e n ti fi c ati o n o f A p p e ll an t s t e mmi n g fr o m

th e P h o t o A rr ay , an d M o ti o n fo r D i s c o v e ry . A h e ari n g u p o n th e s e m att e r s w a s h e l d o n N o v e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 2 1 . A t th e ti m e o f th e h e ari n g , th e C o m m o n w e a lth p r e s e n t e d th e t e s ti m o n y o f D e t e c ti v e J u s ti n S c h l i e , C i ty o f B e a v e r F a ll s P o li c e D e p artm e n t , D e t e c ti v e T i m o th y H i g b y , C ity o f B e a v e r F a ll s P o l i c e D e p artm e n t , an d D e t e c ti v e R o g e r P atri c k Y o u n g , B e a v e r C o u n ty D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y ' s O f fi c e . T h e C o m m o n w e a l th al s o e n t e r e d th e p h o t o l i n e u p s , a v i d e o o f th e i n t e rv i e w w i th th e B ri tt an y L a v e tt e , an d th e s e ar c h w arr an t s i n t o e v i d e n c e . T h e A p p e ll an t h a s a s s e rt e d th at th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt e rr e d an d/o r ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e ti o n w h e n i t d e n i e d th e m o ti o n t o s u p p r e s s th e p h o t o arr ay an d th e c e ll p h o n e s e ar c h w arr an t. I d e n ti fi c a ti o n a n d P h o t o L i n e u p D e t e c ti v e S c h l i e o f th e B e a v e r F a ll s P o l i c e D ep artm e n t r e s p o n d e d t o th e p o li c e d e p artm e n t o n S e p t e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 t o a s s i s t w i th a h o m i c i d e i n v e s ti g ati o n . C ap t ai n H i g b y a s k e d h i m t o fi n i s h p r e p ari n g a p h o t o g r ap h i c arr ay h e h a d s t art e d s o th at th e C ap t ai n c o u l d c o n du c t an i n t e rv i e w . D e t e c ti v e S c h l i e a d v i s e d th at h e w a s th e n a s s i s t e d b y D e t e c ti v e R o b e rt H e b e rl e w i th c o mp i l i n g th e p h o t o arr ay . D e t e c ti v e S c h li e t e s ti fi e d th at th e g e n e r al p r o c e s s s t art s b y e n t e ri n g th e s u s p e c t' s i n fo rm ati o n an d p u lli n g u p a r e fe r e n c e p h o t o . T h e n , th e s y s t e m p r o v i d e s a " s e ar c h s i mil ar " o p ti o n an d au t o p o p u l at e s p h o t o g rap h s fo r u s e b y th e o f fi c e r s b a s e d o n th e p h y s i c al c h ar a c t e ri s ti c s o f th e s u s p e c t. Wh e n a s k e d i f th e p r o gr am P a g e 3 4 o f

5 6p e rmi t s th e u s e r t o fu rth e r n arr o w th e s e ar c h b y e n t e ri n g i n s e ar c h c ri t e ri a b a s e d o n

th e s u s p e c t' s p h y s i c a l c h ar a c t e ri s ti c s , th e D e t e c ti v e i n d i c at e d th at i t d o e s h a v e th i s o p ti o n an d th at h e b e li e v e d h e d i d e n t e r s u c h c h ar a c t e ri s ti c s . T h e arr ay w a s s e n t t o D e t e c ti v e B o nn i e S e d l a c e k , w h o w a s at a h o s p i t al i n P i tt s b u r g h w i th th e s u rv i v i n g v i c ti m i n th e c a s e . H o w e v e r , D e t e c ti v e S e d l a c e k b r o u g h t t o D e t e c ti v e S c h l i e ' s att e n ti o n th at th e b a c k g r o u n d o n th e A p p e ll an t' s p h o t o w a s a d i ff

e r e n t c o l o r th an th e o th e r p h o t o s . T h e r e f o r e , D e t e c ti v e S c h l i e o b t ai n e d an o th e r p h o t o o f th e A p p e ll an t w i th a b a c k g r o u n d c o l o r th at m at c h e d th e o th e r p h o t o s i n th e array . T h i s p h o t o arr ay w a s s h o w n t o C o m m o n w e a l th w i tn e s s , B ri tt an y L a v e tt e , o n O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 2 0 d u ri n g an i n t e rv i e w w i th D e t e c ti v e H i g b y an d D e t e c ti v e M i c h a e l Kry d e r . T h i s i n t e rv i e w w a s r e c o r d e d an d i n tr o d u c e d at th e S u p p r e s s i o n H e ari n g . M s . L a v e tt e i n d i c at ed th at a n i n d i v i d u a l th at s h e w a s u n fam il i ar w i th c am e t o h e r h o t e l r o o m th e n i g h t o f th e h o mi c i d e a c c o mp an i e d b y a p e r s o n s h e kn e w . S h e w a s p r o v i d e d th e p h o t o arr ay an d a s k ed t o i d e n ti fy i f an y o f th e p e o p l e i n th e arr ay w e r e th e i n d i v i d u a l. S h e u l ti m at e l y p i c k e d o u t th e p h o t o g r ap h o f th e A p p e ll an t. A p p e ll an t a v e r s th at th e p h o t o arr ay w a s u n d u l y s u g g e s ti v e an d u nr e l i ab l e an d th e r e fo r e s h o u l d b e s u p p r e s s e d . S e a r c h W a r r a n t - C e ll u l a r P h o n e

P a g e 3 5 o f 5 6

### T h e A p p e ll an t w a s arr e s t e d i n th e C i ty o f P h il a d e l p h i a an d , at th at ti m e , th e

A p p e ll an t w a s i n th e p o s s e s s i o n o f a Z T E c e ll u l ar t e l e p h o n e . A s e ar c h w arr an t w a s o b t ai n e d , w i th th e a s s i s t an c e o f th e au th o ri ti e s i n P h i l a d e l p h i a , t o s e i z e th e c e ll u l ar t e l e p h o n e fr o m th e A p p e ll an t ' s p r o p e rty at th e C u rr an F o rmh o l d C o rr e c ti o n s F a c il i ty i n P h il a d e l p h i a . T h e n , D e t e c ti v e Y o u n g ap p li ed fo r a s e ar c h w arr an t fo r a fo r e n s i c e x tr a c ti o n o f th e d at a c o n t ai n e d i n th e A p p e ll an t ' s p h o n e . T h e A p p li c ati o n fo r th e S e ar c h w arr an t w a s s i g n e d b y th e H o n o r ab l e Ki m T e s l a o f th e C o u rt o f C o m m o n P l e a s o f B e a v e r C o u n ty . ' S ° T h e A f fi d a v i t o f P r o b ab l e C au s e s p ann ed n e arl y th r e e ( 3 ) p a g e s an d b e g an w i th a d e s c ri p ti o n o f D e t e c ti v e Y o u n g ' s e x t e n s i v e e x p e ri e n c e a s a d e t e c ti v e . 1 5 6 

### T h e A f fi d a v i t o f P r o b ab l e C au s e th e n g o e s thr o u g h a ti m e li n e o f e v e n t s fr o m th e ti m e o f th e h o mi c i d e u p u n til th e ap p r e h e n s i o n o f th e A p p e ll an t i n P h i l a d e l p h i a . T h e n , th e a f fi d a v i t o f p ro b ab l e c au s e c o n cl u d e s w i th D e t e c ti v e Y o un g ' s s tat e d b e l i e f th at i n fo rm ati o n m ay b e c o n t ai n e d o n th e c e ll p h o n e b y r e a s o n o f h i s tr ai n i n g an d e x p e ri e n c e th at c ri mi n al s c o m m o n l y u tili z e c e ll p h o n e s t o c o o r d i n at e an d c o m mu n i c at e b e fo r e , du ri n g , an d a ft e r th e c o mmi s s i o n o f c ri mi n al a c ti v i ty . T h e A p p li c ati o n f

o r S e ar c h W arr an t r e q u e s t s a ll th e i n f o rm ati o n c o n t ai n e d i n th e c e ll u l ar t e l e p h o n e fo r th e ti m e p e ri o d o f S e p t e mb e r 1 8 , 2 0 2 0 thro u g h S e p t e mb e r 2 9 , 2 0 2 0 .

1 5 · C o mm o n w e al th E x hi b i t 5, A p p l i c ati o n fo r S e arc h W arran t , p . I . 1 5 1 d. at p. 2 7 1 . P a g e 3 6 o f 5 6

### T h e A p p e ll an t a s s e rt e d th at th e s e ar c h w arr an t fo r th e c e ll u l ar t e l e p h o n e w a s

o v e rb r o a d an d h a d n o n e x u s t o th e c ri mi n a l c h ar g e s at i s s u e . D I S C U S S I O N M O T I O N T O_ S UP P RE S S T HE PH O T O_ARRA Y_AN D S UB S E Q U E N T I D E N T I F I C A T I O N_ B Y B RI T T AN Y L A VE T T E 

### Wh e th e r an o u t o f c o u rt i d e n ti fi c ati o n i s t o b e s u p p r e s s e d a s u n r e l i ab l e , an d th e r e fo r e v i o l ati v e o f du e p r o c e s s , i s d e t e rmi n e d fr o m th e t o t al i ty o f th e c i r c u m s t an c e s . S u g g e s ti v e n e s s i n th e i d e n ti fi c ati o n p r o c e s s i s a fa c t o r t o b e c o n s i d er ed i n d e t e rmi n i n g th e a d mi s s i b ili ty o f s u c h e v i d e n c e , b u t s u g g e s ti v e n e s s al o n e d o e s n o t w arr an t e x cl u s i o n . I d e n ti fi c ati o n e v i d e n c e w ill n o t b e s u p p r e s s e d un l e s s th e fa c t s d e m o n s tr at e th at th e i d e n ti fi c ati o n p r o c e d u r e w a s s o i mp e rmi s s i b l y s u g g e s ti v e a s t o g i v e ri s e t o a v e ry s u b s t an ti al li k e l i h o o d o f i rr e p ar ab l e mi s i d e n ti fi c ati o n . P h o t o g r ap h s u s ed i n li n e u p s ar e n o t u n du l y s u g g e s ti v e i f th e s u s p e c t ' s p i c tu r e d o e s n o t s t an d o u t m o r e th an th e o th e r s , an d th e p e o p l e d e p i c t e d a ll e x h i b i t s i mi l ar fa ci al c h ar a c t e ri s ti c s . C o m m o n w e a lth v . F u l m o r e , 

### 2 5 A .3 d 3 4 0 , 3 4 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 1 ) ( q u o t ati o n m ark s an d ci t ati o n s o mi tt e d ) . D u e p r o c e s s r e q u i r e s p o l i c e t o a s s e mb l e an arr ay o f p h o t o g r ap h s o f i n d i v i d u al s w h o r e s e mb l e th e s u s p e c t , n o t th e d e s c ri p ti o n p r o v i d e d b y th e v i c ti m o r e y e w i tn e s s . C o m m o n w e a lth o f P e n n s y l v a ni a v . T y r e ll B i s h o p , 

### 2 0 2 1 P A S u p e r 2 2 2 , f . n . 4 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. N o v . 1 5 , 2 0 2 1 ) . F i n a ll y , th e a s s e rti o n o f an i n ci d e n t al v ari ati o n i n ap p e ar an c e d o e s n o t p r o v e u n du e s u g g e s ti v e n e s s . C o m m o n w e a l th v . K e a r n e y , 

### 9 2 A. 3 d 5 1 , 6 6 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 4 ) .

P a g e 3 7 0 f 5 6A ft e r h e ari n g an d r e v i e w o f th e l i n e u p p h o t o s , th e tri a l c o u rt fo u n d th at th e

b a c k gr o u n d o f e a c h p h o t o w a s s i mi l ar , th at e a c h p h o t o w a s o f a h e a d s h o t o f th e d e p i c t e d i n d i v i d u al s , th at th e fa c i a l fe atu r e s o f a ll o f th e m e n w e r e s i mi l ar an d th at a ll o f th e m e n d e p i c t e d i n th e p h o t o g r ap h s ap p e ar e d t o b e o f a s i m i l ar a g e . T h e m e n w e r e n o t ed t o h a v e s i mi l ar fa ci al c h ar a c t e ri s ti c s , fa c i al h ai r , an d h ai rli n e s . A
mil d v ari ati o n i n th e c o mp l e x i o n o f th e i n d i v i d u a l s h o w n i n p h o t o g rap h fi v e ( 5 ) w a s n o t e d an d th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt fo u n d th at th e p h o t o gr ap h o f th e A p p e ll an t s h o w e d a t att o o o n h i s n e c k w h il e th e o n l y o th e r m an i n th e l i n e u p w i th an o b s e rv ab l e t att o o w a s th e m an i n p h o t o g r ap h tw o ( 2 ) . T h e c o mp l e t e n e c kli n e o f th e m e n i n p h o t o g r ap h s o n e (1 ) , fi v e ( 5 ) an d s e v e n ( 7 ) w e r e fo u n d t o b e p arti a ll y o b s tru c t e d s o th at n o n e c k t att o o s w e r e o b s e rv ab l e o n th o s e s u b j e c t s an d th e r e m ai n i n g m e n i n th e p h o t o g r ap h s w e r e fo u n d t o h a v e n o n e c k t att o o s . T h e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt h e l d th at th e s e v ari ati o n s d i d n o t m ak e A p p e ll an t ' s p h o t o gr ap h s t an d o u t m o r e th an th e o th e r s . I n C o m m o n w e a l th v . F i s h e r , 7 6 9 A . 2 d 1 1 1 6 ( P a . 2 0 0 1 ) , th e ap p e ll an t ar g u e d th at th e p h o t o arr ay w a s u n d u l y s u g g e s ti v e b e c au s e " b o th w i tn e s s e s d e s c ri b e d th e s u s p e c t a s a li g h t - s ki nn ed A fri c an - A m e ri c a n m a l e w i th fr e c kl e s an d a g o at e e , w h i l e o n l y s i x o f th e e i g h t p i c tu r e s i n th e li n e - u p s h o w e d m e n w i th g o at e e s , an d o n l y o n e , th e p i c tu r e o f th e ap p e ll an t , s h o w e d a m an w i th fr e c kl e s . 

### I d. at 1 1 2 6 . D e s p i t e th e fa c t th at a ll o f th e m e n i n th e p h o t o g r ap h s d i d n o t P a g e 3 8 o f

5 6

### h a v e g o at ee s o r fr e c kl e s , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt h e l d th at th e p h o t o grap h s w e r e

s u b s t an ti a ll y s i m il ar . . . " I d. 

### at 1 1 2 7 . I n F i s h e r , 

### th e C o u rt n o t e d th e p i c tu r e s w e r e s e l e c t e d b y a c o mp u t e ri z e d s y s t e m b a s e d u p o n s i mi l ari ty t o th e ap p e ll an t an d fo u n d th e tri al c o u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s c r e ti o n i n r e v i e w i n g an d fi n d i n g n o th i n g u n du l y s u g g e s ti v e i n th e arr ay . I d . 

### I n C o m m o n w e a l th v . K e a r n e y , 

### 9 2 A .3 d 5 1 , 6 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 4 ) , th e C o u rt fo un d th at th e c l ai m th at A p p e ll an t w a s th e o n l y p e r s o n o f li g h t c o mp l e x i o n i n cl u d e d i n th e p h o t o arr ay w a s n o t s u p p o rt e d b y th e e v i d e n c e an d th e cl ai m th at th e A p p e ll an t w a s th e o n l y p e r s o n s mil i n g i n th e array w a s i n s u f fi c i e n t p r o o f o f u n r e l i ab ili ty an d s u g g e s ti v e n e s s . C o m m o n w e a l th v . C r o r k, 

### 9 6 6 A . 2 d 5 8 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 9 ) i s a c a s e w h e r e th e A p p e ll an t cl ai m e d th at th e p h o t o arr ay w a s u n du l y s u g g e s ti v e w h e r e th e array c o n t ai n e d m e n o f s i m il ar ap p e ar an c e b u t o n l y o n e o th e r m an w i th li g h t c o l o r e d e y e s w a s r e j e c t ed a s th e C o u rt fo u n d th at th e A p p e ll an t ' s p h o t o d i d n o t s tan d o u t fr o m th e o th e r s . In 

### th i s c a s e , i n c o n s i d e ri n g th e t o t a li ty o f th e c i r c u m s t an c e s , th e c o u rt c o n cl u d ed th at w i tn e s s B ri tt an y L a v e tt e ' s o u t - o f

- c o u rt i d e n ti fi c ati o n w a s n o t b a s e d u p o n a p h o t o arr ay s o i n fe c t e d b y s u g g e s ti v e n e s s as t o g i v e ri s e t o a s u b s t an ti al li k e l i h o o d o f i rr e p arab l e mi s i d e n ti fi c ati o n . T h e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt n o t ed th at th e arr ay w a s c o mp u t e r g e n e r at ed an d th at th e b a c k g r o u n d s w e r e th e s am e . F i n a ll y , th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt f

o u n d th at a ll o f th e m e n i n th e p h o t o arr ay e x h i b i t e d s i mi l ar

P a g e 3 9 o f 5 6fa c i a l c h ar a c t e ri s ti c s . A c c o r d i n g l y , b a s e d o n th o s e fi n d i n g s m a d e b y th e

s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt , th e ru li n g w h i c h d e n i e d th e r e q u e s t t o s u p p r e s s th e l i n e u p s h o u l d n o t b e d i s tu rb ed a s th e fa c tu a l fi n d i n g s o f th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt ar e s u p p o rt ed b y th e r e c o r d an d th e l e g a l c o n cl u s i o n s dr a w n fr o m th o s e fa c t s ar e c o rr e c t. M O T I O N T O S UP P RE S S S E AR C H W ARRAN T F O R C E L L PH O N E I n S e c ti o n " C o f th e O m n i b u s P r e - T ri a l M o ti o n , th e A p p e ll an t w a s s e e ki n g t o s u p p r e s s o f th e fo r e n s i c d o w n l o a d o f h i s c e ll p h o n e . A p p e ll an t c o n t e n d e d th at th e s e ar c h w arr an t w a s l a c ki n g a s u f fi ci e n t n e x u s t o th e a ll e g e d c ri m e s , l a c ki n g i n p arti c u l ari ty an d th at th e s e ar c h w arran t w a s o v e rb r o a d . T h e C o n s ti tu ti o n a l cl ai m s s u rr o u n d i n g th e s u p p r e s s i o n i s s u e s rai s e d b y th e A p p e ll an t ar e d e ri v e d fr o m th e F o u rth A m e n d m e n t t o th e U n i t e d S t at e s C o n s ti tu ti o n an d A rti c l e I , S e c ti o n 8 o f th e P e n n s y l v an i a C o n s ti tu ti o n . T h o s e C o n s ti tu ti o n al p r o v i s i o n s p r o v i d e p r o t e c ti o n s " fr o m u n r e a s o n ab l e s e ar c h e s an d s e i z u r e s b y p o l i c e i n ar e a s w h e r e i n d i v i d u a l s h a v e a r e a s o n ab l e e x p e c t ati o n o f p ri v a c y . " C o m m o n w e a l th v . B a r r , 2 6 6 A . 3 d 2 5 , 3 9 ( P a . 2 0 2 1 ) . " If a p e r s o n h a s a r e a s o n ab l e e x p e c t ati o n o f p ri v a c y i n a p l a c e , th e n th e s e c o n s ti tu ti o n al p r o v i s i o n s g e n e r a ll y r e q u i r e p o l i c e t o o b t ai n a w arr an t t o s e ar c h th e p l a c e ; a s e ar c h w arr an t mu s t b e s u p p o rt e d b y p r o b ab l e c au s e an d i s s u e d b y a n e u tra l , d e t a c h e d m a g i s tr at e . " I d . P a g e 4 0 o f 5 6

### I n C o m m o n w e a l th v . J o h n s o n , 

### 2 4 0 A. 3 d 5 7 5 , 5 8 5 ( P a . 

### 2 0 2 0 ) , th e A rti cl e 

### I ,

S e c ti o n 8 o f th e P e nn s y l v an i a C o n s titu ti o n p r o t e c ti o n s th at " n o w arr an t t o s e ar c h an y p l a c e o r t o s e i z e an y p e r s o n o r th i n g s s h a ll i s s u e w i th o u t d e s c ri b i n g th e m a s n e arl y a s m ay b e , n o r w i th o u t p ro b ab l e c au s e , s u p p o rt e d b y o ath o r a ffi rm ati o n s u b s c ri b e d t o b y th e a f

fi an t " w e r e e x p l ai n e d a s f o ll o w s : Arti c l e I , S e c ti o n 8 o f th e P e nn s y l v an i a C o n s ti tu ti o n e n s u r e s th at c i ti z e n s o f th i s C o m m o n w e a lth ar e p r o t e c t e d fr o m u n r e a s o n ab l e s e ar c h e s an d s e i zu r e s b y r e q u i ri n g th at w arr an t s : ( I ) d e s c ri b e th e p l a c e t o b e s e ar c h e d an d th e i t e m s t o b e s e i z e d w i th s p e c i fi c i ty an d ( 2 ) b e s u p p o rt e d b y p r o b ab l e c au s e t o b e li e v e th at th e i t e m s s o u g h t w i ll p r o v i d e e v i d e n c e o f a c ri m e . S e e , e . g . , C o m m o n w e a l th v . W a lt s o n , 

### 5 5 5 P a . 2 2 3 , 7 2 4 A . 2 d 2 8 9 , 2 9 2 ( 1 9 9 8 ) . R e g ar d i n g th e fo rm e r r e q u i r e m e n t , w e h a v e i n t e rp r e t e d th e p hr a s e " a s n e arl y a s m ay b e " i n Arti cl e I , S e c ti o n 8 " a s r e q u i ri n g m o r e s p e ci fi c i ty i n th e d e s c ri p ti o n o f i t e m s t o b e s e i z e d th an th e fe d e r al p arti c u l ari ty r e q u i r e m e n t . " I d . at 2 9 1 , c i ti n g C o m m o n w e a l th v . G r o s s m a n , 

### 5 2 1 P a . 2 9 0 , 5 5 5 A . 2 d 8 9 6 , 8 9 9 ( 1 9 8 9 ) ( " T h e c l e ar m e an i n g o f th e l an gu a g e i s th at a w arr an t mu s t d e s c ri b e th e i t e m s a s s p e c i fi c al l y a s i s r e a s o n ab l y p o s s i b l e . " ) . T h i s m o r e s tri n g e n t r e q u i r e m e n t m ak e s g e n e r al s e ar c h e s i mp o s s i b l e an d ' " p r e v e n t s th e s e i zu r e o f o n e th i n g u n d e r a w arr an t d e s c ri b i n g an o th e r . "' G r o s s m a n , 

### 5 5 5 A . 2 d at 8 9 9 , q u o ti n g M a r r o n v . U n i t e d S t a t e s , 

### 2 7 5 U . S . 1 9 2, 1 9 6 , 4 8 S . C t. 7 4 , 7 2 L. E d . 2 3 1 (1 9 2 7 ) ; s e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a lth v . M a tth e w s , 

### 4 4 6 P a . 6 5 , 2 8 5 A . 2 d 5 1 0 , 5 1 4 (1 9 7 1 ) ( " I t c ann o t b e d i s p u t e d th at g e n e r al o r e x p l o r at o ry s e ar c h e s th r o u g h w h i c h o f

fi c e r s m e r e l y h o p e t o d i s c o v e r e v i d e n c e o f [ a ] n y ki n d o f [ a ] n y w r o n g d o i n g ar e n o t c o n s ti tu ti o n a ll y p e rmi s s i b l e . " ) . C o m m o n w e a l th v . J o h n s o n , 

### 2 4 0 A . 3 d 5 7 5 , 5 8 4 ( P a . 2 0 2 0 ) ( o ri g i n al c i t ati o n s i n c l u d ed ) .

P a g e 4 1 o f 5 6

### T h e r e q u i r e d an al y s i s fo r a ll e g e d o v e rb r e a d th an d l a c k o f p arti c u l ari ty

( amb i g u i ty ) att a c k s o n a s e ar c h w arr an t w e r e d e s c ri b e d a s fo ll o w s i n a r e c e n t P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o u rt c a s e : [ B ] o th d o c tri n e s d i a g n o s e s y mp t o m s o f th e s am e d i s e a s e : a w arr an t w h o s e d e s c ri p ti o n d o e s n o t d e s c ri b e a s n e arl y a s m ay b e th o s e i t e m s fo r w h i c h th e r e i s p r o b ab l e c au s e . F o r th a t r e a s o n , w h e n a s s e s s i n g th e v a li d i ty o f th e d e s c r i p ti o n c o n t a i n e d i n a w a r r a n t , th e n a tu r a l s t a r t i n g p o i n t fo r a c o u r t i s t o d e t e r m i n e fo r w h a t i t e m s p r o b a b l e c a u s e e x i s t e d . 

### T h e s u f fi c i e n c y o f th e d e s c ri p ti o n [ i n th e w arr an t ] mu s t th e n b e m e a s u r e d a g ai n s t th o s e it e m s f o r w h i c h th e r e w a s p r o b ab l e c au s e . A n y u n r e a s o n ab l e d i s c r e p an c y b e t w ee n th e i t e m s fo r w h i c h th e r e w a s p r o b ab l e c au s e [ t o s e ar c h ] an d th e d e s c ri p ti o n i n th e w arr an t r e q u i r e s s u p p r e s s i o n . T h i s i s b e c au s e an u n r e a s o n ab l e d i s c r e p an c y r e v e al s th at th e d e s c ri p ti o n w a s n o t a s s p e c i fi c a s r e a s o n ab l y p o s s i b l e , m e an i n g th e w arr an t i s o v e rb r o a d , amb i gu o u s , o r p e rh ap s b o th . C o m m o n w e a lth v . G r e e n , 

### 2 6 5 A . 3 d 5 4 1 , 5 5 1 ( P a . 2 0 2 1 ) ( e mp h a s i s i n o ri g i n al ) ( i n t e rn al q u o t ati o n s an d c i t ati o n o mi tt ed ) . P u r s u an t t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a d i c t at e s s e t fo rth i n J o h n s o n 

### an d G r e e n , 

### th i s C o u rt mu s t fi r s t d e t e rmi n e f o r w h at i t e m s p r o b ab l e c au s e e x i s t s b e fo r e th e q u e s ti o n o f o v e rb r e a d th c an b e a s s e s s e d . M o r e o v e r , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt h a s m a d e cl e ar a r e q u i r e m e n t th at th e p arti e s i n cl u d e a p ro b ab l e c au s e an a l y s i s i n an y b ri e f fi l e d a ft e r D e c e mb e r 2 2 , 2 0 2 1 r ai s i n g an o v e rb r e a d th i s s u e . S p e c i fi c a ll y , th at d i r e c ti v e w a s s t at e d a s fo ll o w s : 

### It i s w o rth e mp h a s i z i n g at th i s p o i n t , th at i n J o h n s o n , 

### a p o i n t o f c o n t e n ti o n w a s th e fa c t th at n o p arty a f fi rm ati v e l y ar g u e d o r b ri e fe d p r o b ab l e c au s e . N o tw i th s t an d i n g th i s C o u rt ' s e x p l i c i t p r o n o u n c e m e n t th at p r o b ab l e c au s e " i s o n e o f [ th e ] m ai n t e n e t s " o f an o v e rb r e a d th P a g e 4 2 o f

5 6an al y s i s an d th at th e t w o c o n c e p t s c o u l d n o t b e " m e an i n g fu ll y

u n t an g l e [ d ] , " J o h n s o n , 2 4 0 A .3 d 5 7 5 , 5 8 6 , A p p e ll an t fo r g o e s a c o mp l e t e p r o b ab l e c au s e an a l y s i s i n h i s b ri e f . . .. .. [ G ] o i n g f

o rw a r d , li ti g a n t s s h o u l d i n cl u d e a n a l y s i s o f a n y a ll e g e d i n s u f fi c i e n t s h o w in g o f p r o b a b l e c a u s e a s i t r e l a t e s t o th e i r o v e r b r e a d th c h a ll e n g e . C o m m o n w e a l th v . G r e e n , 2 6 5 A .3 d 5 4 1 , 5 5 1 ( f . n . 5 ) ( P a . 2 0 2 1 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . T h e a c c e p t e d d e fi n i ti o n o f p ro b ab l e c au s e an d th e d e fe r e n ti a l s t an d ar d b y w h i c h a r e v i e w i n g c o u rt mu s t an al y z e th e i s s u i n g au th o ri ty ' s i n i ti al d e t e rmi n ati o n o f p r o b ab l e c au s e w e r e s u m m ari z e d i n J o h n s o n . P r o b ab l e c au s e , a s w e h a v e s ai d m an y ti m e s o v e r th e y e ar s , i s d e t e rmi n e d b as e d o n th e t o t a li ty o f th e c i r c u m s t an c e s . T h u s , th e t a s k o f th e i s s u i n g [ au th o ri ty ] i s s i mp l y t o m ak e a p r a c ti c al , c o m m o n - s e n s e d e c i s i o n w h e th e r , g i v e n a ll th e c i r c u m s t an c e s s e t fo rth i n th e a f fi d a v i t b e fo r e h i m , i n cl u d i n g th e v e r a ci ty an d b a s i s o f kn o w l ed g e o f p e r s o n s s u p p l yi n g h e ar s ay i n fo rm ati o n , th e r e i s a fai r p r o b ab ili ty th at c o n tr ab an d o r e v i d e n c e o f a c ri m e w i ll b e fo u n d i n a p arti c u l ar p l a c e . A r e v i e w i n g c o u rt ' s d u ty , i n tu rn , i s m e r e l y t o e n s u r e th e i s s u i n g au th o ri ty h a d a s u b s t an ti a l b a s i s fo r c o n cl u d i n g th at p r o b ab l e c au s e e x i s t ed . I n s o d o i n g , th e r e v i e w i n g c o u rt mu s t a c c o r d d e fe r e n c e t o th e i s s u i n g au th o ri ty ' s p r o b ab l e c au s e d e t e rmi n ati o n , an d mu s t v i e w th e i n fo rm ati o n o ff

e r e d t o e s t ab l i s h p r o b ab l e c au s e i n a c o m m o n - s e n s e , n o n - t e c h n i c al m an n e r . C o m m o n w e a l th v . J o h n s o n , 2 4 0 A . 3 d at 5 8 5 ( i n t e rn al q u o t ati o n s an d ci t ati o n o m i tt e d ) . A l s o , " [ P ] r o b ab l e c au s e i s b a s e d o n a p r o b ab i l i ty , n o t 

### a p r i m a fa c i e c a s e o f c ri m i n a l a c ti v i ty . " C o m m o n w e a l th v . G r e e n , 2 6 5 A . 3 d 5 4 1 , 5 5 1 ( P a . 2 0 2 1 ) . I n J o h n s o n , p o l i c e o f

fi c e r s r e s p o n d e d t o a s h o t s fi r ed c a ll at an ap artm e n t. T h e y e n t e r ed th e h o m e an d s e c u r e d th e fi v e i n d i v i d u al s , i n cl u d i n g J o hn s o n , w h o P a g e 4 3 o f 5 6w e r e i n th e ap artm e n t. H e r o i n an d t w o gu n s w e r e fo u n d i n p l ai n v i e w . I n a s ear c h

i n c i d e n t t o th e arr e s t o f th e A p p e ll an t , t w o c e ll p h o n e s w e r e s e i z e d . M o r e th an

" fo u r m o n th s a ft e r th e i n i ti a l s e ar c h an d d i s c o v e ry o f th i s s i z ab l e s t a s h o f dru g s an d fi r e arm s i n th e ap artm e n t , th e o f fi c e r s s o u g h t an d o b t ai n e d a s e ar c h w arr an t fo r ap p e ll an t ' s tw o c e ll p h o n e s . C o m m o n w e a l th v . J o h n s o n , 2 4 0 A . 3 d at 5 8 0 . I n J o h n s o n , th e C o u rt r e v e r s e d th e d e n i al o f s u p p r e s s i o n , c o n c l u d i n g th at th e l a w r e q u i r e s " s o m e s p e ci fi c n e x u s b e tw e e n th e i t e m s t o b e [ s e ar c h ed a n d ] s e i z e d an d th e s u s p e c t e d c ri m e c o mmi tt e d " an d a " r e v i e w o f th e a f fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e r e v e a l s n o s u c h li nk . " 

### I d . at 5 8 7

- 8 8 ( q u o t ati o n an d c i t ati o n o mi tt ed ) . I n p art , th e a f

fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e i n J o h n s o n p r o v i d e d th at: Fr o m p r e v i o u s dru g i n v e s ti g ati o n s y o u r a f fi an t s h a v e b e e n i n v o l v e d w i th , y o u r A f

fi an t s h a v e b e c o m e a w ar e th at p e r s o n s i n v o l v e d i n th e tr a f fi c ki n g o f c o n tr o ll e d s u b s t an c e s r e g u l arl y u s e c e ll u l ar t e l e p h o n e s t o a c c o mp l i s h th e i r tr a f fi c ki n g a c ti v i ti e s . T h e s e p e r s o n s a d d i ti o n a ll y m ai n tai n w i th i n th e i r c e ll u l ar t e l e p h o n e s , i n fo rm ati o n th at i n cl u d e s th e t e l e p h o n e n u mb e r s o f p e r s o n s t o w h o m th e y d i s tri b u t e c o n tr o ll e d s u b s tan c e s t o [ s i c ] , th e t e l e p h o n e n u mb e r s o f p e r s o n s fr o m w h o m th e y o b t ai n c o n tr o ll ed s u b s t an c e s t o d i s tri b u t e , ab b r e v i ati o n s o r a c r o n ym s fo r th e p e r s o n s t o w h o m th e y d i s tri b u t e c o n tr o ll e d s u b s t an c e s t o [ s i c ] , th e p e r s o n s fr o m w h o m th e y o b t ai n c o n tr o ll e d s u b s t an c e s t o d i s tri b u t e , an d p i c tu r e s o f c o n tr o ll ed s u b s t an c e s , fi r e arm s , an d q u an ti ti e s o f m o n i e s . U n d e r th e fa c t s o f th at c a s e , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt a s c ri b e d n o v al u e t o th e a f fi an t ' s s p e ci a li z e d kn o w l e d g e th at dru g tr a f fi c k e r s o ft e n u s e c e ll p h o n e s t o c o n d u c t th e i r b u s i n e s s b e c au s e th e a ffi d a v i t i n th at c a s e w a s f o u n d t o b e " e n ti r e l y P a g e 4 4 o f 5 6b e r e ft o f an y fa c t s ty i n g th e a f fi an t s ' e x p e rt o p i n i o n t o ap p e ll an t s p e ci fi c a ll y . " 

### I d . at 5 8 8 . T h e S u p r e m e C o u rt a c kn o w l ed g e d th at an a f fi an t ' s s p e c i a l i z e d kn o w l e d g e an d e x p e rti s e m ay b e r e l e v an t t o e s t ab l i s h i n g p ro b ab l e c au s e i n s o m e ci r c u m s t an c e s . I d . H o w e v e r , th e C o u rt i n d i c at e d th at i n a d d i ti o n t o th e a f fi an t' s s p e ci al i z ed kn o w l e d g e an d e x p e rti s e , th e a f fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e mu s t c o n t ai n

" s o m e l i n k s u f

fi c i e n t t o c o nn e c t th e t w o . " I d . T h e C o u rt s t at e d th at " w h e r e l a w e n fo r c e m e n t s e e k s t o s e ar c h a p e r s o n ' s c e ll p h o n e b a s e d o n th e p e r s o n ' s m e r e p r o x i mi ty t o ill e g al c o n tr ab an d , s o m e li nk s u f fi c i e n t t o c o nn e c t th e t w o mu s t b e p r o v i d e d i n th e a f

fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e . " I d . I n th at c a s e w h e r e th e r e w a s n o e v i d e n c e t o e s t ab li s h an yth i n g m o r e th an th at th e A p p e ll an t w a s " m e r e l y p r e s e n t " at th e r e s i d e n c e w h e n th e c e ll p h o n e s w e r e c o n fi s c at e d , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt s t at e d : S i mp l y p u t , th e a f

fi d a v it o f p r o b ab l e c au s e i n th i s c as e p r o v i d e s li ttl e m o r e th an th e b ar e fa c t th at ap p e ll an t w a s p r e s e n t i n a p l a c e w h e r e ill e g a l c o n tr ab an d h ap p e n e d t o b e fo u n d . T h at fa c t , i n an d o f i t s e l f , c ann o t s u p p l y p r o b ab l e c au s e fo r a s e ar c h o f ap p e ll an t ' s c e ll p h o n e . 

### I d . P r o b l e m ati c fo r th e J o h n s o n c o u rt w a s th e fa c t th at th e a f fi d a v i t l a c k e d

" e v i d e n c e d e m o n s tr ati n g " m o r e e x t e n s i v e i n f o rm ati o n r e g ar d i n g s o m e e v i d e n c e o f a n e x u s t o th e c ri m e u n d e r i n v e s ti g ati o n an d th e i t e m t o b e s e ar c h e d . I d . at 5 8 8 . I n th e i n s t an t c a s e , i f th e a f fi d a v i t i s r e v i e w e d w i th th e d e fe r e n c e th at th i s C o u rt mu s t g i v e t o th e i s s u i n g au th o ri ty , th e d e c i s i o n o f th e o ri g i n al i s s u i n g au th o ri ty w h i c h fo u n d th e n e c e s s ary q u an tu m o f " e v i d e n c e d e m o n s tr ati n g " a s u f fi c i e n t n e x u s o f th e P a g e 4 5 o f 5 6fa c t s i n th e a f fi d a v i t an d th e o p i n i o n s b a s e d o n th e e x p e ri e n c e o f D e t e c ti v e Y o u n g w ith th e i t e m s t o b e s e ar c h e d w ill n o t b e d i s tu rb e d . F a c t s th at th e i s s u i n g au th o ri ty c o u l d g l e an fr o m th e a f fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e d i s ti n gu i s h th i s c a s e fr o m th e s i tu ati o n th at e x i s t e d i n J o h n s o n , w h e r e th e i n fo rm ati o n i n th e a f

fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e d i d n o th i n g m o r e th an e s t ab li s h w h at th e S u p r e m e C o u rt c a ll e d a " b ar e fa c t . " D e t e c ti v e Y o u n g ' s a f fi d a v i t p o i n t s o u t th at th e A p pe ll an t w as i d e n ti fi e d a s th e s h o o t e r i n a h o mi ci d e , th at th e h o mi c i d e an d r o b b e ry i n th e h o u s e w e r e c o m mi tt e d b y t w o p e o p l e , i n cl u d i n g th e A p p e ll an t , an d , th at a th i r d l i k e l y p arti c i p an t i n c l u d e d th e g e t a w ay dri v e r o f th e J e e p i n w h i c h th e a s s ai l an t s fl e d a ft e r th e s h o o ti n g . T h e a f fi d a v i t al s o r e fe r e n c e s a p o t e n ti al mu r d e r fo r h i r e s c h e m e , w h e r e th e p e r s o n s o li ci ti n g th e mu r d e r u ti li z e d h i s p h o n e an d/o r S n ap c h at fo r th e p o t e n ti a l s o li ci t ati o n o f th e mu r d e r th at th e A p p e ll an t i s a ll e g ed t o h a v e c o mmi tt e d . T h e a f fi da v i t p o i n t e d o u t l o c ati o n s w h e r e th e g e t a w ay v e h i cl e w a s s e e n an d at w h at ap p r o x i m at e ti m e s th at v e h i cl e w o u l d h a v e b e e n l o c at e d i n th e e x a c t ar e a s i d e n ti fi e d o n th e v i d e o w h e r e th e v e h i cl e w a s o b s e rv e d . T h e a f fi d a v i t a l s o r e fe r e n c e s a F a c e b o o k a c c o u n t o f th e A p p e ll an t , w h i c h p r e s u m ab l y c o u l d b e c o m m o n l y u til i z e d an d a c c e s s ed fr o m a c e ll p h o n e . T h e a f fi an t a l s o s t at ed th at b a s e d o n D e t e c ti v e Y o u n g s ' " tr ai n i n g an d e x p e ri e n c e i t w a s kn o wn th at c ri mi n a l s c o mm o n l y u s e c e ll p h o n e s t o c o o r d i n at e an d c o m mu n i c at e b e fo r e , du ri n g

P a g e 4 6 o f

5 6an d a ft e r th e c o m mi s s i o n o f c ri mi n al a c ti v i ty . " S e a r c h W a r r a n t A f fi d a v i t o f P r o b a b l e C a u s e , p . 4 . A s s t at e d b y th e S u p r e m e C o u rt , " s i mp l y p u t , " th e s e fa c t s , i n cl u d i n g th e p ro fe s s i o n al o p i n i o n an d th e e x p e ri e n c e o f th e a f fi a n t , D e t e c ti v e Y o u n g , th at th e o ff e n d e r s i n th i s c o mp l i c at ed p o t e n ti a l mu r d e r fo r h i r e s c h e m e w e r e l i k e l y c o o r d i n ati n g e ff

o rt s v i a c e ll p h o n e p l a c e d th e i s s u i n g au th o ri ty i n a p o s i ti o n t o m ak e a p r a c ti c a l , c o m m o n - s e n s e d e ci s i o n th at th e r e w a s a fai r p r o b ab i l i ty th at c o n tr ab an d o r e v i d e n c e o f a c ri m e w ill b e f o u n d o n th e A p p e ll an t ' s c e ll p h o n e . T h e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt , a s a r e v i e w i n g c o u rt , w a s r e q u i r e d t o a c c o r d d e fe r e n c e t o th e i s s u i n g au th o ri ty ' s p r o b ab l e c au s e d e t e rmi n ati o n an d th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt v i e w e d th e i n fo rm ati o n o ff e r ed t o e s t ab l i s h p r o b ab l e c au s e i n a c o mm o n - s e n s e , n o n - t e c h n i c al m an n e r . 

### It w a s h e l d th at s u c h an an a l y s i s l e d t o th e c o n cl u s i o n th at th e s e ar c h w arr a n t fo r th e c e ll p h o n e w as s u p p o rt e d b y p r o b ab l e c au s e . T h e tr ai n i n g an d e x p e ri e n c e o f an a f fi an t c an b e a r e l e v an t fa c t o r fo r p r o b ab l e c au s e u n d e r th e t o t al i ty o f th e c i r c u m s t an c e s . C o m m o n w e a l th v . N i c h o l s o n , 2 6 2 A . 3 d 1 2 7 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 2 1 ) . H o w e v e r , " th e r e mu s t b e s o m e th i n g i n th e a f fi d a v i t th at li n k s th e p l a c e t o b e s e ar c h e d d i r e c tl y t o th e c ri mi n al a c ti v i ty . " I d . I n N i c h o l s o n , th e a f fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e c o n t ai n e d an a s s e rti o n o f th e a f fi an t th at dru g s w o u l d b e fo u n d i n th e h o m e o f th e A p p e ll an t b a s e d o n th e

P a g e 4 7 o f 5 6a f

fi an t ' s " p r o fe s s i o n al e x p e ri e n c e " th at dru g d e al e r s ty p i c a ll y s t o r e dru g s , w e ap o n s an d o th e r c o n tr ab an d i n th e i r h o m e s . " I d . at 1 2 8 1 . T h e S u p e ri o r C o u rt a f

fi rm e d th e tri a l c o u rt ' s s u p p r e s s i o n o f e v i d e n c e b y h o l d i n g th at m e r e l y r e fe rri n g t o " p r o fe s s i o n al e x p e ri e n c e " a s t o th e p l a c e s th at dru g s c o u l d b e s t o r e d c o u l d b e u s e d t o j u s ti fy a s e ar c h o f an y p l a c e w h e r e dru g s c o u l d p o s s i b l y b e k e p t . " I d . T h e l a c k o f an y fa c t s t o e s t ab li s h a n e x u s t o th e h o m e o f th e A p p e ll an t w a s c i t e d a s a fa c t o r th at l e d t o th e c o n cl u s i o n th at th e p o li c e o f fi c e r ' s p r o fe s s i o n al e x p e ri e n c e w a s n o t p r o b ati v e o f th e p ro b ab l e c au s e d e t e rmi n ati o n i n N ic h o l s o n . I d . T h e a f fi an t ' s g e n e r al s t at e m e n t o f th e p l e th o r a o f p l a c e s th at dru g s c o u l d b e s t o r e d w a s th e o n l y l i n k i n th at c a s e t o s u p p o rt th e r e q u e s t t o s e ar c h th e h o m e o f th e A p p e ll an t. T h e r e w a s n o fa c tu a l n e x u s th at c o u l d c o n n e c t th e h o m e t o th e c ri mi n al a c ti v i ty i n th at c a s e . Th e i n s tan t c as e d i ff e rs b e c au s e o f th e fa c t s c i t e d ab o v e th at c o u l d h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r e d b y th e i s s u i n g au th o ri ty t o s u p p o rt a p r o b ab l e c au s e d e t e rmi n ati o n . O n c e a g ai n , g i v e n th e d e f e r e n ti a l s t an d ar d o f th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o u rt a s a r e v i e w i n g c o u rt , th e d e ci s i o n o f N i c h o l s o n d o e s n o t c o n tr o l th e o u t c o m e o f th e s u p p r e s s i o n m o ti o n fi l e d b y th e A p p e ll an t. T h e P e nn s y l v a n i a S u p r e m e C o u rt ap p r o v e d a s e ar c h w arr an t th at au th o ri z e d l a w e n fo r c e m e n t t o s e i z e a ll d i g i t a l d e v i c e s c o n n e c t e d t o an I P a d dr e s s th at i t i n d i c at e d w o u l d " l at e r [ b e ] s e ar c h e d fo r e v i d e n c e r e l ati n g t o th e p o s s e s s i o n an d/o r P a g e 4 8 o f 5 6d i s tri b u ti o n o f c h il d p o rn o g r ap h y [ . ] " T h e s c o p e o f th e s e ar c h i n th at c a s e a ll o w e d

th e i n v e s ti g at o r s t o s e ar c h " an y a n d a ll d e v i c e s " fo u n d i n th e A p p e ll an t ' s h o m e , i n cl u d i n g c o mp u t e r s a n d a ll c e ll p h o n e s , an d , s i g n i fi c an tl y , a ll o f th e c o n t e n t o f th o s e i t e m s w i th o u t i n cl u d i n g a r e s tri c ti o n t o " i n c l u d e a s p e c i fi c d at e , typ e o f fi l e , o r p ro g r am i n o r d e r t o s ati s fy th e r e q u i r e m e n t t o d e s c ri b e th e i t e m s a s n e arl y a s m ay b e . " C o m m o n w e a lt h v . G r e e n , 2 6 5 A . 3 d 5 4 1 , 5 5 5 ( P a. 2 0 2 1 ) . I n G r e e n , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt ap p r o v e d a b r o a d au th o ri z ati o n t o s e i z e a ll d e v i c e s a n d s e ar c h th r o u g h a ll d at a o n th e d i g i t a l d e v i c e s fo r e v i d e n c e o f p o s s e s s i o n a n d d i s tri b u ti o n o f c h il d p o rn o g r ap h y b y c o n cl u d i n g th at s u c h a s e ar c h i n th at c a s e c o mp l i e d w i th th e A rti cl e I , S e c ti o n 8 r e q u i r e m e n t th at th e w arr an t mu s t d e s c ri b e th e p l a c e t o b e s e ar c h e d an d th e th i n g s t o b e s e i z e d a s n e arl y a s m ay b e . I d . at 5 5 5 . B e c au s e o f th e a f

fi an t ' s a ll e g ati o n i n th e a f fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e th at th e p o rn o gr ap h i c i m a g e s c o u l d b e h i d d e n w i th i n a n e l e c tr o n i c d e v i c e , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt h e l d th at " j u s t as w i th a s e ar c h o f a h o m e an d o th e r s p a c e s w h e r e an i n d i v i d u al m ai n t ai n s a p ri v a c y i n t e r e s t , i f th e r e i s p r o b ab l e c au s e th at e v i d e n c e o f a c ri m e w ill be fo u n d w i th i n an e l e c tr o n i c d e v ic e , th at e v i d e n c e s h o u l d n o t b e s h i e l d e d s i mp l y b e c au s e a A p p e ll an t c o m i n g l e s i t w i th p e r s o n al i n fo rm ati o n i n a d i g i t al s p a c e w i th v a s t s t o r a g e c ap a ci ty . T h i s i s p arti c u l arl y s o w h e n , l i k e [ i n th at c a s e ] , th e n atu r e o f th e c ri m e i s e l e c tr o n i c o r i n t e rn e t b as e d . " I d .

P a g e 4 9 o f

5 6C o m m o n w e a lth v . D o u g a l e w i c z , 11 3 A J d 8 1 7 , 8 2 1 , 8 2 8 ( P a . S u p e r .

2 0 1 5 ) , i s a c a s e w h e r e th e S u p e ri o r C o u rt fo u n d th at a s e ar c h w arr an t s e e ki n g

" [ a ] n y an d a ll t e x t m e s s a g e s , p i c tu r e m ai l , an d p h o n e c a ll s t o an d fr o m " th e A p p e ll an t ' s p h o n e w a s n o t o v e rl y b r o a d b e c au s e th e a f fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e s p e ci fi c a ll y li mi t e d th e ti m e fr am e fo r th e p h o n e r e c o r d s t o b e s e ar c h e d an d " s u f fi ci e n tl y i d e n ti fi e d an d li m i t e d th e i t e m s t o b e s e ar c h e d an d s e i z e d . . .. " . S i m il arl y , i n th e i n s t an t c a s e , li mi t s o n th e e x t e n t o f th e i n fo rm ati o n t o b e r e l e a s e d p u r s u an t t o th e s e ar c h w arr an t ar e i mp o s e d b y th e d at e r e s tri c ti o n s o f th e " [ i ] t e m s t o b e s e ar c h e d " p art o f th e s e ar c h w arr an t an d b y th e fa c tu al l i mi t ati o n s s e t f

o rth i n th e s e ar c h w arr an t a f fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e . If th e t e rm s o f th e a f

fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e ar e r e a d a s li mi ti n g th e s c o p e o f th e s e ar c h , th e n , a s i n G r e e n , th e " w arr an t o n l y a ll o w e d th e o f fi c e r s t o s e ar c h fo r e v i d e n c e o f th at p arti c u l ar c ri m e . T h e y c o u l d n o t i n d i s c ri mi n at e l y ru m m a g e thr o u g h an y an d a ll fi l e s a s [ A p p e ll an t ] s u g g e s t s , b u t r ath e r c o u l d o n l y c o n d u c t a d i g i t al fo r e n s i c s e ar c h . . . f o r e v i d e n c e r e l ati n g t o th e c ri m e s u n d e r i n v e s ti g ati o n . " C o m m o n w e a l th v . G r e e n , 2 6 5 A . 3 d 5 4 1 , 5 5 5 ( P a. 2 0 2 1 ) . I n G r e e n , e v e n th o u g h th e w arr an t au th o ri z e d th e s e ar c h o f a ll o f th e i n fo rm ati o n i n mu l ti p l e , u n i d e n ti fi e d d e v i c e s , th e P e nn s y l v a n i a S u p r e m e C o u rt w a s " s ati s fi e d th at th e li mi ti n g l an g u a g e p r o v i d e d i n th e w arr an t an d s u p p o rt e d b y th e a f fi d a v i t o f p r o b ab l e c au s e w a s s p e c i fi c e n o u gh th at ru mm a g i n g w o u l d n o t b e p e rmi tt e d , . . . . " an d th e C o u rt w a s P a g e 5 0 o f 5 6fu rth e r s ati s fi e d th at th e w arr an t w o u l d n o t " b e u s e d as a g e n e r a l i n v e s ti g at o ry

t o o l. " I d . T h e r e fo r e , i n th at s i tu ati o n , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt h e l d th at th e " w arr an t s u f fi ci e n tl y d e s c ri b e d th e i t e m s f o r w h i c h th e r e w a s p r o b ab l e c au s e , i t w as n o t o v e rb r o a d . " I d . T h at d e c i s i o n c o n tr o l s th e o u t c o m e o f th e o v e rb r o a d an d l a c k o f p arti c u l ari ty cl ai m s a s th e y r e l at e t o th e c e ll p h o n e s e ar c h w arr an t i n th i s c a s e . T h e r e fo r e , th e M o ti o n t o S u p p r e s s th e C e ll P h o n e d at a w a s d e n i e d an d th e r e q u e s t t o s e i z e th e i t e m s r e q u e s t e d o n p a g e s o n e ( 1 ) an d s i x ( 6 ) o f th e s e ar c h w arr an t f o r th e c e ll p h o n e w e r e f

o u n d n o t t o b e i n v i o l ati o n o f th e p arti c u l ari ty r e q u i r e m e n t o f A rti c l e 1 S e c ti o n 8 o f th e P e nn s y l v an i a C o n s ti tu ti o n o r th e 

### 4 A m e n d m e n t t o th e U n i t e d S t at e s C o n s ti tu ti o n an d th e A p p e ll an t ' s cl ai m s ar e w i th o u t m e ri t. T E S T I M O N Y B Y S H E RI F F D O U G H AN N A RE G A RD I N G A P P E L L AN T ' S E L C H A P O S T A T E M E N T W A S A D M I S S I B L E T h e A p p e ll an t ar g u e s th at th e T ri al C o u rt ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e ti o n w h e n i t p e rmi tt e d t e s ti m o n y fr o m D e p u ty D o u g H ann a r e g ar d i n g a s t at e m e n t m a d e b y th e A p p e ll an t du ri n g tr an s p o rt ati o n t o B e a v e r C o u n ty J ai l. T h e s t at e m e n t i n q u e s ti o n i n v o l v e s th e A p p e ll an t s t ati n g t o H ann a th at h e w a s b e i n g tr e at e d l i k e E l C h ap o b e c au s e h e h a d t w o b o d i e s . T h e S u p r e m e C o u rt o f P e nn s y l v an i a h a s s t at e d " [ t ] h e a d mi s s i b il i ty o f e v i d e n c e i s t o th e d i s c r e ti o n o f th e tri a l c o u rt an d o n l y a s h o w i n g o f an ab u s e o f th at d i s c r e ti o n , an d r e s u l ti n g p r e j u d i c e , c o n s ti tu t e s r e v e r s i b l e e rr o r . " S a n c h e z , 3 6 P a g e 5 1 o f 5 6A . 3 d at 4 8 . A n ab u s e o f d i s c r e ti o n w i ll o n l y b e f o u n d " w h e n th e l a w i s o v e rri d d e n o r mi s ap p li ed , o r th e j u d g m e n t e x e r ci s ed i s m an i fe s tl y u n r e a s o n ab l e , o r th e r e s u l t o f p arti al i ty , p r e

j u d i c e , b i a s , o r ill

- w ill , a s s h o wn b y th e e v i d e n c e o r th e r e c o r d . " 

### C o m m o n w e a l th v . F l o r , 6 6 P a . 3 8 4 , 4 0 8 , 9 9 8 A . 2 d 6 0 6 , 6 2 0 ( 2 0 1 ) . I n th e c o urt ' s r ea s o n i n g w h e n ru li n g o n th e a d mi s s i b i l i ty o f D e p u ty H ann a ' s t e s ti m o n y , th e c o u rt r e fe r e n c e d p r e v i o u s P e nn s y l v an i a c a s e l a w , m o s t n o t ab l y C o m m o n w e a l th v . E l li o t , 1 4 0 A . 5 3 7 , 5 3 8

- 3 9 ( P a . 1 9 2 8 ) :

" An ' a d mi s s i o n ' a s ap p l i e d t o c ri mi n al c as e s h a s b ee n d e fi n e d a s a ' s tat e m e n t b y A p p e ll a n t o f a fa c t o r fa c t s p e rti n e n t t o th e i s s u e s , an d t e n d i n g , i n c o n n e c ti o n w i th p r o o f o f o th e r fa c t s o r c i r c u m s t an c e s , t o p r o v e th e gu i l t , b u t w h i c h i s , o f i t s e l f , i n s u f fi c i e n t t o au th o ri z e c o n v i c ti o n ; i t i s a c i r c u m s t an c e w h i c h r e q u i r e s th e ai d o f fu rth e r t e s ti m o n y [ t o ] g e n e rat e a r e as o n ab l e c o n cl u s i o n o f gu i l t. ' V o l un tary s t at e m e n t s m a d e b y an A p p e ll an t , al th o u g h th e y m ay n o t am o u n t t o a c o n f e s s i o n o f g u i l t , c an b e u s e d a g ai n s t h i m i f th e y t e n d t o e x p l ai n i s s u e s o n tri a l. " I n C o m m o n w e a lth v . E d w a r d s , 1 7 8 A . 2 0 , 2 2 ( P a . 1 9 3 5 ) , th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o u rt fo u n d n o e rr o r i n all o w i n g " e v i d e n c e o f t e s ti m o n y b y W ar d e n H e al e y o f th e c o u n ty j ai l an d D r . Fr e e m an , th e j ail p h y s i c i an , c o n c e rn i n g c o n v e r s ati o n s h a d b y th e m w i th ap p e ll an t , a ft e r h i s arr e s t , i n w h i c h E d w ar d s a d mi tt e d h i s g u i l t. " It d o e s n o t ap p e ar th at th e a c tu al s u b s t an c e o f E d w ar d s ' c o n v e r s ati o n s ar e d e t ai l e d . N e v e rth e l e s s , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt c o n cl u d e d th at a

P a g e 5 2 o f

5 6c au ti o n ary i n s tru c ti o n t o th e j u ry , th at th e y m ay att a c h w h at e v e r w e i g h t t o an

A p p e ll an t ' s a d mi s s i o n c a n " amp l y p r o t e c t A p p e ll an t ' s ri g h t s . » 1 5 7 T h e tri a l c o u rt ru l ed th at th i s s t at e m e n t m a d e b y A p p e ll an t du ri n g tran s p o rt w a s a d mi s s i b l e a s a h e ar s ay e x c e p ti o n , a S t at e m e n t A g ai n s t I n t e r e s t i n a c c o r d an c e t o P a . R . E . 8 0 4 ( b ) ( 3 ) . T h e P e nn s y l v an i a Ru l e s o f E v i d e n c e p r o v i d e th at a s t at e m e n t a g ai n s t i n t e r e s t i s a s t at e m e n t th at: [ A ] r e a s o n ab l e p e r s o n i n th e d ec l aran t ' s p o s i ti o n w o u l d h a v e m a d e o n l y i f th e p e r s o n b e l i e v e d i t t o b e tru e b e c au s e , w h e n m a d e , i t w a s s o c o n tr ary t o th e d e cl ar an t ' s p r o p ri e t ary o r p e c u n i ary i n t e r e s t o r h a d s o g r e at a t e n d e n c y t o i n v a l i d at e th e d e cl ar an t ' s cl ai m a g ai n s t s o m e o n e e l s e o r t o e x po s e th e d e cl ara n t t o c i v il o r c ri mi n a l li ab ili ty ; an d i s s u p p o rt e d b y c o rr o b o r ati n g c i r c u m s t an c e s th at c l e arl y i n d i c at e i t s tru s t w o rth i n e s s , i f i t i s o ff e r e d i n a c ri mi n al c a s e a s o n e th at t e n d s t o e x p o s e th e d e cl ar an t t o c ri mi n al li ab il i ty . T h e P e nn s y l v an i a E v i d e n c e Ru l e fo r a S t at e m e n t A g ai n s t I n t e r e s t i s i d e n ti c a l t o F . R . E . 8 0 4 (b ) ( 3 ) . I n W il li a m s o n v . U n i t e d S t a t e s , 5 1 2 U . S . 5 9 4 , 5 9 9 , 1 1 4 S . C t. 2 4 3 1 , 2 4 3 5 (1 9 9 4 ) , th e U n i t e d S t at e s S u p r e m e C o u rt n o t e d th at th e Ru l e 8 0 4 ( b ) ( 3 ) w a s " f o u n d e d o n th e c o m m o n s e n s e n o ti o n th at r e a s o n ab l e p e o p l e , e v e n r e as o n ab l e p e o p l e w h o ar e n o t e s p e ci a ll y h o n e s t , t e n d n o t t o m ak e s e l f

- i n c u l p at o ry s t at e m e n t s u n l e s s th e y b e l i e v e th e m t o b e tru e . " A s t at e m e n t i s s u f fi c i e n tl y i n c u l p at o ry t o fa ll u n d e r th i s e x c e p ti o n " i f i t w o u l d b e p r o b ati v e at tri al a g ai n s t th e d e cl ar an t. " U n i t e d S t a t e s v . V o l p e n d e s t o , 7 4 6 F . 3 d 2 7 3 ( 7 th C i r . 2 0 1 4 ) . F u rth e r , th e U n i t e d S t at e s S u p r e m e C o u rt h e l d i n C a l if o r n i a v . G re e n e , th at th e a d mi s s i o n o f s t at e m e n t s o f a

1 5 7 I d. at 2 3 . S e c a ls o Co m m o n w e a l th v . B r a c ey, 6 6 2 A . 2 d 1 0 6 2 , 1 0 6 8

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5 6

### w i tn e s s a s s u b s t an ti v e e v i d e n c e a g ai n s t a A p p e ll an t d i d n o t v i o l at e th e

C o n fr o n t ati o n C l au s e o f th e S i x th A m e n d m e n t. 5 8 I n th e i n s t an t c a s e , th e T ri al C o u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s c r e ti o n b y a ll o w i n g t e s ti m o n y o f th e D e p u ty H an n a . T h e s t at e m e n t s h o w e d th at th e A p p e ll an t w a s u n d e r th e i mp r e s s i o n th at , b y b e i n g tr an s p o rt e d b a c k t o B e a v e r C o u n ty , h e w a s b e i n g tr e at e d l i k e a l e a d e r o f an i n t e rn ati o n a l c ri m e c art e l b e c au s e " h e h a d t w o b o d i e s . " T h e J u ry w a s i n s tru c t e d t o n o t c o n s i d e r th e s t at e m e n t a s e v i d e n c e a g ai n s t th e A p p e ll an t u n l e s s th e y fo u n d b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t th at th e a ll e g e d c ri m e s h a d b e e n c o m m i tt e d . E v e n i f a d mi tt an c e o f th e s t at e m e n t w a s i mp r o p e r , th e A p p e ll an t ' s c o n v i c ti o n w a s n o t b a s e d e x c l u s i v e l y o n D e p u ty H ann a ' s t e s ti m o n y . T h e r e w a s o v e rw h e l mi n g an d s u f

fi c i e n t e v i d e n c e o n th e r e c o r d fo r th e j u ry t o fi n d th e A p p e ll an t gu i l ty b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t. T h e j u ry w o u l d h a v e y i e l d e d th e s am e r e s u l t h a d th e D e p u ty H ann a ' s t e s ti m o n y n o t b e e n a d mi tt e d . F o r e x amp l e , th e s u rv i v i n g v i c ti m , A l e s s an dr a B ri g g s , i d e n ti fi e d th e A p p e ll an t a s th e m an w h o e n t e r e d h e r r e s i d e n c e an d s h o t h e r an d P ark e r . A d d i ti o n a ll y , M i c h a e l M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h e w a s w i th th e A p p e ll an t at s i g n i fi c an t p o i n t s o n th e n i gh t o f th e i n ci d e n t. M o tt o n t e s ti fi e d th at h a d b e e n i n s tru c t ed b y th e A p p e ll an t t o s t ay i n th e ar e a w h i l e h e " h i t a l i c k , " M o tt o n s u b s e q u e n tl y o b s e rv e d th e A p p e ll an t e n t e r th e

1 s 8 C a l i fo rn i a v . G re e n , 3 9 9 U . S . 1 4 9 ( 1 9 7 0 ) . P a g e 5 4 o f 5 6y ar d o f th e P r e mi s e s an d h a d p i c k e d th e A p p e ll an t u p i n cl o s e p ro x i mi ty t o th e

c ri m e i n q u e s ti o n . I n li g h t o f th e li mi ti n g j u ry i n s tru c ti o n p r o v i d e d w i th r e g ar d t o th e s t at e m e n t , an d th e o v e rw h e l mi n g e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d at tri a l , th e t e s ti m o n y o f D ep u ty H an n a w a s p e rmi s s i b l e a s a s t at e m e n t a g ai n s t i n t e r e s t.


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