### J - A23033 - 17

____________________________________ * Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court. NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v. JIBRELL I. LEWIS

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

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 3575 EDA 2015 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence July 8, 2015 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at

No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0005100 - 2013, CP - 51 - CR - 0005101 - 2013, CP - 51 - CR - 0005102 - 2013 BEFORE: PANELLA, J., DUBOW, J., and FITZGERALD*, J. MEMORANDUM BY FITZGERALD, J.: FILED DECEMBER 08, 2017 Appellant, Jibrell I. Lewis, appeals from the judgment of sentence entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas following his jury trial convictions of first - degree murder, 1 

### aggravated assault, 2 

### and two counts of firearms not to be carried without a license. 3 

### Appellant argues the trial court erred in failing to suppress statements he made during his interrogation and for barring the defense expert from t estifying to Appellant’s diminished responsibility. We affirm. We adopt the facts and procedural history set forth by the trial court’s

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a). 2 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a). 3 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(a).

### J - A23033 - 17

- 2 -

opinion. 4 

### See Trial Ct. Op., 11/1/16, at 1 - 6. In this timely appeal, Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

Whether the trial court erred in failing to order evidence of statements m ade by [Appellant] in response to police interrogation suppressed and excluded from trial? Whether the trial court violated Pa. R.E. 702 by barring defense witness Dr. Clar ence Watson, M.D., J.D. from presenting expert testimony in support of [Appellant’s] defense of diminished responsibility and violated [Pa.R.E.] 703 by ruling that Dr. Watson could not mention statements made to the police or to him by [Appellant] in the c ontext of testifying to the basis for his expert opinion in support of [Appellant’s] defense of heat of passion and unreasonable self - defense unless [Appellant] testified at trial or unless the statements made to police were introduced into evidence by the Commonwealth? Appellant’s Brief at 2. Appellant argues his statements made during his police interrogation should have been suppressed because he was not properly advised of his Miranda 5 

### rights. 6 

### Specifically, Appellant claims his statement was obtained during an unlawful two - step interrogation process, and that the

_________________ ____________________ _______ 4 

### We note the trial court’s opinion states Appellant’s post - sentence motion was denied on November 13, 2015; however, the motion was actually denied by operation of law on November 16, 2015. 5 

### Miranda v. Arizona , 384 U.S. 436 (1966). 6 

### Although Appellan t alleges the trial court erred in not suppressing his statement to the police, the Commonwealth did not introduce Appellant’s statement at trial and Appellant did not testify.

### J - A23033 - 17

- 3 -

Commonwealth failed to prove Appellant orally waived his Miranda rights. Additionally, Appellant argues the trial court violated R ules 702 and 703 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence, respectively, by preventing Appellant’s defense expert from testifying in support of Appellant’s claim of diminished responsibility, and by not allowing the defense expert to mention any of Appellant’ s statements to the expert that would support Appellant’s claims of provocation or unreasonable self - defense. 7 

### Appellant contends he did not contest shooting the victim and, therefore, his defense of diminished responsibility was permissible under Rule 70 2 to show the absence of malice and a specific intent to kill. Moreover, Appellant asserts that Rule 703 permitted the defense expert to testify to statements Appellant made to the expert that indicated Appellant has an “unspecified depressive disorder wi th psychotic features” that would have prevented Appellant from formulating a specific intent to kill. Appellant’s Brief at 32. Appellant concludes this Court should vacate his judgment of sentence and remand for a new trial. We disagree. After a tho rough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the

_________________ ____________________ _______ 7 

### We note the trial court did not bar the defense expert’s opinion on provocation or unreasonable self - defense, but rather precluded his testimony regarding “self - serving” statements Appellant made to the expert that did not have a factual basis otherwise i ntroduced into evidence. Trial Ct. Op. at 17 - 18. Nevertheless, the trial court instructed the jury on both voluntary manslaughter and unreasonable self - defense. See N.T. Trial, 7/7/15, at 199 - 208. Furthermore, Appellant did not testify at trial and def ense counsel did not call the expert to testify on any basis.

### J - A23033 - 17

- 4 -

applicable law, and the well - reasoned opinion of the Honorable Sandy L.V. Byrd, we conclude the trial court’s opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the issues presented. See T rial Ct. Op. at 9 - 19 (finding the totality of the circumstances indicates Appellant’s Miranda rights were not violated as he knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived them, Appellant was not entitled to expert testimony on diminished capacity becaus e he lacked a medical basis for the defense, and the defense expert could not testify to Appellant’s statements to the expert because they were inadmissible hearsay and did not fall under any exception). Accordingly, we affirm on the basis of the trial co urt’s opinion. Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 12/8 /2017C i r c u l a t e d 1 1 / 1 7 / 2 0 1 7 0 5 : 3 8 P M



### IN T HE C O UR T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F P H I L A D E L P H I A C O U N T Y C RI MI N A L T RIA L D I VI S I O N 

### C O M1 \.1 0 N W E AL T H O F 

### P ENN S YL V A N I A



### v . C P
- 5 l
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### fl B RE L L L E W I S C P - 5 1 - C R - 00 0 5 1 00- 2 0 1 3 C o m m . v . L a w i s . J b re U I. O pi n i on 

## II 11 11 11 II 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 11 7 5 2 0 1 6 5 5 3 1

O P IN I O N 3 5 7 5 

### E D A 2 0 1 5 

# F I L E D N O V - 

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### J
. N o v e mb e r 1 , 2 0 1 6
O n Ju l y 8 , 2 0 1 5 a 

### j ur

y c o nv i c t e d d e fe n d an t J i b r e ll L e w i s o ffi r s t - d e g r e e mur d e r , a g gr av at e d
a s s au lt , an d tw o 

### c o un t s o f c arr y i n g a 

### fi r e arm w i th o ut 

### a l i c e n s e . 

### D e fe n d an t w a s 

### s e nt e n c e d t o 

### li fe i mp ri s o nm e n t w ith o ut th e p o s s i b i l i ty o f p aro l e fo r fi r s t - d e g r e e mur d e r an d an a g g r e g at e c o n s e c ut i v e i mp ri s o nm e n t t e rm o f s e v e nt e e n (1 7 ) t o th i rty - fo ur ( 3 4 ) y e ar s o n th e r e m a i ni n g c h ar g e s . A ft e r d e fe n d an t ' s p o s t - s e nt e n c e m o t i o n w a s d e n i e d o n N o v e mb e r 13 , 2 0 1 5 , h e fil e d a n o t i c e o f a

p p e a l o n N o v e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 5
. O n D e c e mb e r 2 , 2 0 1 5 th i s c o urt o r d e r e d d e fe n d an t t o fil e a s t at e m e nt o f m att e r s c o mp l a i n e d o f o n a p p e a l. D e f

e n d an t fi l e d h i s s t at e m e nt o n D e c e mb e r 2 3 ; 2 0 1 5
. S T A T E M EN T O F F A C T S O n O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 2 , at o r aro un d 9 : 0 0 p . m . , p o l i c e o ffi c e r s r e s p o n d e d t o 7 1 1 N o rth 3 r d S tr e e t an d fo un d tw o g un s h o t v i c t i m s i n s i d e . S t e p h an i e F r e e m an w a s p ro n o un c e d d e a d at th e s c e n e fr o m a g un s h o t w o un d t o h e r h e a d
. D r . E dw i n L i e b e rm an , th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s e xp e rt i n fo r e n s i c p ath o l o g y , c o n cl u d e d t o a r e a s o n a b le d e g r e e o f m e d i c a l c e rt a i n ty th at th e c au s e o f h e r 

### C o m m w . v. 

### J

i b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 1 o f 2 9

### d e ath w a s o n e g un s h o t w o un d t o h e r h e a d , an d th at th e m ann e r o f d e ath w a s h o m i c i d e . T h e b u ll e t

e n t e r e d th e u

p p e r li d o f h e r r i g h t e y e , trav e l e d thr o u g h h e r b ra i n , s e v e r i n g h e r b ra i n s t e m , an d
e x i t e d th e r e ar l e f

t o f h e r h e a d
. B e c au s e th e b u ll e t s e v e r e d h e r b ra i n s t e m , h e r 

### li fe fun c t i o n s c e as e d i mm e d i at e l y . T h e p r e s e n c e o f g unp o w d e r s t i p p l in g aro un d h e r e n tran c e w o un d an d th e a b s e n c e o f s o o t o n h e r b o dy o r cl o th in g i n d i c at e d th at th e g un w a s fir e d a b o ut e i g h t ( 8 ) t o tw e l v e ( 1 2 ) i n c h e s aw ay fr o m th e fr o nt o f M s . F r e e m an ' s fa c e . N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 1/ 1 5 , p p . 9 3
- 9 6 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 / 1 5 , p p . 6
- 3 4 , 6 7
- 6 8 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 7 / 1 5 , p . 1 4
. H e r d au g h t e r , C hr i s s y J o hn s o n , 1 

### w a s fo un d s u ff e ri n g fr o m a g un s h o t w o un d t o th e l e ft s i d e o f th e fa c e , an d w a s tr an s p o rt e d t o H ahn e m ann H o s p i t a l fo r tr e atm e nt . T h e b u ll e t fr a c t ur e d M s . Jo hn s o n ' s l e ft c h e e k

b o n e an d j aw . S ur g e ry w a s p e r fo rm e d an d a b u ll e t fr a g m e n t w a s r e m o v e d fr o m th e j o i nt o f h e r j aw . M s . J o hn s o n s urv i v e d h e r g un s h o t w o un d , b ut s u ff e r e d n e rv e d am a g e t o th e l e ft s i d e o f

h e r fa c e . S h e w a s r e l e a s e d fr o m th e h o s p i t a l o n O c t o b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 2
. N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 1/ 1 5 , p p . 9 3
- 9 6 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 /1 5 , p p . 6 7
- 6 8 ; N
. T. 0 7 / 0 7 / 1 5 , p p . 1 4 , 2 6
- 2 7
. P o li c e O ffi c e r C l y d e F ra s i e r , C r i m e S c e n e U n i t , r e s p o n d e d o n O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 2 at 1 1 : 5 5 p . m . , an d o b s e rv e d b l o o d e v e r yw h e r e i n s i d e th e r e s i d e n c e . H e a l s o fo un d c o n d o m s o n th e th ir d fl o o r. H e r e c o v e r e d o n e p ro j e c t i l e fr o m th e v e s t i b u l e , an d o n e . 9 mm fir e d c artri d g e c a s i n g fr o m th e s e c o n d fl o o r l an d i n g . H e s ub m i tt e d th i s b a ll i s t i c s e v i d e n c e t o th e F i r e arm s I d e n t i fi c at i o n U n i t . O ffi c e r F ra s i e r a l s o c o ll e c t e d s i x ( 6 ) b l o o d s amp l e s fr o m th e c r i m e s c e n e an d s u b m i tt e d th e m t o th e c r i m i n a li s t i c s l ab o r at o r y . T h e D N A fr o m th e s amp l e s m at c h e d th o s e o f C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n an d S t e p h an i e F r e e m an . N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 1 /1 5 , p p . 1 2 1
- 1 5 7 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 7 / 1 5 , p . 2 8
. C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n w a s i nt e rv i e w e d b y h o m i c i d e d e t e c t i v e s o n O c t a b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 an d O c t o b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 2
. S h e g av e tw o s t at e m e nt s an d p ro v i d e d a d e s c r i p t i o n o f d e fe n d ant a s th e m an wh o s h o t

1 C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n t e s t i fi e d th at a lth o u g h s h e w a s b o rn m a l e , s h e h a d un d e r g o n e s e xu a l r e a s s i g nm e nt s ur g e r y o v e r a d e c a d e b e fo r e th i s i n c i d e nt. N
. T. 0 7 / 0 2 / 1 5 , p p . 7 3
- 7 4
. 

### C o n i m w. v . Ji b re l l 

### L e w i

s P a g e 2 o f 2 9h e r an d h e r m o th e r , an d g av e p o li c e h i s p h o n e numb e r . A t tri a l , M s . Jo hn s o n i d e n t i fi e d d e fe n d an t

a s th e m an w h o c am e t o h e r h o m e o n th e n i g h t o f th e i n c i d e n t , O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 2 aro un d 8 : 0 0 p . m . , an d s h o t h e r an d h e r m o th e r . D e fe n d an t h a d fir s t c a ll e d h e r i n r e s p o n s e t o an a dv e rt i s e m e n t fo r an
e s c o rt s e rv i c e th at s h e p l a c e d o n th e i n t e rn e t. S h e s p o k e t o d e f e n d an t s e v e ra l ti m e s o v e r th e p h o n e b e fo r e u lt i m at e l y i nv i ti n g him t o h e r h o m e . Wh e n d e fe n d an t arr i v e d , th e y w e n t u p s t a i r s , s at d o w n an d b e g an a c o nv e r s at i o n . S h o rt l y a ft e r h i s arr i v a l at h e r h o m e , M s . J o hn s o n p e r fo rm e d o ra l s e x
o n d e fe n d ant. S h e t e s t i fi e d th at d e fe n d an t a s k e d fo r v a g i n a l s e xu a l i n t e r c o ur s e , b ut s h e d e c l i n e d
. M s . Jo hn s o n t e s t i fi e d th at d e fe n d ant w a s d i s s at i s fi e d w i th h e r r e s p o ns e an d s a i d s o m e th i n g t o th e e ff e c t: " T hi s i s w h at 

### I c o m e a ll th e w ay d o w n h e r e fo r ?" D e fe n d an t th e n d e m an d e d m o n e y fr o m h e r , at w h i c h p o i n t M s . Jo hn s o n t o l d h i m t o l e av e an d s h o ut e d fo r h e r m o th e r , w h o w a s d o w n s t a i r s , t o c a ll th e p o li c e . Wh e n s h e tr i e d t o e s c o rt d e f e n d an t o ut o f h e r h o m e h e p u ll e d a g un fr o m h i s j a c k e t , an d s h e ran i n t o th e b athro o m . Whi l e M s . Jo hn s o n w a s h i d i n g i n th e b athr o o m , d e fe n d an t fi r e d a s h o t thr o u g h th e d o o r an d th e b u ll e t s tru c k h e r i n th e fa c e . Aft e r b e i n g s h o t , s h e e x i t e d th e b athr o o m an d t o l d d e fe n d an t s h e w o u l d g i v e hi m m o n e y i f h e w o u l d l e av e . S h e an d d e fe n d an t
w e nt b a c k u

p s t a i r s , an d s h e g av e h i m a p p r o x i m at e l y o n e th o u s an d ( $ 1 0 0 0 ) d o ll ar s . A ft e r g i v i n g hi m th e m o n e y , a s tr

u g g l e e n s u e d w h e n s h e tr i e d , un s u c c e s s fu ll y , t o g rab th e g un fr o m h i s h an d
. A ft e r w ar d , d e fe n d an t , g un i n h an d , ran d o w n th e s t a ir s w h e r e h e e n c o un t e r e d an d k ill e d S t e p h an i e F r e e m an b e fo r e e x it i n g th e h o m e . N
. T. 0 7 / 0 1/ 1 5 , p p . 9 3
- 9 6 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 /1 5 , p p . 4 6
- 1 4 3 ; N
. T. 0 7 / 0 7 / 1 5 , p . 1 4
. M s . Jo hn s o n g av e D e t e c t i v e K e v in Ju d g e th e c e ll p h o n e numb e r th at d e fe n d an t h a d g i v e n h e r e ar li e r . A ft e r r e c e i v i n g th i s i n f o rm at i o n , D e t e c t i v e Ju d g e p r e p ar e d a s e ar c h w arr an t fo r th at p h o n e numb e r . D e fe n d an t ' s c e ll p h o n e r e c o r d s s h o w e d th at h e u s e d h i s c e ll p h o n e n e ar 

### C hri s s y Jo hn s o n ' s h o m e . P o l i c e a l s o d i s c o v e r e d th at th e c e ll p h o n e w a s u s e d num e ro u s t i m e s o n th e 4 0 0


### C o m m w. v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 3 o f 2 9b l o c k o fN o rth 4 1 s t S tr e e t. A s a r e s u lt , p o li c e c o n d u c t e d s urv e i ll an c e o f th at ar e a o n O c t o b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 , s t art in g ar o un d 1 1 : 1 5 a . m . N
. T
. 0 6 / 3 0 / 1 5 , p p . 1 5
- 4 8 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 / 1 5 , p p . 1 4 5
- 1 6 0 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 7 /1 5 , p p . 8
- 1 9
. A t aro un d 1 1 : 3 0 a . m . , o n O c t a b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 5 , D e p uty M ar s h a l R o b e rt C l ark , a l o n g w i th o th e r l aw e n fo r c e m e n t a g e n t s , o b s e rv e d d e fe n d an t e x i t a r e s i d e n c e at 4 0 3 N o rth 4 1 s t S tr e e t . A s h e w a l k e d t o w ar d D e p uty M ar s h a ll C l ark ' s unm ark e d v e h i c l e , d e fe n d an t a d j u s t e d h i s w a i s t

b an d an d
r e v e a l e d th e b utt o f a fi r e arm . D e p uty M ar s h a ll C l ark ' s o b s e rv at i o n s r e s u lt e d i n a fo o t p ur s u i t o f d e fe n d an t , b e fo r e h e w a s u lt i m at e l y s t o p p e d an d arr e s t e d
. R e c o v e r e d fr o m d e fe n d an t w a s a b l a c k
s e mi aut o m at i c h an d g un , an d fr o m i n s i d e a b a g h e w a s c arry i n g th e fo ll o w i n g it e m s : a m a s k w i th tw o e y e h o l e s c ut o ut , a s m a ll v i a l c o n t a i n i n g an unkn o w n li qu i d , a s o ft b o dy arm o r v e s t , an d a l a p t o p c o mp ut e r an d o th e r e l e c tro n i c i t e m s . N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 / 1 5 , p p . 1 4 8
- 1 5 7
. Aft e r h i s arr e s t , d e fe n d an t w a s t ak e n t o P e nn P r e s b yt e r i an M e d i c a l C e n t e r , w h e r e h e
r e c e i v e d m e d i c a l tr e atm e n t. H e w a s s ub s e qu e n t l y tran s p o rt e d t o th e H o m i ci d e U n i t an d i nt e rv i e w e d b y D e t e c t i v e J am e s C ro n e . I n hi s i n t e rv i e w , d e fe n d an t s t at e d h e h a d n e v e r m e t C hr i s s y J 

### o hn s o n p r i o r t o th e i n c i d e n t , b ut h a d fo un d h e r numb e r o n li n e , c a ll e d h e r th at d ay , an d s h e i nv i t e d h i m o v e r t o h e r h o m e . Up o n arr i v i n g at h e r h o m e , s h e i nv i t e d h i m i n s i d e an d th e y w e n t u p s t a ir s . H e s t at e d th at M s . Jo hn s o n b e g an m ak i n g s e x u a l a dv an c e s t o w ar d h i m , b ut w h e n h e tr i e d t o f e e l b e tw e e n h e r l e g s , s h e s t o p p e d him
. A c c o r d i n g t o d e fe n d an t ' s s t at e m e n t , w h e n h e fe l t b e tw e e n h e r l e g s , h e n o t i c e d th at " s o m e th i n g d i dn ' t f e e l ri g h t. " H e s t at e d th at C hr i s s y J o hn s o n s t o o d u p an d

" a ll th e fe m a l e s t

u ff w e n t o ut th e w i n d o w , th e w ay s h e w a s t a l kin g an d s t an d i n g an d e v e r ythi n g
a b o ut h e r c h an g e d an d I kn e w s h e w a s a m an . " T h e tw o th e n b e g an y e ll i n g at o n e an o th e r , an d a p hy s i c a l fi g h t e n s u e d
. H e s t at e d th at M s . J o hn s o n o v e r p o w e r e d h i m , an d h e p u ll e d o ut h i s g un i n
r e s p o n s e . H e 

### furth e r s t at e d th at s h e ran i n t o th e b athro o m , b ut h e th o u g h t s h e w a s g o i n g in th e r e
C o m n t w . v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 4 o f 2 9t o g e t a ra z o r o r a kn i f e , s o w h e n s h e o p e n e d th e d o o r h e s h o t h e r . D e fe n d an t s t at e d th at h e w e n t d o wn th e s t a i r s t o l e av e , b ut th at S t e p h an i e F r e e m an g rab b e d h i m an d w h e n h e p u s h e d h e r aw ay th e g un w e n t o ff. H o w e v e r , th e C o mm o nw e a lth d i d n o t i n tro d u c e h i s s t at e m e n t int o e v i d e n c e an d d e fe n d an t d i d n o t t e s t i f

y at tr i a l
. " C o mmw . E x . 6
. P o li c e O ffi c e r J e s u s C ru z t e s t i fi e d a s an e xp e rt i n fi r e arm s i d e n t i fi c at i o n an d c o mp ari s o n . H e r e c e i v e d th e p r o

j e c t il e an d th e fir e d c artr i d g e c a s in g r e c o v e r e d fr o m th e c r i m e s c e n e a s w e ll a s th e p r o j e c t il e r e tri e v e d fr o m C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n ' s j aw . H e a l s o r e c ei v e d th e s e mi
- aut o m at i c fir e arm th at w a s r e c o v e r e d fr o m d e fe n d an t . A ft e r t e s t - fir i n g th e s e m i
- aut o m at i c fi r e arm an d c o mp ari n g th e 

### t e s t - fi r e d b u ll e t s t o th e tw o s ub m i tt e d p ro j e c t il e s , O ffi c e r C ru z c o n c l u d e d t o a r e a s o n ab l e d e g r e e o f s ci e n t i fi c c e rt a i n ty th at th e y w e r e b o th fi r e d fr o m th at fir e arm . H e w a s un a b l e t o d e t e rm i n e i f th e fi r e d c artri d g e c a s i n g r e c o v e r e d fr o m th e s c e n e w a s fi r e d fr o m th at fi r e arm d u e t o i n s u ffi ci e n t m i c ro s c o p i c m ark i n g s , O ffi c e r C ru z furth e r o p i n e d th at th e g un w o u l d e xp e l fi r e d
c artr i d g e c a s in g s 

### to th e r e ar r i g h t an d th at th e y c o u l d trav e l a b o ut thr e e ( 3 ) t o fi v e ( 5 ) f e e t aw ay fr o m th e s h o o t er . N , T
. 0 7 / 0 1 /1 5 , p p . 1 2 1
- 1 5 7 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 / 1 5 , p p . 1 6 1 M l 8 1. D e t e c t i v e V a l d e z T ro w e r fr o m th e S E P T A p o li c e fo r c e r e c o v e r e d v i d e o s urv e ill an c e fo o t a g e fr o m th e fo ll o w i n g M ark e t - F rankf o r d Li n e s t at i o n s t o p s fo r O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 2 b e tw e e n th e h o ur s o f 7 : 0 0 p . m . an d 9 : 3 0 p . m . : th e 4 0 th S tr e e t s t o p , th e S p ri n g G ar d e n S tr e e t s t o p at 5 0 0 N o rth B ro a d S tr e e t , an d th e G i rar d S tr e e t s t o p at 1 2 0 0 N o rth B ro a d S tr e e t. H e s ub m i tt e d th e v i d e o
s urv e ill an c e fo o t a g e t o D e t e c ti v e K e v i n Ju d g e . T h e v i d e o s urv e ill an c e fo o t a g e s h o w e d d e fe n d an t g e tt i n g o n a tra i n at th e 4 0 th S tr e e t s t o p an d g e tt i n g o ffth e tra i n at th e S p ri n g G ar d e n s t o p at a b o ut 8 : 3 0 p . m . , w h i c h w a s a s h o rt d i s t an c e fr o m C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n ' s h o m e . H e w a s s e e n w e ar in g a b l a c k l e ath e r j a c k e t an d 

### a b l a c k an d g ray s c ar f T h e v i d e o s urv e ill an c e fo o t a g e s h o w e d d e fe n d an t

2 D e fe n d ant l i t i g at e d a p r e - tri a l m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s th e s t at e m e nt . T h e m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s w a s d e n i e d
. 

### C o m m w. v . J

i b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 

### 5 o f 2 9

### r e turn i n g t o th e S p r in g G ar d e n S tr e e t s t o p at a b o ut 9 : 1 5 p . m . A t th at t i m e , h e w a s w e ari n g th e b l a c k l e ath e rj a c k e t b ut n o s c arf O n O c t o b e r 8 , 2 0 1 2 , at 4 : 2 0 p . m . , O ffi c e r R o b e rt F l a d e r e c o v e r e d
a b l a c k an d g ray s c ar f fr o m th e s t a ir s l e a d i n g t o th e s e c o n d fl o o r o f 7 1 1 N o rth 3 r d S tr e e t. D e fe n d an t ' s D N A w a s fo un d o n th at s c ar f. D e t e c t i v e s r e c o v e r e d th e b l a c k l e ath e r j a c k e t fr o m d e fe n d an t ' s r e s i d e n c e . N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 / 1 5 , p p . 1 8 1
- 1 8 3 ; N
. T. 0 7 / 0 7 / 1 5 , p p . 1 9
- 2 8
. T h e C o mm o nw e a lth a l s o i ntr o d u c e d e v i d e n c e e s t ab l i s h i n g th at d e fe n d ant d i d n o t h av e a
v a l i d l i c e n s e t o c arr

y a fir e arm i n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2
. N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 7 /1 5 , p p . 2 9
- 3 0
. 

### S T A T E M EN T O F E RR O R S C O M P L A IN E D O F O N A P P E A L D e fe n d an t ra i s e d th e fo ll o w i n g i s s u e s i n h i s S t at e m e n t o f E rr o r s C o mp l a i n e d o f

o n Ap p e a l , i n a c c o r d an c e w i th P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e o fAp p e ll at e P ro c e d

ur e l 9 2 5 ( b ) : 3 

### 1
. T h e tri a l c o urt ' s fi n d i n g s - w i th r e g ar d t o th e tw o - s t e p int e r ro g at i o n p r o c e s s t o w h i c h D e t e c t i v e J am e s C ro n e t e s t i fi e d - th at D e t e c t i v e C ro n e a dv i s e d D e fe n d an t J i b r e ll L e w i s o f h i s Mi ra n d a 

### r i g h t s b e fo r e qu e s t i o n i n g th e d e fe n d an t p ur s u an t t o th e fir s t s t e p o f th e tw o s t e p i n t e r ro g at i o n , an d th at th e d e fe n d an t m a d e a kn o w i n g , i nt e ll i g e nt , an d v o l un t ar y w a i v e r o f h i s M

i ra n d a 

### r i g h t s w e r e cl e arl y e rr o n e o u s . 2
. I n v i o l at i o n o f th e d e fe n d an t ' s r i g h t s a g a in s t s e l fi n c r i m i n at i o n w i d e r th e U ni t e d S t at e s an d P e nn s y l v an i a c o n s t it ut i o n s th e tr i a l c o urt e rr e d i n fa ili n g t o o r d e r e v i d e n c e o f b o th th e o ra l s t at e m e nt s a ll e g e d l y m a d e b y th e d e fe n d an t t o D e t e c t i v e C ro n e d ur in g th e fi r s t s t e p o f th e tw o s t e p i nt e rr o g at i o n p ro c e s s , an d o ra l an d w r i tt e n s t at e m e n t s a ll e g e d l y m a d e b y th e d e fe n d ant d ur in g th e s e c o n d s t e p o f

th e tw o s t e p i n t e rr o g at i o n p ro c e s s s u p p r e s s e d an d e x c l u d e d fr o m tr i a l fo r th e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s : a ) th e qu e s t i o ni n g o f th e d e fe n d an t at th e o ut s e t o f th e fi r s t s t e p o fth e tw o s t e p i n t e rro g at i o n p r o c e s s w a s n o t p r e c e d e d b y a d e qu at e w arn i n g s p ur s u ant t o 

### Mi r a n d a v . A r i z o n a ; b ) th e d e fe n d ant d i d n o t m ak e a kn o w i n g , i n t e ll i g e n t , an d v o l unt ary w a i v e r o f h i s Mi ra n d a 

### r i g h t s p r i o r t o D e t e c t i v e

3 T h e fo ll o w i n g i s a v e r

b at i m a c c o unt o f d e fe n d ant ' s s t at e m e nt. C o m m w. v . J

i b re l/ L e w i

s 

### P a g e 6 o f 2 9C r o n e ' s qu e s ti o n i n g p ur s u ant t o th e fir s t s t e p o f th e tw o s t e p i n t e rr o g at i o n p ro c e s s ; c ) e v e n i f i nt e r

ro g at i o n o f th e d e fe n d ant at th e o ut s e t o f th e fi rs t s t e p o f th e tw o s t e p i n t e rr o g at i o n p r o c e s s w a s p r e c e d e d b y 

### M i ra n d a w arn i n g s , th e o ra l s t at e m e n t s m a d e b y th e d e fe n d an t w e r e n o t v o l unt ar

y ; d ) th e d e fe n d ant ' s o ra l an d wr i tt e n s t at e m e n t s m a d e d ur i n g th e s e c o n d s t e p o f th e tw o s t e p i n t e rr o g at i o n p ro c e s s w e r e th e unl awfu l f

ru i t o f th e un l aw fu l i n t e r ro g at i o n o fth e d e fe n d an t d uri n g th e fir s t s t e p o f th e tw o s t e p int e rr o g at i o n p ro c e s s i n th at - e v e n a s s umi n g th at th e d e fe n d an t w a s a dv i s e d o f h i s 

### Mi ra n d

a r i g h t s at th e o ut s e t o f th e s e c o n d s t e p o f th e tw o s t e p i n t e rr o g at i o n p r o c e s s - th e i nt e rr o g at i o n d

ur i n g th e s e c o n d s t e p o f th e tw o s t e p p r o c e s s w a s e ff e c t i v e l y a c o n t i nu at i o n o f th e fir s t s t e p i n t e r ro g at i o n i n t e rm s o f th e c o mp l e t e n e s s an d d e t a il o f th e qu e s t i o n s an d an s w e r s t o th e fi r s t s t e p an d s e c o n d s t e p s o f qu e s t i o n i n g , th e tw o s t at e m e n t s ' o v e rl a p p i n g c o n t e n t , th e c o n t inu o u s m ann e r an d s e tt in g o f th e fi r s t an d s e c o n d s t e p s , th e c o nt i nu i ty o f p o l i c e p e r s o nn e l , th e d e gr e e t o w h i c h th e i nt e rr o g at o r ' s qu e s t i o n s tr e at e d th e s e c o n d s t e p a s c o n t i nu o u s w i th th e fi r s t an d th e s y s t e m at i c an d e x h au s t i v e m ann e r o fth e t o t a l t i m e p e r i o d o f th e tw o s t e p int e rr o g at i o n p ro c e s s ; e ) s t at e m e n t s m a d e b y th e d e fe n d an t d ur in g th e s e c o n d s t e p int e rr o g at i o n o f th e tw o s t e p i n t e rr o g at i o n p ro c e s s w e r e n o t v o l un t ary . 3
. I n v i o l at i o n o f D e fe n d an t J i b r e ll L e w i s ' s ri g h t t o p r e s e n t a d e fe n s e p ur s u ant t o h i s d u e p ro c e s s ri g h t t o a fa i r tr i a l un d e r th e U n i t e d S t at e s an d P e nn s y l v an i a c o n s t i t ut i o n s , th e tri a l c o urt e r r e d a ) b y g rant i n g th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s m o t i o n i n l i m i n e t o b ar th e t e s t i m o ny o f d e fe n s e e xp e rt D r . C l ar e n c e W at s o n w i th r e s p e c t t o d im i n i s h e d c a p a c i ty , an d b ) b y s i g n i fi c antl y l i m i t i n g D r . W at s o n ' s t e s t i m o ny a s t o h e at o fp a s s i o n an d m i s t ak e n s e l f
- d e fe n s e . 4
. I n v i o l at i o n o f

R u l e 7 0 3 o fth e P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e s o f E v i d e n c e , th e tr i a l c o urt e rr e d b y ru l i n g th at d e fe n s e e xp e rt D r . C l ar e n c e W at s o n c o u l d n o t m e n t i o n , t e s t i f y , o r r e l y u

p o n M r . L e w i s ' s s t at e m e n t s t o th e p o l i c e o r t o h i m i n h i s p s y c hi atr i c i n t e rv i e w i n e xp l a i n i n g h i s e xp e rt o p i ni o n e v e n th o u g h , p ur s u ant t o R u l e 7 0 3 d at a an d fa c t s th at a r c n o t o r d i n ar il y a dm i s s i b l e b ut ar e



### C o m m w. v . J

i b re ll L e w i

s P a g e 7 o f 2 9c o mm o nl y c o n s i d e r e d b y e xp e rt s c an b e d i s c u s s e d b y th e e xp e rt a s a b a s i s fo r th e e xp e rt ' s r e p o rt an d t e s t im o ny . 

### 5
. I n v i o l at i o n o f D e fe n d an t J i b r e ll L e w i s ' s ri g h t t o c o n fr o n t at i o n p ur s u an t un d e r th e U ni t e d S t at e s an d P e nn s y l v ani a c o n s t i tut i o n s , th e tr i a l -c o urt e rr e d b y d e ny i n g th e ' d e f e n s e th e o p p o rt un i ty t o i mp e a c h b y p ri o r c o nv i c t i o n th e s urv i v i n g c o mp l a in i n g w i tn e s s , C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n , th e o n l y C o mm o nw e a lth e y e w i tn e s s , w i th h e r 2 0 0 5 c o n s p i ra c y t o c o mm i t th e ft o f a p ro s t i tut i o n c u s t o m e r. T h e c o urt ' s e r ro r w a s e s p e c i a ll y e g r e g i o u s an d p r e j u d i ci a l t o th e D e f

e n d an t · i n v i e w o f th e r e l e v an c e o f th e 

### c ri m e n fa l s i n at ur e o f th e p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n t o th e d e fe n s e ' s fa c t u a l a s s e rt i o n s i n th e i ns t an t c a s e . 6
. I n v i o l at i o n o f D e fe n d an t J i b r e ll L e w i s ' s r i g h t t o p r e s e n t a d e f

e n s e p ur s u an t t o h i s d

u e p ro c e s s r i g h t t o a fa i r tr i a l un d e r th e U n i t e d S t at e s an d P e nn s y l v an i a c o n s t i t ut i o n s , th e tr i a l c o urt e rr e d b y ru li n g th at th e d e fe n d an t ' s 1 9 9 6 ro b b e ry c o nv i c t i o n , at a g e 1 6 , c o u l d b e u s e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a lth t o i mp e a c h th e d e fe n d an t b y p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n in th e e v e n t th e d e fe n d an t t o o k th e s t an d an d t e s t i fi e d
. 

### 7
. I n v i o l at i o n o f

D e fe n d an t J i b r e ll L e w i s ' s d u e p ro c e s s ri g h t t o a fa i r · tri a l un d e r th e U n i t e d S t at e s an d P e nn s y l v an i a c o n s t i tut i o n s , an d s p e ci fi c a ll y , i n v i o l at i o n o f M r. L e w i s ' s d u e p ro c e s s r i gh t t o a j ury i ns tru c t i o n o n D e f e n d an t ' s th e o r

y o f d e f e n s e , th e tri a l c o urt e r

r e d b y r e fu s i n g t o g i v e th e j ur y a v o l un t ar

y m an s l au g h t e r j ur

y i n s tru c t i o n o n th e b a s i s o f h e at o f p a s s i o n in th e ab s e n c e o f c o o li n g t i m e . 

### 8
. I n v i o l at i o n o f

D e fc n d an tJ i b r e 11 L e w i s ' s d u e p ro c e s s r i g h t t o a fa i r tr i a l un d e r th e U ni t e d S t at e s an d P e nn s y l v an i a c o n s t i t ut i o n s , an d s p e c i fi c a ll y , i n v i o l at i o n o f M r. L e w i s ' s d u e p ro c e s s r i g h t t o 

### a j ur

y i n s tru c t i o n o n D e fe n d an t' s th e o r y o f d e f e n s e , th e tr i a l c o urt e rr e d b y r e fu s i n g t o g i v e th e j ury an i nv o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r j ury i n s tru c t i o n o n th e b a s i s o f h e at o fp a s s i o n i n th e a b s e n c e o f c o o li n g t i m e . 

### 9
. T h e tr i a l c o urt a b u s e d i t s di s c r e t i o n i n d e ny i n g D e fe n d an t ' s p o s t s e n t e n c e m o ti o n c l a i m fo r r e li e f th at th e v e r d i c t o f g u i l ty t o th e c h ar g e o f fi r s t d e g r e e mur d e r w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e .

Co m m w . v. Ji b re l l 

### L e w i

s P a g e 8 o f 2 9D I S C U S S I O N D e fe n d an t fi r s t a ll e g e s th at th i s c o urt e rr e d i n d e ny i n g h i s m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s th e s t at e m e n t h e m a d e t o p o li c e . Wh e n r e v i e w i n g a c h a ll e n g e t o th e s u p p r e s s i o n c ourt ' s ru l in g , th e a p pe ll at e c o urt i s bo un d b y th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o urt ' s fi n d i n g s o f fa c t s o l o n g a s th e y ar e s u p p o rt e d b y th e
r e c o r d
. C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . C h a n d le r , 5 0 5 P a . 1 1 3 , 4 7 7 A
. 2 d 8 5 1 (1 9 8 4 )
. T h e a p p e ll at e c o urt w ill
r e v e r s e th i s c o urt ' s d e ci s i o n " ' o n l y 

### i f th e r e i s an e r ro r i n th e l e g a l c o n cl u s i o n s draw n fr o m th o s e fi n d i n g s .' " C

o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . B a s k

i ng , 9 7 0 A. 2 d 1 1 8 1 , 1 1 8 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 9 ) ( qu o t i n g C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . H ill , 8 7 4 A
. 2 d 1 2 1 4 , 1 2 1 6 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 5 ) )
. T hu s , th e a p p e ll at e c o urt mu s t
c o n s i d e r " w h e th e r th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o urt p ro p e rl y a p p li e d th e l aw t o th e fa c t s o f th e c a s e . " C o m m o n w e a lt

h 

### v . Rue y, 5 8 6 P a . 2 3 0 , 2 4 0 , 8 9 2 A
. 2 d 8 0 2 , 8 0 7 ( 2 0 0 6 )
. 

### In c a s e s w h e r e th e d e fe n d an t ' s m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s h a s be e n d e n i ed , th e a p p e ll at e c o urt 

### w ill " ' c o n s i d e r o n l y th e e v i d e n c e o f th e p ro s e c ut i o n ' s w i tn e s s e s an d s o mu c h o f th e e v i d e n c e fo r th e d e fe n s e a s , fa i r l y r e a d i n th e c o n t e x t o fth e r e c o r d a s a w h o l e , r e m a i n s un c o ntra d i c t e d .' " 

### I n re J. 

### V. , 7 6 2 A. 2 d 3 7 6 , 3 7 9 ( P a . S u pe r . 20 0 0 ) ( qu o t i n g C

o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . R e d d i x , 5 13 A. 2 d 1 0 4 1 , 10 4 2 (P a . S u p e r . 1 9 8 6 ) )
. O ur S u p e ri o r C am i h a s h e l d th at " i t i s th e s o l e p ro v i n c e o f th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o urt t o w e i g h th e
c r e d i b ili ty o fth e w i tn e s s e s . . . . . F urth e r , th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o urt j u d g e i s e n t i t l e d t o b e li e v e a ll , p art
o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e nt e d
. " C o m m o nw e a l t

h 

### v . B e n to n , 6 5 5 A
. 2 d 1 0 3 0 , 10 3 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 5 ) ( c i t at i o n o mi tt e d )
. 

### It i s th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s b ur d e n t o p r o v e b y a p r e p o n d e ran c e o f th e
e v i d e n c e th at th e e v i d e n c e c h a ll e n g e d b y a d e fe n d ant i n h i s m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s i s a dm i s s i b l e . S

e e B a s k i ng . Th i s c o urt d i d n o t e rr i n d e ny i n g d e fe n d an t ' s m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s th e s t at e m e nt s m a d e t o D e t e c t i v e J am e s C ro n e at th e H o m i ci d e U n i t. A ft e r d e fe n d an t w a s t ak e n i n t o c u s t o dy an d tr e at e d


### at th e h o s p i t a l , h e w a s 

### tr an s p o rt e d t o th e H o m i c i d e U n i t , w h e r e h e m e t w i th D e t e c t i v e J am e s C ro n e .
C o m m w. v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 9 o f 2 9

### A t th e s u p p r e s s i o n h e ari n g , D e t e c t i v e C ro n e s t at e d th at h e o b s e rv e d th at d e fe n d ant , d e s p i t e an i n i t i a l a ff e c t , a p p e ar e d n o rm a l an d w as n o t un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f dr u g s o r a lc o h o l. H o w e v e r , b e fo r e a c o nv e r s at i o n e n s u e d , D e t e c t i v e C r o n e o ra ll y w arn e d d e fe n d an t o f h i s M i ra n d a 

### r i g h t s . In d e e d , d e fe n d ant w a s p ro v i d e d th e w arn i n g s fr o m F o rm 7 5
- 3 3 l D an d F o rm 7 5
- 3 3 lE , l at e r
att a c h e d t o h i s fo rm a l w r i tt e n s t at e m e nt. 4 

### D e fe n d ant kn o w i n g l y , i n t e ll i g e ntl y an d v o l un t ar i l y

4 T h e fo ll o w i n g w arn i n g s ar e p ro v i d e d i n 7 5
- 3 3 l D :

W e h av e a d

uty t o e xp l a in t o y o u an d t o w arn y o u th at y o u h av e th e fo ll o w in g l e g a l r i g h t s A
. Y o u h av e a r i g h t t o r e m a i n s il e nt an d d o n o t h av e t o s ay any th i n g at a ll B
. A ny th in g y o u s ay c an an d w i ll b e u s e d a g a i n s t y o u i n C o urt C
. Y o u h av e a r i g h t t o t a l k t o a l aw y e r o f y o ur o wn c h o i c e b e fo r e w e a s k y o u any qu e s t i o n s an d a l s o t o h av e a l aw y e r h e r e w i th y o u wh il e w e a s k qu e s t i o n s D
. If y o u c ann o t a ff

o r d t o h ir e a l awy e r an d y o u w an t o n e w e w ill s e e th at y o u h av e a l aw y e r p ro v i d e d t o y o u fr e e c h ar g e , b e fo r e w e a s k y o u any qu e s t i o n s E
. I f y o u ar e w ill i n g t o g i v e u s a s t at e m e nt , y o u h av e a r i g h t t o s t o p any t i m e y o u w i s h A ft e r D e t e c t i v e Jam e s C ro n e p ro v i d e d d e f e n d ant w i th o ra l M

i ra n d a w arn i n g s fr o m F o rm 7 5
- 3 3 ID , h e a s k e d d e fe n d ant th e qu e s t i o n s p ro v i d e d i n 7 5
- 3 3 IE , wh i c h ar e a s fo l l o w s :

1
. Q
. D o y o u un d e rs t an d th at y o u h av e a r i g h t t o k e e p qu i e t , an d d o n o t h av e t o s ay anyth i n g at a ll ? 2
. Q
. D o y o u un d e r s t an d th at any th i n g y o u s ay c an an d w ill b e u s e d a g a i n s t y o u ? 3
. Q
. D o y o u w an t t o r e m a i n s il e nt ? 4
. Q
. D o y o u un d e r s t an d th at y o u h av e a r i gh t t o t a l k w i th a l aw y e r b e fo r e w e a s k y o u any qu e s t i o n s ? 5
. Q
. D o y o u un d e r s t an d th at i f y o u c ann o t a ff o r d t o h i r e a l aw y e r , an d y o u w ant o n e , w e w ill n o t a s k y o u any qu e s t i o n s unt il a l aw y e r i s a p p o i nt e d fo r y o u fr e e o f c h ar g e ? 6
. Q
. D o y o u w ant t o t a l k w ith a l aw y e r at th i s li m e , o r t o h av e a l awy e r w i th y o u wh i l e w e a s k y o u qu e s t i o n s ? 7
. Q
. Ar e y o u w i ll i n g t o an s w e r qu e s t i o n s o f y o ur o wn fr e e w ill , w i th o ut fo r c e o r fe ar , an d w i th o ut any thr e at s o r p r o m i s e s h av i n g b e e n m a d e t o y o u ? C o m m w . 

### v. Ji b re l l 

### L e w i

s P a g e 1 0 o f 2 9

### w a i v e d hi s Mira n d a 

### r i g h t s . S h o rtl y th e r e a ft e r , D e t e c t i v e C ro n e p ro v i d e d a s e t o f w r i tt e n Mi ra n d a 

### w ar n i n g s , w h i c h d e fe n d an t a g a i n w a i v e d kn o w i n g l y , i nt e ll i g e ntl y an d v o l un t ar il y . 5 

### H e th e n g av e a fo rm a l w r i tt e n s t at e m e n t t o D e t e c t i v e C ro n e , w h i c h w a s p r e s e nt e d t o d e fe n d ant fo r h i s r e v i e w an d s i g n atur e . Aft e r h i s r e v i e w , d e fe n d ant w ro t e an a d d e n d um at th e b o tt o m o f p a g e fo ur ( 4 ) an d th e n s i g n e d hi s st at e m e nt.

s T h e fo ll o w i n g qu e s t i o n s w e r e a s k e d b y D e t e c t i v e C ro n e an d an s w e r e d b y d e fe n d ant:

1. Q
. D o y o u un d e r s t an d th at y o u h av e a r i g h t t o k e e p qu i e t , an d d o n o t h av e t o s ay any th i n g at a ll ? A
. Y e s . 2
. Q
. D o , y o u un d e r s t an d th at anyth i n g y o u s ay c an an d w ill b e u s e d a g a i n s t y o u ? A. Y e s . 3
. Q
. D o y o u w ant t o r e m a i n s il e nt ? A
. N o . 4
. Q
. D o y o u un d e r s t an d th at y o u h av e a ri g h t t o t a l k w i th 

### a l aw y e r b e fo r e w e a s k y o u any qu e s t i o n s ? A. Y e s . 5
. Q
. D o y o u un d e r s t an d th at i f y o u c ann o t a ff o r d t o h ir e a l aw y e r , an d y o u w ant o n e , w e w ill n o t a s k y o u any qu e s t i o n s un t i l a l aw y e r i s a p p o i n t e d fo r y o u fr e e o f c h ar g e ? A. Y e s . 6
. Q
. D o y o u w ant t o t a l k w i th a l aw y e r at th i s t i m e , o r t o h av e a l aw y e r w i th y o u wh i l e w e a s k y o u qu e s t i o n s ? A
. N o . 7
. Q
. A r e y o u w ill i n g t o an s w e r qu e s t i o n s o f y o ur o wn fr e e w i ll , w i th o ut fo r c e o r fe ar , an d w ith o ut any thr e at s o r p ro m i s e s h av i n g b e e n m a d e t o y o u ? A. Y e s . C o mmw . E x h
. 6 , p . 2
. 

### C o m m w. v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s 

### P a g e 1 1 

### o f 2 9

### Aft e r c o n s i d e r i n g th e e v i d e n c e an d d e t e rm i ni n g th e c r e d i b il i ty o f w itn e s s e s p r e s e nt e d at

th e s u p p r e s s i o n h e ar i n g , th i s c o urt c o n cl u d e d th at d e fe n d an t v o l un t ar il y , kn o w i n g l y , an d i n t e lli g e nt l y w a i v e d hi s 

### M i ra n d a ri g h t s . T h i s d e t e rmi n at i o n w a s m a d e a ft e r c o n s i d e ri n g th e fo ll o w i n g tw o fa c t o r s :

F ir s t [ , ] th e r e li n qu i s h m en t o f th e r i g h t mu s t h av e b e e n v o l unt ary i n th e s e n s e th at i t w a s th e p ro d u c t o f a fr e e an d d e l i b e rat e c h o i c e rath e r th an i nt i m i d at i o n , c o e r c i o n o r d e c e p t i o n . S e c o n d , th e w a i v e r mu s t h av e b e e n m a d e w i th a fo ll aw ar e n e s s b o th o fth e n at ur e o fth e ri g h t b e i n g ab an d o n e d an d th e c o n s e qu e n c e s o f th e d e c i s i o n t o a b an d o n i t . O n l y i f th e ' t o t a li ty o f th e c i r c um s t an c e s s urr o un d i n g th e int e r ro g at i o n ' r e v e a l b o th an un c o e r c e d c h o i c e an d th e r e qu i s i t e l e v e l o fc o mp r e h e n s i o n m ay a c o urt p ro p e r l y c o n c l u d e th at 

### Mi ra n d a r i g h t s h av e b e e n w a i v e d
. I n re T. B
. , 

### 1 1 A. 3 d 5 0 0

, 

### 5 0 5
- 5 0 6 ( P a . S u

p e r. 2 0 1 0 ) ( qu o t i n g C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . C e p h a s , 

### 5 2 2 A. 2 d 6 3 , 6 5 ( P a . S u

p e r . 1 9 8 7 ) )
. T h o s e tw o r e qu ir e m e nt s w e r e m e t i n th i s c a s e . T h e c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e e s t ab li s h e d th at d e fe n d an t . w a s p ro v i d e d b o th o r a l. an d w r i tt e n 

### Mi ra n d a w arn i n g s . D e fe n d an t tw i c e w a i v e d h i s 

### M

i ra n d a - r i g h t s w i th o ut c o e r c i o n o r d

ur e s s an d i n a c c o r d an c e w i th th e c o n s t i t ut i o n a l ri g h t s a f fo r d e d t o d e fe n d an t s in c ri mi n a l c a s e s . S e e C o m m o n we a l th v . Elm o b dy, 

### 8 2 3 A
. 2 d 1 8 0 , 1 8 3 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) ( ru li n g th at ' ' [ i ] t i s w i th i n th e s u p p r e s s i o n c o urt ' s s o l e p ro v i n c e a s f a c t fi n d e r t o p a s s o n th e c r e d i b ili ty o f w i tn e s s e s an d th e w e i g h t t o b e g i v e n t o th e i r t e s t i m o ny " )
. D e fe n d ant
w a s n o t i nt i m i d at e d , c o e r c e d , o r d e c e i v e d i nt o m ak i n g any o f hi s s t at e m e nt s . R ath e r , h i s d e c i s i o n
w a s fr e e l y an d d e li b e rat e l y m a d e . H e w a s n o t d e p r i v e d o f b a s i c n e c e s s i t i e s s u c h a s fo o d , w at e r , o r r e s tro o m b r e ak s . Wh e n d e fe n d an t m a d e h i s c h o i c e , h e w a s a l e rt an d fu ll y aw ar e o f h i s s urr o un d i n g s . H e w a s n o t un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f dru g s o r a l c o h o l. B e fo r e d e f e n d ant p ro v i d e d h i s s t at e m e nt , h e w a s tw i c e w arn e d o f h i s Mi ra n d a 

### r i g h t s . D e fe n d ant un d e r s t o o d th e n at ur e o f h i s
r i g h t s an d th e c o n s e qu e n c e s o f h i s d e ci s i o n t o p ro v i d e a s t at e m e n t t o p o li c e . T h e r e i s n o s u p p o rt i n th e r e c o r d fo r d e fe n d an t ' s c l a i m th at h i s 

### Mi r a n d a ri g h t s w e r e v i o l at e d
. B a s e d o n th e t o t a l i ty o f

C o m m w. v . J

i b re l l L e w i

s 

### P a g e 1 2 o f 2 9th e c i r c um s t an c e s , th i s c o urt d i d n o t e rr i n fi n d i n g th at h e v o l unt ar i l y , kn o w i n g l y , an d i n t e lli g e nt l y

w a i v e d h i s 

### M

i ra n d a r i g h t s . "

6 A t th e s u p p r e s s i o n h e ar i n g , th i s c o urt m a d e th e fo ll o w i n g fi n d i n g s o f fa c t an d c o n c l u s i o n s o f l aw :

B o th s i d e s h av i n g r e s t e d o n th e m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s , th e C o urt w ill m ak e fi n d in g s o f fa c t an d c o n cl u s i o n s o f l aw . H e r e i n , d e f e n d ant s e e k s t o s u

p p r e s s p hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e an d d e fe n d ant ' s s t at e m e nt s . O n e : O n O c t o b e r 

## r: 2 0 1 2 , C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n w a s s h o t an d i n j ur e d an d S t e p h an i e F r e e m an w a s s h o t an d k ill e d in s i d e 71 1 N o rth 3 rd S tr e e t i n P h il a d e l p h i a . T w o : Th e s urv i v i n g v ic t i m , M s . Jo hn s o n , w a s t ak e n t o H ann e m ann H o s p i t a l fo r tr e atm e nt wh e r e o n 10 / 9 / 1 2 d e t e c ti v e s att e mp t e d t o i n t e rv i e w h e r fo r a s e c o n d t i m e h e r e at th e h o s p i t a l ; an d a lth o u g h i ntu b at e d , s h e w a s a

b l e t o p ro v i d e a wr i tt e n d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e s h o o t e r , a m an s h e h a d m e t at J 3 lh an d M ark e t wh o l at e r c a ll e d h e r an d c am e o v e r t o h e r h o m e wh e r e th e i n c i d e nt o c c urr e d
. T hr e e : B a s e d o n th at d e s c r i p t i o n an d i n fo rm at i o n o b t a i n e d p ur s u an t t o a w arrant r e g ar d i n g th e p h o n e s u s e d , c o u p l e d w i th v i d e o s urv e ill an c e t a p e s fr o m S E P T A , s u s p e c t w a s i d e nt i fi e d ; t o w it , th i s d e fe n d ant . T h e s u s p e c t d e p i c t e d i n C - l an d C
- 2 i s a s a fo r e m e nt i o n e d , th e d e fe n d an t i n th i s c a s e , J i b r e l l L e w i s . A s th e i nv e s t i g at i o n c o nt i nu e d , a g a i n , ut ili z i n g th e a fo r e m e n t i o n e d p h o n e r e c o r d s , c e ll t o w e r s an d th e li k e , o n e o f th e p e r s o n s i n th e d e fe n d ant ' s p h o n e l o g i d e nt i fi e d J i b r e ll L e w i s as th e p e r s o n d e p i c t e d i n C
- 1 an d C
- 2
. S i x : T h e r e a ft e r , s urv e ill an c e w a s s e t u p i n th e ar e a o f

4 0 3 N o rth 4 1 ' 1 S tr e e t , d e fe n d ant ' s h o m e . S e v e n : O n th at s am e d ay , 1 0 / 1 2 / 1 2 , l aw e n fo r c e m e nt a g e nts , i n c l u d i n g D e p uty U S M ar s h a l s , o b s e rv e d d e f e n d an t e x i t th e a fo r e m e nt i o n e d p ro p e rty c ar ry i n g a b a g wh il e i n th e c o mp any o f a fe m a l e . E i g h t : D e fe n d ant w a l k e d fir s t in th e d ir e c t i o n o f th e a g e nt s an d D e p uty C l ark o b s e rv e d h i m , J i b r e ll L e w i s , a d j u s t h i s w a i s t

b an d , at wh i c h t i m e th e a g e nt o b s e rv e d th e b utt o f a h an d g un . N i u e : D e fe n d ant w as th e r e a ft e r a p p ro a c h e d b y v ar i o u s m e mb e r s o f th e U S M ars h a l s ' o ffi c e wh o c a ll e d o u t " S t o p ! P o li c e ! " t o M r . L e w i s . D e fe n d ant , h o w e v e r , d i d n o t h e e d
. R ath e r , h e dro p p e d h i s b a g an d fl e d w i th th e o ffi c e r s i n fo o t p ur s u i t. 1 0 : D e fe n d ant w a s u l t i m at e l y t a s e d an d a g un r e c o v e r e d i n h i s i mm e d i at e v i c i n i ty . Li k e w i s e , th e b a g , i t s c o nt e nt , w e r e a l s o r e c o v e r e d b y auth o r i t i e s . 1 1 : A s th e fo r e g o i n g m ak e s c l e ar , th e r e w a s r e a s o n ab l e s u s p ic i o n t o s t o p th e d e fe n d ant b a s e d o n h i s p o s s e s s i o n o f a h an d g un , p ro b a b l e c au s e d e v e l o p e d u

p o n h i s a b an d o nm e nt o f

th e p ro p e rty an d s ub s e qu e nt fli g h t. 

### C o m m w. v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 1 3 o f 2 9I n d e e d , i n li g h t o f th e fa c t th at th e d e fe n d ant fit th e d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e s h o o t e r in th i s c a s e an d w a s i d e nt i fi e d fr o m p h o n e r e c o r d s a s th e p e r s o n wh o h a d b e e n i n p h o n e c o nt a c t w i th M s . Jo hn s o n , th e r e w a s p ro b ab l e c au s e t o an- e s t. 1 2 : T hu s , th e a fo r e m e nt i o n e d e v i d e n c e , in c l u d i n g th e g un an d th e c o nt e nt s o f th e b a g , w a s p ro p e r l y se i z e d i n c i d e nt t o a v a li d arr e s t o r a s a b an d o n e d p ro p e rty . 1 3 : O n c e d e fe n d an t w a s l e g a ll y i n c u s t o dy , h e w a s tr e at e d at H ahn e m ann H o s p i t a l an d l at e r tr an s p o rt e d t o th e h o m i c i d e un i t wh e r e h e w as i nt e rv i e w e d b y D e t e c t i v e C ro n e . 1 4 : Th e d e t e c t i v e o b s e rv e d th at d e f e n d an t , d e s p i t e an i n it i a l a ff e c t , a p p e ar e d n o rm a l an d w a s n o t un d e r th e in fl u e n c e o f dru g s o r a lc o h o l. T h e d e t e c t i v e g av e th e d e fe n d ant o ra l MI RA ND A w arn i n g s w h i c h w e r e w a i v e d an d 

### a c o nv e r s at i o n e n s u e d
. T h e d e t e c t i v e s t at e d th at th e o ra l w arn i n g s w e r e th e s am e o n e s ut ili z e d i n th e s u b s e qu e n t w r i tt e n s t at e m e nt ; th at i s , th e y w e r e t ak e n fr o m a fo rm n o t un li k e th e 7 5
- 3 3 ID an d 7 5
- 3 3 1
- E
. P r i o r t o t ak i n g th e wr i tt e n s t at e m e nt , d e fe n d ant w a s p ro v i d e d fo rm a l MI RA ND A w arn in g s wh i c h w e r e c o mm i tt e d t o wri t i n g a s w a s th e s ub s e qu e n t fo rm a l s t at e m e n t wh i c h th e d e fe n d ant s i g n e d
. 1 4 : [ s i c ] D ur i n g th e c o ur s e o f th e o ra l an d w r i tt e n i n t e rv i e w s , th e d e fe n d ant w a s n o t c o e r c e d , ab u s e d o r o th e r w i s e m a l tr e at e d
. In d e e d , th e r e c o r d r e fl e c t s th at w at e r , fo o d , c i g ar e tt e s w e r e g i v e n t o th e d e fe n d ant an d h e w a s a ff

o r d e d th e u s e o f th e t o il e t fa ci li t i e s . 1 5 : C o un s e l ' s r e l i an c e o n S E IB E R T i s m i s p l a c e d
. B y th e l an g u a g e o f th at c a s e , at 10 2 4 , S u p r e m e C o urt 2 6 0 I , Ju s t i c e S ci ut e r m ak e s th e fo ll o w i n g r e m ark s : " T h i s c a s e t e s t s a p o li c e p ro t o c o l fo r c u s t o d i a l int e rr o g at i o n th at c a ll s fo r g i v i n g n o w arn i n g s t o th e r i g h t s an d c o un s e l un t il i n t e rr o g at i o n h a s p ro d u c e d a c o n fe s s i o n . " A l th o u g h s u c h a s t at e m e nt i s g e n e ra ll y i n a dm i s s i b l e , s i n c e t ak e n i n v i o l at i o n o f M I RA

N D A , th e i n t e r

ro g at i n g o ffi c e r fo l l o w s i t w i th M I RA N D A w arn i n g s an d th e n l e a d s th e s u s p e c t t o c o v e r th e s am e g r o un d a s e c o n d t i m e . " T h e qu e s t i o n h e r e i s th e a dm i s s i b ili ty o f th e r e p e at e d s t at e m e nt. B e c au s e th e m i d s tr e am r e c it at i o n o f w arn i n g s a ft e r i n t e rro g at i o n an d unw arr ant e d c o n fe s s i o n c o u l d n o t e ff e c t i v e l y c o mp l y w i th M I RA ND A c o n s t i t

ut i o n a l r e qu ir e m e nt , w e h o l d th at a s t at e m e n t r e p e at e d a ft e r a w arn i n g i n s u c h ci r c um s t an c e s i s i n a dm i s s i b l e . " C l e ar l y th o s e ar c n o t th e fa c t s o f th i s c a s e . F i n a ll y , th i s C o urt fi n d s th e d e fe n d ant ' s s t at e m e nt s w e r e m a d e kn o w i n g l y , i n t e lli g e ntl y an d v o l unt ar i l y . 1 7 : A c c o r d i n g l y , th e m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s p hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e an d th e s t at e m e nt s i s d e n i e d
. N .T. 0 6 / 3 0 /1 5 , p p . 1 1 1
- 1 1 6
. 

### Co m m w. v

. 

### Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 1 4 o f 2 9De fe n d an t a l s o c o n t e n d s th at th i s c o urt e rr e d i n g ran t in g th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s m o t i o n i n

l i m in e t o b ar d e fe n s e e xp e rt D r . C l ar e n c e W at s o n ' s o p i n i o n t e s t i m o ny o n d i m i ni s h e d c a p a c i ty . I n C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. Mi lle r, 6 2 7 A
. 2 d 7 4 1 , 7 4 8
- 7 4 9 ( P a . S u p e r. 1 9 9 3 ) , th e c o urt e xp l a i n e d th at " [ t ] h e d e c i s i o n t o a dm i t o r e x c l u d e e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny li e s w i th i n th e s o un d d i s c r e t i o n o f th e tri a l c o urt [ an d ] th e d e t e rmi n at i o n o f th e tr i a l c o urt w ill n o t b e r e v e r s e d un l e s s an a b u s e o f th at d i s c re t i o n i s fo un d t o e x i st . " 

### In ru li n g o n th e a dm i s s i b il i ty o f s u c h e v i d e n c e , " th e tr i a l c o urt mu s t d e c i d e
w h e th e r th e e v i d e n c e i s r e l e v an t an d , i f s o , w h e th e r i t s p ro b at i v e v a l u e o utw e i gh s 

### i t s p r e j u d i ci a l
e ff e c t. " C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . H a wk , 5 5 1 P a . 7 1 , 7 7 , 7 0 9 A. 2 d 3 7 3 , 3 7 6 ( 1 9 9 8 )
. T h i s c o urt d i d n o t a

b u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n d e ny i n g th e a dm i s s i o n o f e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny o n d i m i n i s h e d c a

p a c i ty . I n d e e d , e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny " i s a dm i s s i b l e i n a ll c a s e s , c i v il an d c ri m i n a l a l ik e ,
' w h e n i t i nv o l v e s e xp l an at i o n s an d in f e r e n c e s n o t w i th i n th e r an g e o fo r d i n ar y tra i n i n g kn o w l e d g e , i n t e lli g e n c e an d e xp e ri e n c e . ' " C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . W a l ke r, 6 2 5 P a . 4 5 0 , 4 8 6 , 92 A
. 3 d 7 6 6 , 7 8 8 ( 2 0 1 4 ) ( qu o t i n g C

o m m o n w e a lth 

### v. L es li e, 4 2 4 P a . 3 3 1 , 3 3 4 , 2 2 7 A
. 2 d 9 0 0 , 9 0 3 (1 9 6 7 ) )
. S e e a l s o P a . 

### R. E v i d
. 7 0 2 ( r e l at i n g t o t e s t i m o ny b y e xp e rt w i tn e s s e s )
. H o w e v e r , " [ a ] s w i th a ll e xp e rt
o p ini o n . . i t i s e s s e n t i a l th at th e s a li e n t fa c t s r e li e d u p o n a s th e b a s i s fo r th e o p i ni o n b e i n th e
r e c o r d
. " C

o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . Pa s k

i ng s, 4 4 7 P a . 3 5 0 , 3 5 5 � 3 5 6 , 2 9 0 A. 2 d 8 2 , 8 5 (1 9 7 2 )
. S t at e d
an o th e r w ay , 

### " [ a ] n e xp e rt ' s t e s t i m o ny i s a dm i s s i b l e w h e n i t i s b a s e d o n fa c t s o f r e c o r d an d w i ll
n o t c au s e c o n f

u s i o n o r p r e

j u d i c e . " C

o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . W a t s o n , 9 4 5 A .2 d 1 7 4 , 1 7 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 8 )
. S e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . B la st oli, 6 8 5 A. 2 d 

### 1 5 1 , 1 6 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 6 ) ( ru li n g th at " o n l y
e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny w h i c h a s s i s t s th e j ur y i s a dm i s s i b l e " )
. I n C

o m m o n w e a lth 

### v . L a i rd

, 

### 5 5 5 P a . 6 2 9 , 6 4 5 , 7 2 6 A. 2 d 3 4 6 , 3 5 3 ( 1 9 9 9 ) , th e 

### c o urt e xp l a i n e d th at a d i m i ni s h e d c a p a c i ty d e fe n s e " i s o n l y av a il ab l e t o a d e fe n d an t w h o a dm i t s c r i m i n a l li ab i li ty b ut c o n t e s t s th e d e g r e e o f g u il t. " A
s u cc e s s fu l d i m i n i s h e d c a p a c i ty d e f

e n s e " n e g at e s th e e l e m e n t o f s p e c i fi c i nt e n t an d , thu s , m i t i g at e s
C o m m w . v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 1 5 o f 2 9fi r s t - d e g r e e mur d e r t o th i r d
- d e gr e e mur d e r . " 

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

h v . R o s e n , 6 1 5 P a . 3 0 5 , 3 0 8 , 4 2 A .3 d 9 8 8 , 9 9 0 n . l ( 2 0 1 2 )
. O ur S u p r e m e C o urt h a s furth e r n o t e d th at " [ d ] i m i n i s h e d c a p a c i ty i s an
e x tr e m e l y li m i t e d d e fe n s e , w h i c h r e qu i r e s e x t e n s i v e p s y c h i atr i c t e s t i m o ny e s t a b li s h i n g a d e fe n d an t
s u ff e r e d fr o m o n e o r m o r e m e nt a l d i s o r d e r s w h i c h p r e v e n t e d h i m fr o m fo rmu l at i n g th e s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o k i l l. " 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . C u e v a s , 5 7 4 P a . 4 0 9 , 4 1 8 , 8 3 2 A
. 2 d 3 8 8 , 3 9 3 ( 2 0 0 3 )
. T h e r e w a s n o thin g i n th e e xp e rt r e p o rt b y D r . W at s o n o n th e u l t i m at e i s s u e o f w h e th e r o r
n o t d e fe n d an t h a d a m e n t a l d i s o r d e r o r d e f e c t th at d i r e c tl y a ff

e c t e d hi s a

b ili ty t o fo rmu l at e th e
s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o ki l l. A t d e fe n s e c o uns e l ' s r e qu e s t , D r . C l ar e n c e W at s o n c o n d u c t e d a p s y c h i atr i c e x am i n at i o n o f d e fe n d an t o n F e b ru ary 2 6 , 2 0 1 5
. I n D r. W at s o n ' s Ap r i l 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 r e p o rt , h e o p i n e d th at d e fe n d an t s uf

fe r s fr o m an un s p e c i fi e d d e p r e s s i v e d i s o r d e r w i th p s y c h o t i c fe at ur e s , c o u p l e d
w i th a lc o h o l an d s ub s t an c e a b u s e d i s o r d e r s . D r. W at s o n ' s d i a gn o s i s w a s b a s e d o n d e f e n d an t ' s

" l o n g s t an d i n g s y mp t o m s an d m e d i c a l r e c o r d s i n d i c at i n g a h i s t o ry o f e p i s o d i c d e p r e s s i v e
s y mp t o m s , e p i s o d i c e xp e r i e n c e s o f au d i t o r y h a ll u c i n at i o n s , · an d o n g o i n g a b u s e o f v ar i o u s s u b s t an c e s . " D r . C l ar e n c e W at s o n ' s Ap r i l 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 P s y c h i atr i c E v a l u at i o n R e p o rt p . 1 4
. D r . W at s o n e xp l a i n e d th at d e fe n d ant ' s " d e s c r i p t i o n o f h i s i nt e ra c t i o n w i th o th e r s r e fl e c t s a h e i g h t e n e d p r e o c c u p at i o n w i th p ro t e c t i n g h i m s e l f an d av o i d i n g s i t u at i o n s i n w h i c h h e c o u l d b e v i c t i m i z e d
. " 

### I d
. D r . W at s o n s t at e d th at th i s i n c i d e n t c au s e d d e fe n d an t t o fe e l " o v e r w h e l m e d w i th d e s p e rat i o n t o e s c a p e an d i n t e r fe r [ e d ] w i th hi s a b i l i ty t o thi nk
. " 

### I

d. at p . 1 5
. H o w e v e r , n o w h e r e i n D r . W at s o n ' s r e p o rt d i d h e d i a g n o s e d e fe n d an t w i th any c o gn i t i v e b ra i n d i s o r d e r th at l i m i t e d h i s a b i l i ty t o fo rmu l at e th e s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o k ill
. T h i s c a s e i s an a l o g o u s t o 

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

h v . Mctlu llu m , 5 5 8 P a . 5 9 0 , 5 9 6 , 7 3 8 A. 2 d 10 0 7 , 1 0 1 0 (1 9 9 9 ) , w h e r e o ur S u p r e m e C o urt h e l d th at a d i m in i s h e d c a p a c i ty d e fe n s e w as n o t e s t ab l i s h e d b e c au s e th e 

### e xp e rt " m a d e n o m e n t i o n o f 

### I th e d e fe n d an t ' s ] c o g n i t i v e fun c t i o n s o f d e li b e rat i o n an d
C o m m w. v . Ji b re l l 

### L e w i

s P a g e 1 6 o f 2 9p r e m e d i t at i o n at th e t i m e o f th e mur d e r o r o f h i s a b il i ty - o r i n ab il i ty - t o fo rmu l at e th e s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o k il l. " S imi l arl y , a s a fo r e m e n t i o n e d , th e p s y c h iatri c e xp e rt i n thi s c a s e d i d n o t p ro v i d e an o p i n i o n o n th i s s a li e n t i s s u e . S e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a l th v , T

a y lo r , 5 8 3 P a . 1 7 0 , 1 8 8 , 8 7 6 A. 2 d 9 1 6 , 92 7 ( 2 0 0 5 ) ( h o l d i n g th at " [ t ] h e fa c t th at [ th e d e fe n d an t ' s ] d e fe n s e e xp e rt t e s t i fi e d th at [ th e d e fe n d ant ] w as p s y c h o t i c an d s u ff e r e d fr o m v ar

y in g d e g r e e s o fm e nt a l i ll n e s s d o e s n o t i n e l u c t ab l y s u g g e s t th at h e l a c k e d th e c a p a ci ty t o fo rm a s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o ki ll " ) ; C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . Z e tt le m o y e r , 5 0 0 P a . 1 6 , 3 0 , 4 5 4 A. 2 d 9 3 7 , 9 4 4 (1 9 8 2 ) , a b rog a te d o n o t

h e r g ro u n d s b y C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v. F r e e m a n , 5 7 3 P a . 5 3 2 , 8 2 7 A. 2 d 3 8 5 ( 2 0 0 3 ) ( r e j e c t i n g c o n c l u s i o n th at " a d i a g n o s i s o f ' s c h i z o i d p e r s o n a li ty w i th p ar an o i d fe at ur e s ' i s r e l e v ant t o th e i s s u e o f a d e fe n d an t ' s
m e n t a l c a

p a c i ty t o fo rm th e s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o k ill " )
. B e c au s e D r . W at s o n ' s r e p o rt g av e n o m e d i c a l b a s i s fo r a d i m i n i s h e d c a p a ci ty d e fe n s e , h i s p ro ff e r e d e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny o n th at i s s u e w a s i n a dm i s s i b l e an d i t w o u l d h av e o n l y c o n fu s e d th e j ury . S e e C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v. W a t s o n , 9 4 5 A. 2 d 1 7 4 , 1 7 6 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) ( ru li n g th at " [ a ] n e xp e rt ' s t e s t i m o ny i s a dm i s s i b l e w h e n i t i s b a s e d o n fa c t s o f r e c o r d an d w ill n o t c au s e c o n fu s i o n o r p r e j u d i c e " ) ; C

o m m o n w e a lt

h 

### v . R o u n d

s , 5 1 8 P a . 2 0 4 , 2 0 9 , 5 4 2 A. 2 d 9 9 7 , 9 9 9 (1 9 8 8 ) ( n o t i n g th at " [ w ] i th o ut th e fa c t s , a j ur y c ann o t m ak e any d e t e rm i n at i o n as t o v a l i d i ty o f th e e xp e rt ' s o p i ni o n " ) ; C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. F u n k e, 4 5 2 A
. 2 d 8 5 7 , 8 6 2 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 8 2 ) ( qu o t i n g C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . Z e ge r , 1 8 6 A. 2 d 9 2 2 , 92 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 6 2 ) , w h i c h i nf o rm e d th at " [ o ] n e o f th e d ut i e s o f a 

### tri al j u d g e i s ' t o cl ari fy th e i s s u e s s o th at th e j ury m ay c o mp r e h e n d th e qu e s t i o n s th e y ar e t o d e c i d e ' " )
. T hu s , d e fe n d an t w a s n o t e n t i tl e d t o 

### e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny o n d im i ni s h e d c a p a c i ty be c au s e th e r e w as n o m e d i c a l b a s i s fo r th i s d e fe n s e . D e fe n d ant a l s o c o n t e n d s th at th i s c o urt e rr e d i n a p r e tri a l ru l i n g b y l i m i t i n g D r . W at s o n ' s p r o p o s e d 

### e xp e rt o p i n i o n t e s t i m o ny r e g ar d i n g h e at o f p a s s i o n v o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r an d
unr e a s o n a

b l e b e li e f v o l un t ar

y m an s l au g h t e r . C o n trar y t o d e fe n d ant ' s ar g um e n t , th i s c o urt d i d n o t
C o m m w. v. J

ib re l l L e w i

s P a g e 1 7 o f 2 9l imi t D r . W at s o n ' s p ro p o s e d e xp e rt o p in i o n t e s t i m o ny o n th e s e d e fe n s e s . T hi s c o urt ru l e d th at

d e f e n d an t w a s p e rm i tt e d t o i n tro d u c e D r . W at s o n ' s e xp e rt o p i n i o n o n h e at o f p a s s i o n v o l un t ar y
m an s l au g h t e r an d unr e a s o n ab l e b e li e f v o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r . H o w e v e r , D r . W at s o n w o u l d b e p r e cl u d e d fr o m t e s t i fy i n g a b o ut s e l f

- s e rv in g s t at e m e n t s th at d e fe n d an t m a d e t o h i m d ur in g h i s p s y c hi atri c i n t e rv i e w o r th e h e ar s ay s t at e m e n t s h e m a d e t o p o l i c e un l e s s a fa c t u a l b a s i s fo r s a i d
s t at e m e n t s w a s i n tro d u c e d i n e v i d e n c e . H o w e v e r , d e fe n d an t d i d n o t t e s t i f y an d th e C o mm o nw e a l th d i d n o t i n tr o d u c e d e fe n d an t ' s s t at e m e nt. T hu s , th e r e w a s n o fa c t u a l b a s i s fo r th e
e xp e rt o p i n i o n . A s m e n t i o n e d a

b o v e , thi s c o urt d i d n o t e rr i n p r e cl u d i n g D r . W at s o n fr o m t e s t i f y i n g a b o ut th e s t at e m e n t s d e fe n d an t m a d e t o h i m d ur i n g th e p s y c h i atri c i n t e rv i e w o r th e s t at e m e n t s d e fe n d an t
m a d e t o p o l i c e . 

### In C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . M ille r , 6 2 7 A. 2 d 7 4 1 , 7 4 8
- 7 4 9 (P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 3 ) , th e c o urt
e xp l a i n e d th at " ( t ] h e d e c i s i o n t o a dmi t o r e x c l u d e e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny li e s w i th i n th e s o un d d i s c r e t i o n o f th e tri a l c o urt [ an d ] th e d e t e rm i n at i o n o f th e tr i a l c o urt 

### w ill n o t b e r e v e r s e d un l e s s an a b u s e o f th at d i s c r e t i o n i s fo un d t o e x i s t . " I n ru l i n g o n th e a dm i s s i b i l i ty o f s u c h e v i d e n c e , " th e tr i a l c o urt
mu s t d e c i d e w h e th e r th e e v i d e n c e i s r e l e v an t an d , i f s o , w h e th e r i ts p ro b at i v e v a l u e o utw e i g h s i t s p r e j u d i c i a l e ff

e c t. " 

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

h 

### v . H a w k , 5 5 1 P a . 7 1 , 7 7 , 7 0 9 A .2 d 3 7 3 , 3 7 6 ( 1 9 9 8 )
. A n
e v i d e nt i ary ru li n g " w i l l n o t b e d i s t ur b e d ' unl e s s th at ru l i n g r e fl e c t s m an i fe s t unr e a s o n a b l e n e s s , o r p art i a l i ty , p r e

j u d i c e , b i a s , o r ill
- w ill , o r s u c h l a c k o f s u p p o rt a s t o b e c l e arl y e rr o n e o u s . ' " 

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

h 

### v . B oz y k , 9 8 7 A. 2 d 7 5 3 , 7 5 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 9 ) ( qu o t i n g 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . E i n h o rn , 9 1 1 A
. 2 d 9 6 0 , 9 72 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 6 ) )
. T h e r e w a s n o e rro r i n ru l in g th at D r. W at s o n c o u l d n o t t e s t i f y t o d e fe n d an t ' s s t at e m e n t s b e c au s e th e y w e r e in a dm i s s i b l e h e ar s ay th at d i d n o t fa ll un d e r any e x c e p t i o n t o th e h e ar s ay ru l e . 

### S e e P a . R
. E v i d
. 8 0 2 ( s t at i n g th at " [ h j e ar s ay i s n o t a dm i s s i b le e x c e p t a s p r o v i d e d b y th e s e ru l e s ,


### C o m m w. v. Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 1 8 o f 2 9b y o th e r ru l e s p r e s c r i b e d b y th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o urt , o r b y s t at

ut e " )
. C e rt a i n l y , an e xp e rt

" m ay b a s e an o p i ni o n o n fa c t s o r d at a in th e c a s e th at th e e xp e rt h a s b e e n m a d e aw ar e o f o r p e r s o n a ll y o b s e rv e d
. . . [ i ] f e xp e rt s i n th e p arti c u l ar fi e l d w o u l d r e a s o n ab l y r e l y o n th o s e k i n d s o f fa c t s o r d at a i n fo rm i n g an o p i n i o n o n th e s ub j e c t [
. ] " P a . R. E v i d
. 7 0 3
. 

### In an att e mp t t o e s t ab li s h h i s cl a i m th at h e c o mm i tt e d h e at o f p a s s i o n v o l un t ar y m an s l au g h t e r o r unr e a s o n a b l e b e li e f
v o l un t ar y m an s l au g h t e r , rath e r th an fi r s t - d e g r e e mur d e r , d e fe n d ant s o u g h t t o i n tro d u c e e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny th at w o u l d h av e i n c l u d e d h i s s t at e m e nt s d i s c u s s i n g hi s h e ar s ay v e r s i o n o f h o w th e i n c i d e nt o c c urr e d
. A s th e c o urt h e l d i n C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. T o w les , 6 3 0 P a . 1 8 3 , 2 0 8 , 1 0 6 A .3 d 5 9 1 , 6 0 6 ( 2 0 1 4 ) , 

### " [ t

j h e r e i s a d i s t in c t i o n b e tw e e n an e xp e rt u s i n g b a s i c fa c t s p ro v i d e d b y l ay m e n t o fo rm an e xp e rt o p i ni o n , v e r s u s o n e w h o s i mp l y p arro t s o ut - o f
- c o urt s t at e m e n t s i n c o urt , th e r e b y
a c t i n g a s a c o n d

u i t fo r h e ar s ay . " F urth e rm o r e , " P e nn s y l v an i a ' s R u l e s o f E v i d e n c e d o n o t p ro v i d e
a m e c h an i s m fo r a c ri m i n a l d e fe n d an t t o d e c li n e t o t e s t i fy an d t o av o i d th e ru l e s o f e v i d e n c e b y
u s i n g an e xp e rt w i tn e s s t o i n tr o d u c e hi s s t o r

y i n t o th e r e c o r d
. " 

### I

d. C o n s e qu e n tl y , th i s c o urt d i d
n o t e rr in rn li n g th at th e d e fe n s e e xp e rt c o u l d n o t " s i mp l y r e g ur g i t at e w h at d e fe n d an t t o l d h i m " b e c au s e " [ d

j e f e n d an t ' s v e r s i o n mu s t c o m e fr o m th e d e fe n d an t o n th e w i tn e s s s t an d an d s ub j e c t hi m t o c ro s s - e x am i n at i o n . " 

### N .T
. 0 7 / 0 1/ 1 5 , p p . 1 1
- 1 5
. S e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . M ille r , 6 0 5 P a . 1 , 2 1 , 9 8 7 A
. 2 d 6 3 8 , 6 5 0 ( 2 0 0 9 ) ( h o l d i n g th at tri a l c o un s e l w a s n o t i n e ff e c t i v e fo r b e i n g un a

b l e t o
e l i c i t e xp e rt t e s t i m o ny r e g ar d i n g h e at o f p a s s i o n b e c au s e d e fe n d an t r e fu s e d t o t e s t i fy , th e r e b y
m aki n g i t " v i rt

u a l l y imp o s s i b l e fo r c o un s el t o c o nv in c e th e tri a l c o urt " o f h i s d e fe n s e )
. T hu s , d e fe n d an t ' s c l a i m h a s n o m e r i t. D e fe n d an t n e x t a ll e g e s th at h i s r i g h t t o c o n fr o n t at i o n w a s v i o l at e d w h e n th i s c o urt d e n i e d h i s r e qu e s t t o i n tr o d

u c e a 

### p ri o r c o nv i c t i o n o f C l u · i s s y Jo hn s o n . I t mu s t fi r s t b e n o t e d th at d e fe n d an t d i d n o t fil e a p r e - tr i a l m o ti o n s e e k i n g th e a dm i s s i o n o f th i s e v i d e n c e un d e r P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e o f
Co m n t w . v . Ji b re l l 

### L e w i

s P a g e 

### 1 9 o f 2 9E v i d e n c e 4 0 4
. N o n e th e l e s s , b e fo r e tri a l c o mm e n c e d , th i s c o urt w a s i n fo rm e d th at C hri s s y Jo hn s o n

w a s arr e s t e d i n 2 0 0 4 an d c o nv i c t e d i n M ay 2 0 0 5 o n c h ar g e s o f p o s s e s s i o n o f an i n s trum e n t o f
c ri m e , s i mp l e a s s au lt , an d c o n s p i r a c y . T h i s c o urt p ro p e rl y d e n i e d th e a dm i s s i o n o f th i s p ri o r c o nv i c t i o n b e c au s e d e fe n d an t fa il e d t o e s t ab li s h th at th e y w e r e c ri m e n f a l s io ff e n s e s , P e nn s y l v an i a R

u l e o f E v i d e n c e 6 0 9 ( a ) p ro v i d e s th at : ' ' [ fJ o r th e p urp o s e o f att a c k i n g th e c r e d i b ili ty o f any w i tn e s s , e v i d e n c e th at th e w i tn e s s h a s b e e n c o nv i c t e d o f a c ri m e , w h e th e r b y v e r d i c t o r b y p l e a o f g u ilty or n o l o c o n t e n d e r e , mu s t b e
a dm i tt e d i f i t i nv o l v e d d i s h o n e s ty o r fa l s e s t at e m e nt. " D e fe n d an t d i d n o t p r e s e n t any e v i d e n c e p ro v in g th at C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n ' s c o nv i c t i o n o f p o s s e s s i o n o f an i n s trum e n t o f c r im e , s i mp l e a s s au lt , an d c o n s p ir a c y inv o l v e d d i s h o n e s ty o r fa l s e s t at e m e nt. T hu s , th e r e w a s n o e rr o r i n d e t e rm i n i n g th at th e s e c o nv i c t i o n s w e r e n o t c ri m e n fa l s i. A d d i t i o n a ll y , th e p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n d i d n o t fa ll w ith i n th e t e n ( 1 0 ) y e ar t i m e p e r i o d p ro s c r i b e d b y R

u l e 6 0 9
. A c c o r d i n g t o d e fe n s e c o un s e l , C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n w a s c o nv i c t e d o n M ay 5 , 

### 2 0 0 5, w h i c h w a s a

p p ro x i m at e l y t e n ( 10 ) y e ar s an d tw o ( 2 ) m o n th s fr o m Ju l y 1 , 2 0 1 5 , th e d at e d e fe n d an t ' s tr i a l c o mm e n c e d
. D e f e n s e c o un s e l c o n c e d e d th at C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n ' s c o nv ic t i o n s w e r e
n o t w i th i n th e t e n (1 0 ) y e ar ti m e p e ri o d
. 

### S e e N
. T. 0 7 / 0 1/ 1 5 , p p . 2 1
- 2 2
. P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e o f E v i d e n c e 6 0 9 ( b ) s tat e s th at i f m o r e th an t e n ( 1 0 ) y e ar s h av e p a s s e d , " [ e ] v i d e n c e o f th e c o nv i c t i o n i s a dm i s s i b l e o n l y i f

: (1 ) i t s p ro b at i v e v a l u e s ub s t an t i a ll y o utw e i g h s it s p r e j u d i c i a l e ff

e c t ; an d ( 2 ) th e p ro p o n e nt g i v e s an a dv e r s e p arty r e a s o n ab l e w ri tt e n n o t ic e o f th e i n t e n t t o u s e i t s o th at th e p atty h a s a fa i r o p p o rt

un i ty t o c o n t e s t i t s u s e . " In d e t e rm i n i n g th at th e p ro b at i v e v a l u e o f th i s
e v i d e n c e d i d n o t s ub s t an t i a ll y o utw e i g h i t s p r e j u d i c i a l e ff

e c t , th i s c o urt c o n s i d e r e d i t s ru li n g th at d e fe n d an t w o u l d n o t b e p r o h i b i t e d fr o m i mp e a c h i n g C hri s s y Jo hn s o n o n a c ri m e n f a l s i c o nv i c t i o n



### C o m m w . v. Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 2 0 o f 2 9

### th at fe ll w ith i n th e t e n 

### (I 0 ) y e ar t i m e p e r i o d
. 7 

### T h e r e c o r d s h o w s th at b o th th e p ro s e c ut o r an d

d e f e n s e c o un s e l h a d th e o p p o rtun i ty t o qu e s t i o n C hr i s s y J o hn s o n ab o ut h e r p r i o r f e d e ra l c o nv i c t i o n fo r p a s s p o rt fr au d un d e r a d i ff e r e n t n am e . 

### S

e e N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 1/ 1 5 , p p . 1 7
- 2 8 ; N
. T. 0 7 / 0 2 /1 5 , p p . 7 5 - 7 6 ; 1 0 2
- 10 3
. 8 

### T hu s , d e fe n d an t s u ff e r e d n o p r e

j u d i c e fr o m th i s c o urt ' s ru l i n g b e c au s e h e w a s

7 T h i s c o urt m a d e th e fo ll o w i n g ru li n g : T h e i s s u e . o f

. a 2 0 0 4 arr e s t , th at i s , o n e th at r e s u l t e d i n c o nv i c t i o n fo r p o s s e s s i o n o f an i n s tr

um e n t o f c r i m e , s i mp l e a s sau l t an d c r i m i n a l c o n s p i ra c y i s o n e t o wh i c h l h av e g i v e n d u e c o n s i d e rati o n . T h e r e h a s b e e n n o R

u l e 4 0 4 ( b ) m o t i o n fil e d
. T h e l o o k
- b a c k p e r i o d h a s e xp i r e d
. I t ' s m o r e th an t e n y e ar s - o l d
. I am c a ll e d u p o n t o b a l an c e th e p ro b at i v e v a l u e o fth at c o nv ic t i o n a g a i n s t i ts p r e j u d i ci a l e ff

e c t . I am as s i s t e d i n th at r e g ar d w i th th e kn o w l e d g e th at th e c o mp l a i n ant i n th i s c a s e h a s a s e c o n d c o nv ic t i o n fo r c ri m e n fa l s i wh i c h fa ll s w i th i n th e t e n y e ar p e r i o d th at w e h av e b e e n d i s c u s s i n g . I ru l e th at y o u m ay u s e th e s e c o n d · c o nv i c ti o n . Y o u m ayn o t u s e th e fi r s t c o nv i c t i o n - fo r any p ur p o s e . N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 1/ 1 5 , p . 2 7
. 8 Wh e n th e C o mm o nw e a l th c o n d u c t e d d ir e c t e x am i n at i o n o f C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n , th e fo ll o w i n g e x c h an g e o c c urr e d : [ A s s i s t an t Di s tr ic t A tt o rn e y ] : Y o u t o l d u s th at y o u w e r e b o rn a s C hri s t o p h e r Jo hn s o n , b ut s i n c e th at t i m e y o u u s e d a numb e r o f n am e s , h av e n ' t y o u ? [ C h ri s s y J o hn s o n ] : [ A s s i s t an t Di s tr ic t A tt o rn e y ) : ( C h r i s s y J o hn s o n } : Y e s . Y o u u s e d G e ra l d M c D o n a l d
. Y e s . [ A s s i s t an t Di s tri c t A tt o rn e y ) : T h at ' s th e n am e th at w e w ill t a l k ab o ut l at e r - th at ' s th e n am e y o u w e r e c o nv ic t e d F e d e ra ll y o f frau d , c o rr e c t ? [ C h r i s s y J o hn s o n ] : Y e s . [ A s s i s t an t D i s tr ic t A tt o rn e y ] : Y o u a l s o u s e d th e n am e o f C hr i s t o p h e r M c D o n a l d , c o rr e c t ? [ C h r i s s y J o hn s o n ) : I b e li e v e s o . [ A s s i s t an t Di s tr i c t A tt o rn e y ) : Y o u u s e d th e n am e W ayn e M c D o n a l d , c o rr e c t ? [ C hr i s s y J o hn s o n ] : l th ink s o . ( A s s i s t an t D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y ] : Y o u u s e d th e n am e Ja c qu e l i n e W ill i am s , c o rr e c t ? [ C h r i s s y J o hn s o n } : Y e s . [A s s i s t an t D i s tr i c t A H o rn e y 

### J : Y o u u s e d a ll th o s e n am e s , e s s e nt i a ll y a li a s e s , c o rr e c t ? [ C h ri s s y . Jo hn s o n ] : I w a s g o i n g thro u g h a tran s i t i o n . 

### I A s s i s t an t D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y ] : T h e y ' r e d i ff e r e n t n am e s i n wh i c h y o u u s e d to h i d e y o ur i d e nt i ty t o l aw e n fo r c e m e nt , c o rr e c t ? 

### C o m m w. v. Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 2 1 o f 2 9

### a ff

o r d e d th e o p p o rt

uni ty t o att a c k C hri s s y J o hn s o n ' s c r e d i b i l i ty . A c c o r d i n g l y , d e fe n d an t ' s cl a i m i s w i th o ut m e r i t. D e fe n d an t furth e r c o nt e n d s th at th i s c o urt 

### e rr e d in p e rm i tt i n g th e C o mm o nw e a l th th e
o p p o rt uni ty t o i mp e a c h h i m w i th h i s 1 9 9 6 c o nv i c t i o n fo r ro b b e ry i f h e t e s t i fi e d at tri a l. T o th e
c o ntrary , thi s c o urt d i d n o t e rr i n p e rm i tt i n g th e i n tro d u c t i o n o f th i s e v i d e n c e . P ur s u an t t o R u l e o f E v i d e n c e 6 0 9 ( b ) , i mp e a c hm e nt b y e v i d e n c e o f a c ri m i n a l c o nv i c t i o n i s a dm i s s i b l e i f i t i s w i thi n t e n y e ar s o f th e " w i tn e s s ' s c o nv i c t i o n o r r e l e a s e fr o m c o n fi n e m e n t fo r i t , w h i c h e v e r i s l at e r . " D e fe n d an t w a s s e nt e n c e d fo r hi s ro b b e ry c o nv i c t i o n o n M ar c h 2 , 1 9 9 9 , at C P
- 5 1
- C R
- O 1 0 0 8 1 1 - 1 9 9 7
. H i s s e n t e n c e w a s c o mp l e t e d i n 2 0 0 9 , th e r e b y m ak i n g i t a p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n th at w a s a b o ut
s i x ( 6 ) y e ar s r e m o v e d fr o m th e c o mm e n c e m e nt o f d e fe n d ant ' s tri a l i n 2 0 1 5
. 

### S e e N
. T
. 0 6 / 3 0 / 1 5 , p p . 1 1 6
- 1 1 7 ; N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 1 / 1 5 , p p . 2 4
- 2 8
. C o ns e qu e n t l y , h i s ro b b e ry c o nv i c t i o n w a s w i thi n th e t e n

[ C hr i s s y J o hn s o n 

### 1 : c o ur s e I w ill h i d e my i d e nt i ty . N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 / 1 5 , p p . 7 5
- 7 6
. D e fe n s e c o un s e l f urth e r a d dr e s s e d C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n ' s p r i o r c o nv i c t i o n d ur i n g c r o s s e x am i n at i o n o f h e r t e s t i m o ny :

[ D e fe n s e C o un s e l ] : I a l r e a dy m e nt i o n e d i t , I th i nk th e d i s tr i c t att o rn e y d i d , a s w e ll , b ut y o u w e r e c o nv i c t e d o f fr au d in F e d e ra l C o urt , c o r r e c t , 2 0 0 5 ? Y e s . I fl e d my c o untr y fr o m p e r s e c ut i o n . O f

/ C hr i s s y J o hn s o n ] : [ D e fe n s e C o un s e l ] : G e ra l d M c D o n a l d , c o rr e c t ? [ C hr i s s y J o hn s o n ] : Y e s . Y o u w e re c o nv i c t e d un d e r th e n am e o f I b e l i e v e s o . [ D e f e n s e C o un s e l ] : A ll o f th e r e c o r d s o f th at F e d e ra l c o nv i c t i o n d e s c r i b e y o u a s a b l a c k m a l e , c o rre c t ? [ C hr i s s y J o hn s o n ) : It ' s a p a s s p o rt , i t ' s an i d e n t i ty . I fl e d my c o untry i n fe ar o f my li fe
. I o b t a i n e d an i d e nt i ty . I w e nt o v e r s e e s [ s i c ] an d h a d m y s e x c h an g e i n s ur g e r

y . I n d e t a il , th at ' s wh at it ' s a b o ut . [ D e f e n s e c o un s e l ] : c o rre c t ? [ C hr i s s y J o hn s o n ) : N
. T
. 0 7 / 0 2 /! 5 , p p . 1 0 2
- 1 0 3
. 

### C o m m w . v . Jlb re ll 

### L e w i

s Y o u c o mm i tt e d a c r i m e o f d i s h o n e s ty ,

C o rr e c t .


### P a g e 2 2 o f

2 9

### ( 1 0 ) y e ar t i m e li m i t. A lth o u g h thi s w a s a j uv e ni l e a d j u d i c at i o n , th i s e v i d e n c e w a s a dm i s s i b l e fo r i mp e a c hm e n t p ur

p o s e s . S e e P a . 

### R. E v i d
. 6 0 9 ( a ) , ( d ) ; 4 2 P a . C
. S
. § 6 3 5 4 ( b )
. E v e n i f th i s e v i d e n c e i s c o n s i d e r e d t o b e m o r e th an t e n 

### (l 0 ) y e ar s o l d , th e p r o b at i v e v a l u e o f th i s e v i d e n c e s ub s t an t i a ll y
o utw e i g h e d any p r e

j u d i c i a l e ff

e c t. H a d d e fe n d ant t e s t i fi e d at tr i a l , h e w o u l d h av e b e e n s ub j e c t e d t o i mp e a c hm e n t l i k e any o th e r w i tn e s s . S e e C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . D o b ro le n ski

, 4 6 0 P a . 6 3 0 , 6 4 0 , 3 3 4 A. 2 d 2 6 8 , 2 7 3 ( 1 9 7 5 ) ( av o w i n g U ni t e d S t at e s S u p r e m e C o urt ' s ru l i n g i n B ro w n v . U n ite d S ta tes , 3 5 6 U. S
. 1 4 8 , l 5 4 M 1 5 5 (1 9 5 8 ) , th at i f a d e fe n d an t " t ak e s th e s t an d an d t e s t i fi e s i n hi s o w n d e fe n s e , h i s c r e d i b i l i ty m ay b e i mp e a c h e d an d h i s t e s t i m o ny a s s a i l e d li k e th at o f any o th e r w i tn e s s " )
. H o w e v e r , d e fe n d ant d e c i d e d t o n o t t e s t i f y at tr i a l. C o n s e qu e n t l y , hi s p ri o r c o nv i c t i o n w a s n o t
a dm i tt e d int o e v i d e n c e . A c c o r d i n g l y , d e fe n d an t c ann o t e s t ab l i s h p r e j u d i c e . T hu s , th i s c l a i m i s
m e ri tl e s s . D e fe n d ant a l s o c o n t e s t s th i s c o urt ' s d e ni a l o f h i s re qu e s t t o in s tru c t th e j ury o n v o l un t ar y
m an s l au g h t e r. I n r e v i e w i n g a tr i a l c o urt ' s r e fu s a l t o p ro v i d e a j ury i n s tru c t i o n , th e a p p e ll at e c o urt
r e v i e w s w h e th e r th e j ur y i n s tru c t i o n i s w ar

ran t e d b y th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d i n th e c a s e . C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . B a k e r , 9 6 3 A. 2 d 4 9 5 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 8 )
. Th e S u

p e ri o r C o urt h a s furth e r
e xp l a i n e d th at " [ i

j n e x am ini n g th e p ro p r i e ty o f th e i n s tru c t i o n s a tri a l c o urt p r e s e nt s t o a j ur y , o ur
s c o p e o fr e v i e w i s t o d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r th e tr i a l c o urt c o mm i tt e d a cl e ar a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n o r an e r ro r o f l aw w hi c h c o n tr o ll e d th e o ut c o m e o f th e c a s e . " C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . N ya n ku n A
. T

h o m a s , 9 0 4 A
. 2 d 9 6 4 , 9 7 0 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 6 )
. 

### In C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . K i m , 8 8 8 A. 2 d 8 4 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 5 ) , th e c o urt h e l d th at " a h o m i c i d e d e fe n d an t i s e n t i t l e d t o a j ury i n s tru c t i o n o n v o l unt ar y m an s l au g h t e r o n l y ' w h e r e th e o ff e n s e h a s b e e n m a d e an i s s u e i n th e c a s e an d w h e r e th e e v i d e n c e w o u l d r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o rt s u c h a v e r d i c t. ' " I d. at 8 5 2 ( qu o t i n g C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . F r e d e r i c k T h o m a s , 5 5 2 P a . 6 2 1 , 6 4 0 , 7 1 7 A
. 2 d 4 6 8 , 4 78
C o m m w. v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 2 3 o f 2 9

### (1 9 9 8 ) )
. T h e c r i m e o f v o ) unt ary m an s l au g h t e r " i nv o l v e s a ki lli n g i n a s u d d e n an d i n t e n s e p as s i o n
r e s u lt i n g fr o m a s e ri o u s p ro v o c at i o n o r an unr e a s o n ab l e b e l i e f i n s e l f
- d e fe n s e . " 

### C

o m m o n w e a lt

h
v . C o x , 5 4 6 P a . 5 1 5 , 5 3 9 , 6 8 6 A. 2 d 1 2 7 9 , 1 2 9 1 (1 9 9 6 )
. V o l unt ary m an s l au g h t e r " i s an a p p ro p ri at e v e r d i c t fo r ' h e at o f

p a s s i o n ' k ill i n g s , w h e r e , ' at th e t i m e o f th e k i lli n g , ( th e d e f

e n d an t ] a c t e d un d e r s u d d e n an d i nt e n s e p a s s i o n [ d u e t o ] s e r i o u s p ro v o c at i o n b y th e v i c t i m . ' " 

### K i m , 8 8 8 A. 2 d at 8 5 3 ( qu o t i n g 

### F

r e d e r i c k Th o m a s , 5 5 2 P a . at 6 4 0 , 7 1 7 A. 2 d at 4 77 )
. S p e c i fi c a ll y ; " h e at o f p a s s i o n " i n c l u d e s " e m o t i o n s s u c h a s an g e r , r a g e , s u d d e n r e s e ntm e n t o r t e r ro r , w h i c h r e n d e r s th e m i n d i n c a p a b l e o f' r e a s o n . " 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . S p e i g h t , 5 4 4 P a . 4 5 1 , 4 6 7 , 6 7 7 A
. 2 d 3 1 7 , 3 2 4
- 3 2 5 (1 9 9 6 ) , 

### a b rog a te d o n o t h e r g ro u n d s b y F r e e m a n . In 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . C o p e l a n d , 5 5 4 A,
. 2 d 5 4 , 5 7 (P a . S u p e r. 1 9 8 8 ) , th e c o urt e xp l a i n e d th at " [ t j h e p a s s i o n w h i c h w ill r e d u c e an un ] awf

u l k ill in g t o v o l un t ar y m an s l au g h t e r mu s t b e c au s e d b y l e g a ll y a d e qu at e p ro v o c at i o n . " T h e l aw " i s qu i t e e xp l i c i t th at th e d e t e rm i n at i o n o f w h e th e r a c e rt a i n qu an t

um o f p ro v o c at i o n i s s u ffi c i e nt t o s u p p o rt th e d e fe n s e o f v o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r i s p ur e l y an o b j e c t i v e s t an d ar d
. " 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . M c C u s k e r , 4 4 8 P a . 3 8 2 , 3 8 9 , 2 92 A. 2 d 2 8 6 , 2 8 9 (1 9 7 2 )
. 

### In d e t e rm i n i n g w h e th e r th e r e w a s s e r i o u s p ro v o c at i o n , o n e mu s t c o n s i d e r " ' w h e th e r a r e a s o n ab l e [p e r s o n ] c o n fro n t e d b y th e s am e s e r i e s o f
e v e n t s , w o u l d b e c o m e i mp a s s i o n e d t o th e e x t e n t th at h i s m in d w o u l d b e i n c a p a b l e o f c o o l
r e fl e c t i o n .' " 

### K

i m , 8 8 8 A
. 2 d at 8 5 3 ( qu o t i n g 

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

h v . G a llo w a

y , 4 8 5 A. 2 d 77 6 , 7 8 3 ( P a . S u p e r. 1 9 8 4 ) )
. T h i s c o urt d i d n o t a

b u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n d e ny i n g d e fe n d an t ' s r e qu e s t b e c au s e th e r e w a s n o e v i d e n c e t o r e a s o n ab l y s u p p o rt a v o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r v e r d i c t . 

### S e e C o m m o n w e a lth v. B o h o n

yi , 9 0 0 A. 2 d 8 7 7 , 8 8 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) ( qu o t i n g 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . Bu ksa , 6 5 5 A. 2 d 5 7 6 , 5 8 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 5 ) , w h i c h h e l d th at th e tri a l c o urt h a s n o o b l i g at i o n " t o i n s tru c t a j ur y u p o n l e g a l p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h h av e n o a p p l i c ab i l i ty t o th e p r e s e nt e d fa c t s " )
. 

### Co m m w . v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 2 4 o f 2 9

### T h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d at tr i a l d i d n o t e s t ab li s h th at d e fe n d ant a c t e d un d e r a s u d d e n an d

i n t e n s e p a s s i o n d

u e t o s e ri o u s p ro v o c at i o n b y th e v i c t i m . D e fe n d ant an s w e r e d C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n ' s a dv e rt i s e m e n t o ff

e ri n g e s c o rt s e rv i c e o n h e r i nt e rn e t w e b p a g e , an d arr an g e d t o m e e t h e r . Wh e n h e arr i v e d at h e r h o m e , s h e p e r fo rm e d o ra l s e x o n hi m . D e f e n d ant e xp r e s s e d i n t e r e s t i n h av i n g
v a g i n a l s e xu a l i n t e r c o ur s e w i th h e r , b ut s h e d e c l i n e d
. A ft e r s h e d e n i e d hi s r e qu e s t , h e d e m an d e d
m o n e y , an d p u ll e d o ut h i s g un w h e n M s . Jo hn s o n a s k e d h i m t o l e av e . H e th e n s h o t h e r i n th e fa c e b e fo r e s h o o t i n g h e r m o th e r , S t e p h an i e F r e e m an , i n th e h e a d
. T h e r e i s n o s u

p p o rt fo r th e ar g um e n t th at d e f e n d an t w a s s e r i o u s l y p ro v o k e d b y th e v i c t i m . In 

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

h v . B u s a n e t

, 6 1 8 P a . 1 , 3 4 , 5 4 A. 3 d 3 5 , 5 5 ( 2 0 1 2 ) , th e c o urt e xp l a i n e d th at " b o th p a s s i o n an d p ro v o c at i o n mu s t b e e s t ab l i s h e d " b e fo r e a ki lli n g i s c o n s i d e r e d v o l un t ary
m an s l au g h t e r . D e fe n d an t m ay w e ll h av e b e e n u p s e t th at C hr i s s y J o hn s o n r e j e c t e d hi s d e m an d fo r
v a g i n a l s e xu a l i nt e r c o ur s e . H e m ay h av e a l s o fe lt b e tray e d b y C hr i s s y Jo hn s o n ' s a ll e g e d d e c e i t
r e g ar d i n g h e r g e n d e r i d e n t i ty . H o w e v e r , th e r e i s n o b a s i s fo r c o n c l u d i n g th at s u c h m i n o r i n d i g n i t i e s ro s e t o th e l e v el o f p ro v o c at i o n n e c e s s ary t o r e qu i r e a j ur y i n s tru c t i o n o n v o l un t ar y
m an s l au g h t e r. 

### S

e e, e . g. , C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . M a rt i n , 6 0 7 P a . 1 6 5 , 5 A .3 d 1 7 7 ( 2 0 1 0 ) ( c o n cl u d i n g th at th e d e c e d e n t ' s s e xu a l a dv an c e s t o w ar d th e d e fe n d an t m ay h av e tri g g e r e d th e d e fe n d an t ' s p o s t traum at i c fl a s hb a c k o f c h il dh o o d s e xu a l a b u s e , b ut 

### it d i d n o t r e n d e r d e fe n d an t in c a p a b l e o f c o o l
r e fl e c t i o n ) ; 

### C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v. H u tc h i n s o n , 6 1 1 P a . 2 8 0 , 2 5 A .3 d 2 7 7 ( 2 0 1 1 ) ( h o l d i n g th at th e d e fe n d ant w a s n o t s u ffi c i e ntl y p ro v o k e d i nt o h e at o f p a s s i o n b y ar g um e nt w i th v i c t i m o c c urri n g


### s h o rt l y b e fo r e mur d e r o r b y o th e r s e ri o u s i s s u e s i n r el at i o n s h i p ) ; 

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

h v . S a n c h e z , 6 2 3 P a . 2 5 3 , 3 1 5 , 8 2 A .3 d 9 4 3 , 9 8 0 ( 2 0 1 3 ) , 

### c e r t . 

### d e n ied, 1 3 5 S
. C t . 1 5 4 ( 2 0 1 4 ) ( c o n cl u d i n g th at th e d e fe n d an t w a s n o t s e ri o u s l y p ro v o k e d w h e n th e r e w a s n o g un i n 

### th e d e c e d e n t ' s p o s s e s s i o n an d
w h e n th e d e fe n d an t " c o u l d h av e s i mp l y r e tr e at e d " fr o m th e s i t u ati o n )
. l n s t e a d o f l e av i n g th e


### C o m m w. v . Jib re ll L e w i

s P a g e 2 5 o f 2 9p r e m i s e s l i k e a r e a s o n ab l e p e r s o n w o u l d h av e d o n e i n th i s s i t u at i o n ) d e fe n d an t r e s o rt e d t o v i o l e n c e . H e s h o t C hri s s y Jo hn s o n i n h e r fa c e , c au s in g p e rm an e n t in j ur y . H e a l s o s h o t S t e p h ani e F r e e m an i n h e r h e a d , ki lli n g h e r. C l e ar l y , th e e v i d e n c e d o e s n o t e s t ab li s h th at a r e a s o n ab l e p e r s o n
c o n fr o n t e d w i th th e s e c i r c um s t an c e s w o u l d h av e b e c o m e s o i mp a s s i o n e d th at h e w o u l d h av e b e e n i n c a p ab l e o f c o o l r e fl e c t i o n . R ath e r , th e e v i d e n c e c l e arl y s h o w e d th at d e fe n d an t c o mm i tt e d fi r s t - d e gr e e mur d e r , i n s t e a d
o f v o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r , a s h e p o s s e s s e d m a l i c e an d th e s p e c i fi c i n t e n t t o k ill th e d e c e d e nt. S e e C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . B u t le r

, 4 4 6 P a . 3 7 4 , 3 7 8 , 2 8 8 A
. 2 d 8 0 0 , 8 0 2 ( 1 9 72 ) ( r e i t e rat i n g th at " i t h a s l o n g b e e n th e l aw th at th e u s e o f a d e a d l y i n s trum e n t o n a v i t a l p art o f th e b o dy i s s u ffi c i e nt t o e s t ab li s h th e s p e c i fi c i nt e n t t o k i ll " ) ; C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v. D av i

s , 4 7 9 A. 2 d 10 7 7 , 10 8 0 ( P a . S u p e r. 1 9 8 4 ) ( ru li n g th at " [ a ] n i n t e n t t o k i ll c an b e f o rm e d i n a fr a c t i o n o f a s e c o n d " b e c au s e " [ a ] ll th at i s
r e qu i r e d i s a c o n s ci o u s , fu ll y fo rm e d i n t e n t t o b r i n g a b o ut th e d e ath o f an o th e r " )
. S e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . P i r e l

a , 5 10 P a . 4 3 , 5 1 , 5 0 7 A. 2 d 2 3 , 2 7 (1 9 8 6 ) ( qu o t i n g C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . Be rr y , 4 6 1 P a . 2 3 3 , 2 3 7 , 3 3 6 A : 2 d 2 6 2 , 2 6 4 (1 9 7 5 ) , w h i c h n o t e d th at v o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r " ' i s
a c o n c e s s i o n t o th e in firm i ty o f hum an n at

ur e , n o t an e x c u s e fo r un d u e o r a b n o rm a l i ra s c i b il i ty ' " )
. 

### In li g h t o f th e s e fa c t s , a v o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r j ur y i n s trn c t i o n w a s n o t w arran t e d , S e e S p e i g h t ( h o l d i n g th at tri a l c o urt d i d n o t e rr i n d e ny i n g r e qu e s t fo r v o l un t ar y m an s l au g h t e r h e at o f p a s s i o n i n s tru c t i o n b e c au s e th e r e w a s n o e v i d e n c e th at th e d e fe n d an t a c t e d un d e r h e at o f p a s s i o n o r th at k ill in g r e s u l t e d fr o m s e r i o u s p ro v o c at i o n b y th e v i c t i m ) ; C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . A rr i ngto n , 6 2 4 P a . 5 0 6 , 8 6 A. 3 d 8 3 1 ( P a . 2 0 1 4 ) ( u p h o l d in g tr i a l c o urt ' s d e ni a l o f v o l unt ary m an s l au g h t e r h e at o fp a s s i o n i n s tr u c t i o n b e c au s e e v i d e n c e p ro v i d e d th at th e d e f e n d an t i nt e n t i o n a ll y k i ll e d v i c t i m b y s h o o t i n g h e r i n a v i t a l ar e a o f th e b o dy )
.

C o m m w. v . Ji b re l l L e w i

s P a g e 2 6 o f 2 9

### D e fe n d ant ' s n e x t cl a i m i s th at th i s c o urt e r r e d i n d e ny i n g h i s r e qu e s t fo r a j ury i n s tru c t i o n o n i nv o l unt ar

y m an s l au g h t e r . I n C

o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . C h a m b e r s , 

### 5 4 6 P a . 3 7 0 , 3 8 2 , 6 8 5 A .2 d 9 6 , 1 0 2 (1 9 9 6 ) , th e c o urt h e l d th at " [ t ] h e tr i a l c o urt h a s b ro a d d i s c r e t i o n i n p hr a s i n g j ur y i n s tru c t i o n s , an d m ay c h o o s e it s o w n w o r d i n g [
. ] " T h e S u p e r i o r C o urt h a s a l s o e xp l a i n e d th at " [ i ] n e x ami n i n g th e p ro p r i e ty o f th e i n s tru c t i o n s a tri a l c o urt p r e s e nt s t o a j ur y , [ it s ] s c o p e o fr e v i e w i s t o d e t e rm i n e wh e th e r th e tr i a l c o urt c o mm i tt e d a cl e ar a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n o r an e r ro r o f l aw wh i c h c o ntro ll e d th e o ut c o m e o f th e c a s e . " N y a n ku n A
. T

h o m a s , 

### 9 0 4 A. 2 d at 97 0
. A d d i t i o n a ll y , an a p p e ll at e c o urt
w ill n o t fi n d e r

ro r " w h e r e th e c o urt fa il s t o u s e th e s p e c i fi c l an g u a g e r e qu e s t e d b y th e a c c u s e d , b ut rath e r o n l y wh e r e th e a

p p li c ab l e l aw i s n o t a d e qu at e l y , a c c urat e l y an d c l e arl y c o mmun i c at e d t o th e j ury . " C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . L e b e r

, 

### 8 0 2 A. 2 d 6 4 8 , 6 5 1 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 2 )
. I n r e v i e w i n g a tr i a l c o urt ' s r e fu s a l t o p r o v i d e a j ur

y i n s tru c t i o n , th e a

p p e ll at e c o urt r e v i e w s wh e th e r th e j ur y i n s tru c t i o n i s w an- an t e d b y th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e nt e d i n th e c a s e . ' C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . B a k e r , 

### 9 6 3 A. 2 d 4 9 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 8 )
. I n d e e d , a tr i a l c o urt h a s n o o b l i g at i o n " t o i n s tru c t a j ury u p o n l e g a l p ri n c i p l e s w h i c h h av e n o a p p l i c ab il i ty t o th e p r e s e nt e d fa c t s . " C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . B o h o n

yi, 

### 9 0 0 A. 2 d 8 7 7 , 8 8 3 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 6 ) ( qu o t i n g C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . Bu ks a , 

### 6 5 5 A. 2 d 5 7 6 , 5 8 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 5 ) )
. I n C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v . F le tc h e r , 

### 6 0 4 P a . 4 9 3 , 5 4 4 , 9 8 6 A
. 2 d 7 5 9 , 7 9 1 ( 2 0 0 9 ) , th e c o urt h e l d th at " [ i j nv o l unt ary m an s l au g h t e r i s d e fi n e d a s a k i lli n g th at o c c ur s wh e n , ' a s a d i r e c t r e s u l t o f th e d o i n g o f an unl aw fu l a c t i 1 1 a r e c k l e s s or g r o s s l y n e g li g e nt m ann e r , [ th e d e fe n d ant ] c au s e s th e d e ath
o f an o th e r p e r s o n . '
. . . . A n i n s tr u c t i o n o n inv o l unt ar

y m an s l au g h t e r i s n o t r e qu i r e d un l e s s i t h a s b e e n m a d e an i s s u e i n th e c a s e an d th e fa c t s w o u l d s u p p o rt s u c h a v e r d i c t. ' ' I

d. 

### ( c i t i n g 1 8 P a . C
. S
. § 2 5 0 4 ( a ) )
. S

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

h 

### v . S o lt i s , 

### 6 8 7 A. 2 d 1 1 3 9 , 1 1 4 1 ( P a . S u p e r. 1 9 9 6 ) ( h o l d i n g th at

" [ a j b s e nt s o m e e v i d e n c e i n th e r e c o r d s h o w i n g th at th e [ v i c t i m ' s ] d e ath w a s an a c c i d e n t c au s e d b y [ th e d e fe n d an t ' s ] e x tr e m e c ar e l e s s n e s s , [ th e d e fe n d ant ] i s n o t e n t i t l e d t o an i nv o l unt ar y
Co m m w. v . Ji b re ll L e w i

s 

### P a g e 2 7 o f 2 9

### m an s l au g h t e r i n s tru c t i o n " )
. 

### In th i s c a s e , th e r e w a s n o c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o rt th e c o n cl u s i o n th at th e k i lli n g w a s a c c i d e nt a l o r th at i t r e s u lt e d fr o m d e fe n d ant a c t i n g i n a r e c kl e s s o r g ro s s l y
n e g l i g e n t m ann e r . I n s t e a d , a s e v i d e n c e d b y th e j ury ' s v e r d i c t , d e fe n d ant p o s s e s s e d th e s p e ci fi c i nt e nt t o k ill S t e p h an i e F r e e m an , w h i c h w arrant e d h i s fi r s t - d e gr e e mur d e r c o nv i c t i o n . B e c au s e th e e v i d e n c e d i d n o t s u

p p o rt an i nv o l un t ary m an s l au g h t e r v e r d i c t , th i s c o urt d i d n o t e rr i n d e ny i n g d e fe n d ant ' s r e qu e s t f

o r an i n s tru c t i o n o n th i s o ff e n s e . T hu s , d e fe n d an t ' s cl a i m i s m e r i tl e s s . D e fe n d ant ' s fi n a l a ll e g at i o n i s th at th i s c o urt e rr e d i n d e ny i n g h i s p o s t - s e nt e n c e m o t i o n . S p e ci fi c a ll y , d e fe n d an t c l a i m s th at th i s c o urt e r r e d i n d e ny i n g h i s r e qu e s t fo r r e li e f o n th e b a s i s th at th e g u il ty v e r d i c t t o th e c h ar g e o f fir s t - d e g r e e mur d e r w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e . A n e w tr i a l w ill b e g r an t e d o n th i s b a s i s " ' o n l y w h e n th e j ur y ' s v e r d i c t i s s o c o ntrar y t o th e e v i d e n c e a s t o s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e . ' " C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . V a n lu v n e r, 

### 5 9 9 P a . 6 1 7 , 6 3 0 , 9 6 2 A. 2 d 1 1 7 0 , 1 1 77 ( 2 0 0 9 ) ( qu o t i n g C o m m o n w e a lt

h 

### v . C o u s a r , 

### 5 9 3 P a . 2 0 4 , 2 2 2 , 9 2 8 A .2 d 1 0 2 5 , 1 0 3 6 ( 2 0 0 7 ) )
. I n r e v i e w i n g w h e th e r th e v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e , th e tr i a l
c o urt mu s t e x e r c i s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n d e t e rm i n i n g w h e th e r " ' c e rt a i n fa c t s ar e s o cl e ar l y o f g r e at e r
w e i g h t th at t o i g n o r e th e m o r t o g i v e th e m e qu a l w e i g h t w i th a ll th e fa c t s i s t o d e ny j u s t i c e . ' " C o m m o n w e a lt

h 

### v . W i d m e r , 

### 5 6 0 P a . 3 0 8 , 3 2 0 , 7 4 4 A. 2 d 7 4 5 , 7 5 2 ( 2 0 0 0 ) ( qu o t i n g T h o m p s o n 

### v . Ph i l a d e l p h i a , 

### 5 0 7 P a . 5 92 , 6 0 1 , 4 9 3 A
. 2 d 6 6 9 , 6 7 4 (1 9 8 5 ) )
. T h e a p p e ll at e c o urt ' s r e v i e w " i s li m i t e d t o w h e th e r th e tr i a l j u d g e ' s d i s c r e t i o n w a s p r o p e rl y e x e r ci s e d , an d r e li e f w ill o n l y b e g rant e d w h e r e th e fa c t s an d i n fe r e n c e s o f r e c o r d d i s c l o s e a p a l p ab l e a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n . " C o m m o n w e a l t

h 

### v. D i g g s , 

### 5 9 7 P a . 2 8 , 3 9 , 9 4 9 A .2 d 8 7 3 , 8 7 9 ( 2 0 0 8 )
. I n th i s c a s e , d e fe n d ant h a s
n o t h i g h l i gh t e d any e v i d e n c e th at s h o u l d h av e b e e n g i v e n g r e at e r , l e s s e r , o r e qu a l w e i g h t th an th e e v i d e n c e th at w a s i n tro d

u c e d at tr i a l. M or e o v e r , th e j ury r e a c h e d i t s v e r d i c t a ft e r d u l y c o n s i d e r i n g a ll r e l e v ant an d p ro p e rl y a dm i tt e d e v i d e n c e . C o n s e qu e ntl y , d e fe n d an t ' s c l a i m th at th e v e r d i c t w a s
C o m m w. v . Jlb re l l L e w i

s 

### P a g e 2 8 o f 2 9

### a g a i n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e h a s n o m e r i t. T hu s , th i s c o urt d i d n o t a b u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n d e ny i n g d e fe n d ant ' s p o s t - s e n t e n c e m o t i o n . A c c o r d i n g l y , 

### i n l i g h t o f th e fo r e g o i n g , th e j u d g m e n t o f s e nt e n c e s h o u l d b e 

### AF F I RM E D
. B Y T HE C O U R T , � � 

### � d , J
.

C o m m w . v . Ji b re ll L e w i

s P a g e 2 9 o f 

### 2 9