### J - S83037 - 18

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

v. SHAUN C. FAIRMAN,

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

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 999 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered May 23, 2013 in the Court of Common Pleas of Indiana County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 32 - CR - 0001275 - 2012 BEFORE: PANELLA, J., SHOGAN, J., and MUSMANNO, J. MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 28, 2019 Shaun C. Fairman (“Fairman”) appeals from the judgment of sentence 1 

### imposed following his convictions of second - degree murder 2 

### and burglary. 3 

### We affirm.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### Fairman purports to appeal from the June 19, 2018 Order denying his nunc pro tunc Post - Sentence Motion. “However, a direct appeal in a criminal case can only lie from the judgment of sentence.” Commonwealth v. Lawrence , 99 A.3d 116, 117 n.1 (Pa. Super. 2014).
2 

### 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(b).
3 

### 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(a). We note that the offe nse of burglary occurs where, inter alia , a person enters an occupied building or structure “ with the intent to commit a crime therein. ” Id. (emphasis added). Fairman contends that he lacked such an intent, as he intended to commit suicide, not a crime.

### J - S83037 - 18

- 2 -

In its Opinion, the trial court set forth the rele vant factual and procedural history, which we adopt for the purpose of this appeal. See Trial Court Opinion, 6/19/ 18, at 1 - 3. 4 

### On appeal, Fairman contends that his convictions of second - degree were clearly against the weight of the evidence presented at trial . Brief for Appellant at 24. Specifically, he argues that the second - degree murder conviction cannot stand , because such a murder must be committed in the perpe tration of a felony and the weight of the evidence goes against his conviction of burgla ry (a felony) . Id. at 25 - 31 ; see also footnote 3, supra . Notably, Fairman’s brief fails to highlight a single example of testimony or evidence that would support his claim. Rather, he relies on bald assertions that “the evidence clearly shows that [he] was intent upon killing himsel f ... as individuals were deeply concerned for [his] well - being , ” and that “material witnesses testified that he was drunk.” Brief for Appellant at 2 8 - 2 9.

[W] here the trial court has ruled on the weight claim below, an ap pellate court’s role is not to consider the underlying question of whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence . Rather, appellate review is limited to whether the trial court palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the weight claim.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 4 

### Fairman filed a timely Notice of Appeal and a Concise Statement pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). By Order dated September 5 , 2018, the trial court adopted its June 19, 2018 Op inion as its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) O pinion.

### J - S83037 - 18

- 3 -

Com monwealth v. Rabold , 920 A.2 d 857, 860 - 61 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations and quotat i ons om itted) (emphasis added) .

An abuse of discretion is not merely an error of judgment , but is rather the overriding or misapplication of the law, or the exercise of judgment that is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of bias, prejudice, ill - will[,] or partiality, as shown by the evidence or the record . Commonwealth v. Bullock , 170 A.3d 1109, 1117 (Pa. Super. 2017). Ascribing weight to the evidence presented at tr ial is solely within the province of the finder of fact, which is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence presented and to determine the credibility of the witnesses. Rabold , 920 A.2d at 860 - 61 (Pa. Super. 2007). “It is not for this Court to o verturn the credibility dete rminations of the fact - finder.” Commonwealth v. Blackham , 909 A.2d 315, 320 (Pa. Super. 2006 ) (citations omitted). F airman’s appeal is predicated entirely on the credibility of testimony . See Brief for Appellant at 24 - 31. Because credibility is the only basis of Fairman’s appeal, to find an abuse of discretion would require that this Court improperly substitute its own credibility determination for that of the fact finder . Thus, discerning no abuse of discretion by the tri al court, we affirm Fairman’s judgment of sentence . Judgment of sentence affirmed.

### J - S83037 - 18

- 4 -

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 2/28/2019Circulated 01/28/2019 04:35 PM

T h i s m att e r i s b e fo r e th e C o urt o n D e fe n d ant S h aun C
. F a i rm an ' s P o s t - S e nt e n c e M o t i o n

A t th at t i m e , J e s s i c a F a i rm an h a d an a c t i v e P ro t e c t i o n F ro m Ab u s e ( P F A ) o r d e r a g ai n s t I N T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S IN D I AN A C O U N T Y , P E N N S Y L V AN I A
N O . 1 2 7 5 C RI M 2 0 1 2

O P I N I O N A N D O RD E R O F C O U R T D e fe n d a n t. v s

D e fe n d an t ' s c o nv i c t i o n r e s u lt e d fr o m e v e n t s l at e 

### in th e e v e nin g o f Jun e 2 , 2 0 1 2 , wh e n

D e fe n d an t an d h a d r e c e n t l y fil e d fo r d i v o r c e . Wh e n D e fe n d an t r e t urn e d t o th e m ari t a l

Up o n D e fe n d an t' s arr i v a l , h e w a s h i g hl y i nt o x i c at e d an d p ro c e e d e d t o a p p ro a c h th e h o u s e , 

### res i d e n c e, J es s ic a F a i r m an ' s p ar e n t s , Ri c h ar d E. 

### S

h o tt s an d C an d i c e 

### S

h o tt s, w e r e 

### al s o p r e s e nt. P e nn s y l v ani a .

h e w e nt t o h i s fo rm e r m ar i t al r e s i d e n c e w h e r e h i s e s tran g e d w i fe , J e s s i c a F a i rm an , s t ill r e s i d e d
. MA R T I N , P . J .

p ur s u ant t o th e P o s t - C o nv i c t i o n C o ll at e ra l R e li e f A c t ( P C RA ) fr o m th e S u p e r i o r C o urt o f S H A U N C. F A I RM A N ,



### fo ll o w in g th e r

e m an d 

### o f th e Ap p ea l o f



### h i s P e t i t i o n fo r P o s t - C o nv i c t i o n C o l l at e r a l R e l i e f ! l f r

. \ j j i

' I I ' l 

### l l i 

## l l \ ! C O M M O N W E AL T H O F : I ! i P E N N S Y L V AN I A I ; I ! ! l ! ! 

## : I I

. I\ 1 

## I l 

### : I 

# I I I • 

### I i 1 1 I i 1 1 

## I 1 ! i ' l 

# i 

# ! I ' I I I i 

### ! t 

### ( 1 ' 

# I i

' I 1 1 : l i ' [ i 1 1 

# · I ! i I , 1 1 1 1
1 \ 1 1

I ( 

# I p o un d o n th e ki t c h e n d o o r , an d d e m an d t o s e e h i s w i fe
. Wh e n th i s o c c urr e d , a c o n fr o nt at i o n
e n s u e d b e tw e e n D e fe n d ant an d Ri c h ar d S h o tt s , wh o d e n i e d D e fe n d ant e n try i nt o th e h o m e . A ft e r Ri c h ar d S h o tt s d e n i e d h i m e ntr y , D e fe n d ant att e mp t e d t o fo r c e h i s w ay i nt o th e h o m e an d fi r e d a g un i n t o th e k i t c h e n d o o r. F o ll o w i n g th at un s u c c e s s fu l att e mp t at e n try , D e fe n d an t fi r e d thr o u g h th e k i t c h e n w i n d o w , fat a ll y s tr i k i n g R i c h ar d S h o tt s , an d th e n g ai n e d e ntr y v i a th e

1< I L i f ' i
· 1 1 l l ; I i I\ 

## I ! l I 

### i !

. I I , I ' 

### l : 1 1 i ! 

### i 1 1 

# I ! I i

. 1 

# I I 

### 1) 

### l I ! ! 

# ll 1 1 

# l I i 

## I 

# I ' I b ro k e n w i n d o w . O n c e i n s i d e , D e fe n d ant w e nt u p s t a i r s an d w a s s h o t tw i c e i n th e s h o u l d e r b y hi s e s tr an g e d 

### w

ife , wh o th e n ca l l e d th e 

### P e nn s y lv a n i a S t at e 

### P o l i ce . O n Ap r i l 2 5 , 2 0 13 , fo ll o w i n g a j ur y tr i a l , D e fe n d ant w a s c o nv i c t e d o fth e o ff e n s e s o f M ur d e r o f th e S e c o n d D e gr e e ; B ur g l ar y , an d tw o c o unt s o f A g g rav at e d A s s au l t. O n M ay 2 8 , 2 0 13 , h e w a s s e nt e n c e d t o i n c ar c e rat i o n fo r th e r e s t o f h i s n atura l l i fe w i th o ut p aro l e fo r th e
o ff e n s e o f M ur d e r o f th e S e c o n d D e g r e e . D e fe n d ant fi l e d h i s o r i g i n a l P C RA P e t i t i o n o n F e b ru ary 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 , a ft e r w h i c h c o urt a p p o i nt e d c o un s e l fi l e d an am e n d e d P e t i t i o n o n J anu ary 4 , 2 0 1 6
. I n th e P e t i t i o n , D e fe n d ant
ar gu e d 

### th at h i

s tr i a l c o u n s e l w a s i n e

ff ec ti v e 

### fo r : (1

) fa i l i n g to 

### fi le an o mn i b u s p re tri a l m o t i o n to
s u p p r e s s h i s s t at e m e nt s t o p o li c e w h i l e h e w a s i nt o x i c at e d an d s u ff e r i n g fr o m tw o b u ll e t
w o un d s ; ( 2 ) f

ai li n g t o ar g u e s p e ci fi c c a s e l aw w h e n P e t i t i o n e r ' s p l e a a g r e e m e nt w a s r e j e c t e d ;
an d ( 3 ) fa i li n g t o ar g u e th at th e c o nv i c t i o n s fo r mur d e r o f th e s e c o n d d e g r e e an d b ur g l ar y w e r e
a g ai n s t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e . A h e ari n g o n th e m att e r w a s h e l d o n Ju l y 6 , 2 0 1 6 , an d o n N o v e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 , thi s C o urt e nt e r e d an O p i n i o n an d O r d e r r e i n s t at i n g D e fe n d an t' s d i r e c t
a p p e ll at e r i g h t s b e c au s e h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e t i m e l y n o t i c e o f th e s t at u s o f h i s a

p p e a l fr o m h i s


### a p p e ll at e c o un s el
. O n N o v e mb e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , D e fe n d ant fil e d a N o t i c e o f Ap p e a l an d i n h i s C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l ra i s e d s i m i l ar ar g um e nt s t o th o s e c o nt a i n e d i n th e P C RA P e t i t i o n . 

### In an O p i n i o n i s s u e d o n D e c e mb e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 , th e S u p e r i o r C o urt d e cl i n e d t o a d dr e s s th e w e i g h t o fth e e v i d e n c e cl a i m b e c au s e th at cl a i m w a s n e v e r p r e s e nt e d t o th e tr i a l
c o urt i n th e fo rm o f a p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n . Wh e n a p p e ll at e r i g h t s ar e r e s t o r e d , i t d o e s n o t s e rv e a s
an aut o m at i c r i g h t t o fil e p o s t - s e nt e n c e m o t i o n s . C o mm o nw e a lth v . L i s t o n , 9 7 7 A. 2 d 1 0 8 9 , 1 0 9 3 ( P a . 2 0 0 9 )
. A lth o u g h th i s C o urt r e s t o r e d D e fe n d ant ' s d i r e c t a :Q P. li H A � ti;i ! h t s , i t d i d n o t 

# J t p l 11 4 6 I ft 

### l 11 lU 

### s 1 � n o :> :J O ) U l . 

# JJ3 . 2 a u 1 4 · . 

## J.. U WJ. t.lN O H l • . '-' Cl 

# g ' X u i n o a ,\ W � l Utl\t o r e v i e w .

cl a i m , p r e s um ab l y o n th e s am e g ro un d s . H av i n g s e t fo rth th e s e r e a s o n s , th e S u p e r i o r C o urt v a c at e d th i s C o urt ' s O r d e r o f s t at e m e n t s h e m a d e w hi l e i nt o x i c at e d an d i n j ur e d
. A s a r e s u l t o f th e r e i n s t at e m e nt o f T h e S u p e r i o r C o urt , b a s e d o n a l a c k o f j ur i s d i c t i o n , al s o d e cl i n e d t o c o n s i d e r th e m e r i t s

th e S u p e ri o r 

### C o u rt
. T h e S u p e ri o r C o urt 

### di d n o t a d

d res s th e o th e r 

### i n e

ff e c ti v e n es s o f

c o un s e l C o urt c o ul d n o t p ro p e rl y c o n s i d e r th e P C RA P e t i t i o n o n i t s m e ri t s , an d i n t urn , n e i th e r c o u l d

N o v e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 , an d r e m an d e d i t fo r cl ar i fi c at i o n o n w h e th e r th e r e w a s an i nt e nt t o r e s t o r e D e fe n d ant ' s a

p p e ll at e r i g h t s , th e j u d g m e nt o f h i s s e nt e n c e i s n o l o n g e r fi n a l , th e r e fo r e , th i s o fD e fe n d an t' s cl a i m th at tr i a l c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa i l i n g t o fi l e a m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s i I } 

### I i · 

### i 1 1 ,
\ I I 

## I j I I i 

# I I\ j l ' ! I ' i e xp l i c i t l y s t at e w h e th e r i t i nt e n d e d t o r e s t o r e h i s r i g h t t o fi l e a p o s t - s e nt e n c e m o t i o n . Ab s e nt a j ' 

### 1 1 d e t e rm i nati o n at th e tri a l c o urt l e v el, th e S u p er i o r C o urt exp la i n ed th at i t 

### w as w i th o ut a d ec i s i o n 

# I i 

### I 

## ! j ' I 

### ! 

## I 

# I I ! , ! 

# I 

# l f ! i 1 1 I I 

## I i 

# !I 1 1 

### ! 

# I I I 

# !I 1 1 1 1 

# I I : D e fe n d an t ' s r i g h t t o fi l e a p o s t - tr i a l m o t i o n o n th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e cl a i m . O n Janu ar y 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 , th i s C o urt o r d e r e d th e fi l i n g o f a p o s t - tr i a l m o t i o n w i th i n th irty d ay s , t o w h i c h D e fe n d ant t i m el y r e s p o n d e d
. O n M ar c h 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 , a h e ar i n g w a s h e l d o n th e p o s t - tr i a l m o t i o n , a ft e r w hi c h th e p art

ies s ub mi tt e d b ri e f

s o n th e w e i g h t o f

th e e v i d e n c e i s s u e .

" T h e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e i s e x cl u s i v e l y fo r th e fi n d e r o f fa c t w h o i s fr e e t o b e l i e v e al l , p art , o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e an d t o d e t e rm i n e th e c r e d i b i l i ty o fth e w i tn e s s e s . " C o mm o nw e a l th v . C h amp n e y , 8 3 2 A. 2 d 4 0 3 , 4 0 8 ( P a . 2 0 0 3 )
. " A m o t i o n fo r n e w tr i a l o n th e g ro un d s th at th e v e r d i c t i s c o ntr ar y t o th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e , c o n c e d e s th at th e r e i s
s u ffi c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u s t a i n th e v e r d i c t. T hu s , th e tr i a l c o urt i s un d e r n o o b l i g at i o n t o v i e w th e e v i d e n c e i n th e li g h t m o s t fav o r ab l e t o th e v e r d i c t w i nn e r. " C o mm o nw e a l th v . W i dm e r ,

3 

### 74 4 A 2 d 7 4 5 , 

### 7 5 1 ( P a . 2 0 0 0 )
. Wh i l e a d e fe n d ant 

# a d 1g � s : t i.i i e g ; � nr 1 m ze x i s t s , th e

. '
. 

# . · s n m o � 3 0 

# ) n 1 3 1 a . il tt. Y : 'A 

## i v 1 . Q N O. rl l g � c



### · x 1 N n 0 : 9 ' .., H Vt Qti UI ' ' I 

### ' f ( : I i I i ! : ! i 

## I ! 

## I i I , I ' i I 

### I i i I 

### i I 

### ! ! l 

### i 

# I 

# I
t 

# I i 

## q 1 1 

### 1 1 

# I

' I 1 1 

## \ I
' I 1 , I i 1 1 1 , 

### 1 1 I t 

# i 

# I I I I ! 

## i ( d e fe n d ant qu e s t i o n s whi c h e v i d e n c e s h o u l d b e b e li e v e d ; e ff e c t i v e l y th e w e i g h t t o b e g i v e n t o t e s t i m o ni al e v i d e n c e . Armb ru s t e r v . H o ro w i tz , 7 4 4 A. 2 d 2 8 5 , 2 8 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 9 )
. T h i s d e t e rm i n at i o n r e qu i r e s an a s s e s s m e nt o f th e c r e d i b i l i ty o f wi tn e s s e s . I d
.



### " A n e w tr i a l s h o u l d n o t b e g r ant e d b e c au s e o f a m e r e c o n fl i c t i n th e t e s t i m o ny o r b e c au s e th e j u d g e o n th e s am e fa c t s w o u l d h av e ar r i v e d at a d i ff

e r e n t c o n cl u s i o n . A tr i a l j u d g e
mu s t d o m o r e th an r e a s s e s s th e c r e d i b i l i ty o f th e w i tn e s s e s an d a ll e g e th at h e w o u l d n o t h av e
as s e nt e d t o th e v e r d i c t i f h e w e r e a j uro r. T r i a l j u d g e s , i n r e vi e w i n g a cl a i m th at th e v e r d i c t i s
a g ai ns t th e w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e d o n o t s i t a s th e th i rt e e nth j ur o r . R ath e r , th e ro l e o fth e tr i a l j u d g e 

### i s t o d e t e rm in e th at " n o tw i th s t an d i n g a ll th e fa c t s , c e rt a i n fa c t s ar e s o 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 gh t wi th a ll th e fa c t s i s t o d e ny j u s t i c e . " W i dm e r at 7 5 1 ( C i t i n g T h o mp s o n v . C i ty o f P h i l a d e l p hi a , 4 9 3 A. 2 d 6 6 9 , 6 7 3 ( P a . 1 9 8 5 )
. A ft e r
r e v i e wi n g a w e i g h t o f th e e v i d e n c e c l ai m , " a n e w tr i a l s h o ul d b e aw ar d e d w h e n th e j ur y ' s
v e r d i c t i s s o c o ntr ary 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 ti c e an d th e aw ar d o f a n e w tr i a l i s i mp e rat i v e s o th at r i g h t m ay b e g i v e n an o th e r o p p o rt un i ty t o p r e v a i l. " C o mm o nw e a l th

v . C l ay , 6 4 A. 3 d 10 4 9 , 1 0 5 5 ( P a . 2 0 13 ) ( Q u o t i n g C o mm o nw e al th v . B ro w n , 6 4 8 A. 2 d 1 1 77 , 1 1 8 9 ( P a . 1 9 9 4 ) )
. D e fe n d ant w a s c o nv i c t e d o f mur d e r o fth e s e c o n d d e g r e e , a c r i m i n al h o m i c i d e
c o mm i tt e d w h i l e a d e fe n d ant w a s e n g a g e d a s a p r i n c i p a l o r an a c c o mp l i c e i n th e p e rp e tr at i o n o f
a fe l o ny . 1 8 P a . C
. S
. A. § 2 5 0 2 ( b )
. T h e fe l o ny g i v i n g r i s e t o thi s c o nv i c t i o n w a s b ur g l ary , d e fi n e d b y s t atut e i n r e l e v ant p art a s fo ll o w s : A p e r s o n c o mm i t s th e o ff e n s e o f b ur g l ary i f

, w i th th e i nt e n t t o c o mm i t a c r i m e th e r e i n , th e p e r s o n : ( i i ) e nt e r s a b u il d i n g o r o c c u p i e d s tru c tur e , o r s e p arat e l y s e c ur e d o r o c c u p i e d p o rt i o n th e r e o fth at i s a d a p t e d fo r o v e rni g h t a c c o mm o d at i o n s i n w h i c h at th e t i m e o f th e o ff e n s e any p e r s o n i s p r e s e nt ; 

## l 'I : I Wd 6 1 N O r a . l O Z 1 8 P a . C
. S
. A. § 3 5 0 2 ( a ) (l ) ( i i )c o mm i t a c r i m e o r , a s h e ar g u e s , o nl y w i th th e i nt e nt t o c o mm i t s u i c i d e . T o s e c ur e a b ur g l ar

y c o nv i c t i o n , th e C o mm o nw e a l th i s n o t r e qu i r e d t o a ll e g e o r p ro v e



### It i s un d i s p ut e d th at D e fe n d an t h a d tw o l o a d e d fi r e arm s i n hi s p o s s e s s i o n an d m a d e a i s s u e o f D e fe n d an t' s b ur g l ary c o nv i c t i o n i s wh e th e r h e e nt e r e d th e h o m e w i th th e i nt e nt t o 

### . 

## ! I 

# I i I ' D e fe n d ant c o n c e d e s th at wh i l e h i s c o n d u c t w o u l d s u s t a i n a c o nv i c t i o n fo r mur d e r o f th e 

# I



# I

I 

# I I 

# l I I 1 

# I

1 0 9 2 , 1 0 9 5 ( P a . 1 9 9 4 )
. Whi l e e v i d e n c e o f fo r c e d e ntry d o e s n o t aut o m at i c a ll y g i v e ri s e t o an

o fth e c i r c um s t an c e s s urr o un d i n g th e i n c i d e nt
. A l s t o n at 10 9 4
. T h e i nt e nt m ay b e i n fe r r e d fr o m w o r d s o r a c t i o n s th at b e ar a r e a s o n ab l e r e l at i o n s h i p t o th e c o mm i s s i o n o f a c r i m e . I d
. th e p art i c u l ar c r i m e a d e fe n d ant i n t e n d e d t o c o mm i t. C o mm o nw e a l th v . A l s t o n , 6 5 1 A
. 2 d



### i nf e re n c e o f i n te n t to c o mm i t a c r i m e a ft e r e n tr y , 

### s u c h i n t e n t m ay b e in fe rr e d fr o m th e t o t a l i ty o f b ur g l ary , th e un d e rl y i n g f e l o ny , 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 t th e c o r e o fth e 

### 1 • J



# · : !

: I i : ! t ! I 

### l i ! 

### I l I I i ; I ) , l thir d d e g r e e , th e c o nv i c t i o n fo r mur d e r o f th e s e co n d d e g r e e 

### i s i mp ro pe r b e c au s e 

### h i

s c o n v i c ti o n I ' I ! 

### i 

# I 

# I i i ! 

### I 

# I I

' I 

## l I 1 1 I 

## I I 

### I 

# l\ I I 

# I I I I 

### l i 

# I 

# l I ! I / fo r c i b l e e ntr

y i nt o th e r e s i d e n c e b y fi r i n g i nt o a d o o r an d wi n d o w . A ft e r s tr i k i n g Ri c h ar d S h o tt s wh e n fi ri n g thr o u g h th e w i n d o w , D e fe n d ant p ro c e e d e d i nt o th e h o m e an d d i d n o t
att e mp t s u i c i d e a s h e cl a i m s h e i n t e n d e d t o , b ut s o u g h t o ut o th e r o c c u p ant s . T r i a l t e s t i m o ny i n d i c at e d 

### t

h a t D e fe n d ant h a d p r e v i o u s l y thr e at e n e d t o " t ak e c ar e o f ' Ri c h ar d S h o tt s s h o u l d J e s s i c a F a i rm an i n fo rm h im o f h e r o n g o i n g m ar i t a l p ro b l e m s w i th D e fe n d ant. ( T r i a l T r an s c r i p t p . 3 9 )
. D e fe n d ant h i m s e l f a l s o t e s t i fi e d at tr i a l th at h e w e nt t o th e h o u s e t o " s c ar e th e s h i t o ut
o f s o m e p e o p l e "
. ( T r i a l T r an s c r i p t p . 13 7 )
. Wh e n p r e s e n t e d w i th a ll o fth e e v i d e n c e , th e j ur o r s w e r e fr e e t o d e t e rm i n e wh at
e v i d e n c e th e y b el i e v e d an d w h i c h w i tn e s s e s w e r e c r e d i b l e . F r o m th e e v i d e n c e o f D e fe n d ant ' s fo r c i b l e e ntr

y an d th e fat a l w o un d i n g o f Ri c h ar d S h o tt s , j ur o r s c o u l d th e n furth e r i n fe r th at

5 D e fe n d an t i nt e n d e d t o c o mm i t a c r i m e b a s e d o n h i s p o s s e , � o il 

# o H l ( t 1 r ffi\tm d h i s o wn



# - s 1 i m o o .:1 0 -'> n ra 1 J . tr1 tj y · . · : " i 'f .L., Q N 9 � J } ! d



## · · ki. N f\ O O · · t ffV l Of

U

# I i
1 1 i 

## I : , I I ' I ! s t at e m e nt s . Jur o r s c o u l d a l s o i n f e r th at D e fe n d an t' s cl aim o f o n l y i nt e n d i n g t o c o mm i t s u i c i d e ! i 

### l i 

### i 

## I w as n o t 

### c re di b l e b e c au s e 

### h e h a d m u l ti p l e fi re a rm s an d n e v e r 

### m a d e s u c h an 

### a tte m

p t. F ro m tli e 1 1 

# I t o t al i ty o f th e c i r c um s t an c e s , th e j uro r s c o u l d p ro p e rl y i n fe r D e fe n d an t' s i nt e nt t o c o mm i t a I 

# I c r im e i n s i d e th e res i d e n c e . Fo r th e s e r e a s o n s , th e C o urt fin d s n o th i n g t o in d i c ate th at th e j ury ' s 

## I v e r d i c t w a s s o c o ntr ary t o th e e v i d e n c e th at i t " s h o c k s o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e " s o a s t o w arr ant a 1 1 

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

# I 

# I Wh e r e fo re , th e Co urt mak e s th e fo ll o wi n g O r d e r . I 

### i 

# I ) I ! 

# I ! 1 1 

# I 

# l 1 1 i j 

# I i 1 ' 

# I 

# I 

# I '

6