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____________________________________ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee v. CHRISTOPHER COTTLE

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

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 1425 EDA 2018 Appeal from the PCRA Order Apr il 26, 2018 In the Court of Comm on Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0000962 - 2008 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., STABILE, J., and COLINS*, J. MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.: FILED MARCH 22, 2019 Appellant, Christopher Cottle, appeals from the or der entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, which denied his first petition brought pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA” ), at 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541 - 9546. We affirm. In its opinion, the PCRA court fully and correctly sets forth the relevant facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no need to restate them. Procedurally, we add initial PCRA counsel filed a motion to withdraw as counsel on April 26, 2018, when the court stated on record it denied Appella nt PCRA relief. That same day, the PCRA court permitted counsel to withdraw and appointed new PCRA counsel. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal on May 16, 2018. The PCRA court ordered Appellant on May 21, 2018, to file a concise statement of error s complained of onJ - S10032 - 19

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appeal per Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b); Appellant complied on July 5, 2018, following an extension. Appellant raises two issues for our review: WHETHER THE [PCRA] C OURT ERRED IN DISMIS SING APPELLANT’S PETITION UNDER THE [PCRA] WI THOUT AN EVIDEN TIARY HEARING[?] WHETHER THE [PCRA] C OURT ERRED IN DISMIS SING APPELLANT’S AMENDED PETITION UNDER THE [ PCRA][?] (A ppellant’s Brief at 4). Our standard of review of the denial of a PCRA petition is limited to examining whether the evidence of record suppo rts the court ’ s determination and whether its decision is free of legal error. Commonwealth v. Conway , 14 A.3d 101, 109 (Pa.Super. 2011), appeal denied , 612 Pa. 687, 29 A.3d 795 (2011). This Court grants great deference to the findings of the PCRA court if the record contains any support for those findings. Commonwealth v. Boyd , 923 A.2d 513, 515 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied , 593 Pa. 754, 932 A.2d 74 (2007). We give no such deference, however, to the court ’ s legal conclusions. Commonwealth v. Ford , 44 A.3d 1190, 1194 (Pa.Super. 2012). Further, a petitioner is not entitled to a PCRA hearing as a matter of right; the PCRA court can decline to hold a hearing if there is no genuine issue concerning any material fact, the petitioner is not entitled to PC RA relief, and no purpose would be served by any further proceedings. Commonwealth v. Wah , 42 A.3d 335, 338 (Pa.Super. 2012) ; Pa.R.Crim.P. 907.J - S10032 - 19

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The law presumes counsel has rendered effective assistance. Commonwealth v. Williams , 597 Pa. 109, 950 A.2d 294 (2008). Under the traditional analysis, to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner bears the burden to prove his claims by a preponderance of the evidence. Commonwealth v. Turetsky , 925 A.2d 876 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied , 596 Pa. 707, 940 A.2d 365 (2007). The petitioner must demonstrate: (1) the underlying claim is of arguable merit; (2) counsel had no reasonable strategic basis for the asserted action or inaction; and (3) but for the errors and omissions of counse l, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceedings would have been different. Id. See also Commonwealth v. Kimball , 555 Pa. 299, 724 A.2d 326 (1999). “A reasonable probability is a probability that is sufficient to undermine confid ence in the outcome of the proceeding.” Commonwealth v. Spotz , 624 Pa. 4, 34, 84 A.3d 294, 312 (2014) (quoting Commonwealth v. Ali , 608 Pa. 71, 86 - 87, 10 A.3d 282, 291 (2010)). “Where it is clear that a petitioner has failed to meet any of the three, dis tinct prongs of the...test, the claim may be disposed of on that basis alone, without a determination of whether the other two prongs have been met.” Commonwealth v. Steele , 599 Pa. 341, 360, 961 A.2d 786, 797 (2008). “The threshold inquiry in ineffectiv eness claims is whether the issue/argument/tactic which counsel has foregone and which forms the basisJ - S10032 - 19

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for the assertion of ineffectiveness is of arguable merit....” Commonwealth v. Pierce , 537 Pa. 514, 524, 645 A.2d 189, 194 (1994). “Counsel cannot be fou nd ineffective for failing to pursue a baseless or meritless claim.” Commonwealth v. Poplawski , 852 A.2d 323, 327 (Pa.Super. 2004).

Once this threshold is met we apply the ‘reasonable basis’ test to determine whether counsel’s chosen course was designed to effectuate his client’s interests. If we conclude that the particular course chosen by counsel had some reasonable basis, our inquiry ceases and counsel’s assistance is deemed effective. Pierce, supra at 524, 645 A.2d at 194 - 95 (internal citations om itted).

Prejudice is established when [a defendant ] demonstrates that counsel’s chosen course of action had an adverse effect on the outcome of the proceedings . The defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofe ssional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome . In [ Kimball, supra ] , we held that a “criminal defendant alleging prejudice must show that counsel’s errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.” Commonwealth v. Chambers , 570 Pa. 3, 21 - 22, 807 A.2d 872, 883 (2002) (some internal citations and quotation marks omitted). After a thorou gh review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the applicable law, and the well - reasoned opinion of the Honorable Glenn B. Bronson, we conclude Appellant’s issues merit no relief. The PCRA court opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the questions presented. ( See PCRA Court Opinion, filed August 6, 2018, at 6 - 9) (finding: trial counsel objected when Commonwealth attempted to introduceJ - S10032 - 19

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Brandon’s police statement before Commonwealth asked Brandon about incident, and court sustained objection; later, when Brandon testified he knew nothing about incident and did not recall making statement to police , Commonwealth introduced Brandon’s statement to police as prior inconsistent statement; Commonwealth offered testimony from police officer s to prove Brandon had made statement, reviewed statement, made no corrections to statement, and acknowledged statement accurately memorialized what he had told police; Rules of Evidence d id not require Commonwealth to refresh Brandon’s recollection with p rior statement before introducing statement; further, Commonwealth’s offer of statement during direct examination of Brandon , before evidence from detectives to prove Brandon had made statement , gave Brandon opportunity to explain or deny making statement; trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise second objection to admission of Brandon’s prior statement to police ; based on foregoing, PCRA evidentiary hearing would have served no purpose ). The record supports the PCRA court’s rationale. Acco rdingly, we affirm on the basis of the PCRA court opinion. Order affirmed.J - S10032 - 19

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Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 3/22/19Circulated 03/04/2019 04:02 PM

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1 D e fe n d ant w a s a c qu i tt e d o far s o n ( 1 8 P a . C . S . § 3 3 0 1 ( a ) ( l ) ( i ) , c o n s p i r a c y t o c o mm i t mur d e r ( 1 8 P a . C . S . § § 9 0 3 , 2 5 0 2 ( a ) ) , an d c o n s p i r a c y t o c o mm i t r o b b e ry ( 1 8 P a . C . S . § § 9 0 3 , 3 7 0 l ( a ) ( l ) (i i i ) ) .R e s p o n s e t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s M o t i o n t o D i s m i s s P e t i t i o n e r ' s A m e n d e d P C RA P e t i t i o n , an d



### . . th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s S ur - r e p l y t o D e fe n d ant ' s R e s p o n s e t o th e M o t i o n t o D i s m i s s , th i s C o urt ru l e d th at th e c l a i m s s e t fo rth i n d e f e n d ant ' s A m e n d e d P e t i t i o n w e r e w ith o ut m e r i t. T h at d ay , p ur s u ant t o P a . R. C r i m . P . 9 0 7 , th e C o urt i s s u e d n o ti c e 

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p p e a l a s fo ll o w s : A t tr i a l , th e C o mm o nw e a lth p r e s e nt e d th e t e s t i m o ny o f L a s h e e n a C o ttl e , K ar e n C h i l dr e y , R o s l yn S p e arm an , B r an d o n C o ttl e , R y an G a ll a g h e r , D r . S am G u l i n o , P h il a d e l p h i a P o li c e O ffi c e r s T e r r e n c e L e w i s an d A n dr e D an i e l s , P h i l a d e l p h i a P o l i c e D e t e c t i v e s C r

y s t a l W i lli am s , Jo hn M c D e rm o tt , T h o r s t e n L u c k e , Jo s e p h B annb e r s k i , an d H o w ar d P e t e rm an , P h i l a d e l p h i a P o li c e S e r g e an t S t e p h e n C r o s b y , an d P h il a d e l p h i a F i r e D e p artm e nt L i e ut e n ant B o r d e s R am s e ur . D e fe n d ant p r e s e n t e d th e t e s t i m o ny o f C h e r y l M o s e s . V i e w e d i n th e li g h t m o s t fav o r ab l e t o

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p h s i n d e f e n d ant ' s S t at e m e nt o f E rr o r s c o n t a i n ar g um e nt i n s u p p o rt o f d e f

e n d ant ' s c l a i m s . D e f e n d ant ' s c l a i m s h av e b e e n r e o r d e r e d f o r e a s e o f d i s p o s i t i o n .

2th e C o mm o nw e a l th a s th e v e r d i c t w i nn e r , th e i r t e s t i m o ny e s t ab l i s h e d th e

fo ll o w i n g . O n o r ab o ut J anu ary l l , 2 0 0 7 , B r an d o n C o tt l e , th e b ro th e r o f th e d e fe n d ant , h e ar d th e d e fe n d an t t a l k i n g t o Ri c k H u g h e s a b o ut k ill i n g a n e i g hb o r , Jo s e p h B r i g g m an . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 7 2 - 1 7 3 . 3 T w o d ay s a ft e r th i s c o nv e r s at i o n , o n J anu ar y 1 3 , 2 0 0 7 , d e fe n d an t t o l d B ran d o n C o tt l e t o " { c J o m e o n o v e r w i th u s 

### an d b e th e l o o k o ut. " N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 72 ; 3 /7 /2 0 1 2 at 3 9 . B ran d o n C o tt l e , 

### d e f e n d ant , an d R i c k H u g h e s e nt e r e d th e h o m e o f M r . B ri g g m an , l o c at e d at 2 4 2 1 N o rth P att o n S tr e e t. N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 6 9 - 1 72 . A ft e r th e thr e e m e n e nt e r e d th e h o m e , d e fe n d an t t o l d B r an d o n C o tt l e t o c h e c k u p s t a i r s t o s e e i f any o n e o th e r th an M r . B r i g g m an w a s i n th e h o m e . N . T . 3 / 6 /2 0 1 2 at 1 72 . B r an d o n C o tt l e w e nt u p s ta i r s , an d wh e n h e c am e b a c k d o wn , d e fe n d an t h a d M r . B r i g g m an i n a c h o k e h o l d . N . T . 3 / 6 /2 0 1 2 at 1 7 2 . B r an d o n C o tt l e w e n t d o wn t o c h e c k th e b a s e m e n t , an d w h e n h e r e t urn e d t o th e m a i n fl o o r o f th e h o u s e , d e fe n d ant w a s s t ill h o l d i n g Mr . B ri g g m an a s R i c k H u g h e s s t ab b e d h i m r e p e at e d l y . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 

### 1 72 . A t o n e p o i nt , M r . B r i g g m an b r o k e fr e e fr o m d e fe n d ant ' s g ra s p an d s t ab b e d h i m i n th e l e g . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 7 2 - 1 7 3 ; 3 /7 /2 0 1 2 at 4 1 - 4 2 . A t th e s am e ti m e , L a s h e e n a C o ttl e w a s g e tt i n g r e a dy fo r w o rk i n th e h o m e th at s h e s h ar e d w i th h e r tw o b r o th e r s , d e f e n d an t an d B ran d o n C o tt l e , at 2 4 2 8 N o rth P att o n S tr e e t. N . T . 3 / 5 / 2 0 1 2 at 2 2 9 - 2 3 1. R i c k H u g h e s , th e fath e r o f h e r c h il d , h a d s p e n t th e n i g h t at th e h o m e . N .T . 3 / 5 / 2 0 1 2 at 2 3 0 . A s s h e p r e p ar e d fo r w o rk i n h e r u p s t a i r s b athr o o m , s h e h e ar d an e xp l o s i o n . N . T . 3 / 5 /2 0 1 2 at 2 3 1 . S h e l o o k e d a c ro s s th e s tr e e t an d s aw th at th e h o m e b e l o n g i n g t o h e r n e i g hb o r , M r . B ri g g m an , w a s o n fi r e . N . T . 3 / 5 / 2 0 1 2 at 2 3 1 . A l th o u g h R i c k H u gh e s h a d s p e nt th e n i g h t i n h e r h o m e , an d s h e h a d h e ar d o n e o f h e r b ro th e r s i n th e h o u s e th at m o rn i n g , L a s h e e n a C o ttl e w a s a l o n e i n th e h o u s e at th e t i m e th at th e fi r e b r o k e o ut a c r o s s th e s tr e e t. N . T . 3 / 5 /2 0 1 2 at 2 3 2 - 2 3 3 . A t th e t i m e o f th e e xp l o s i o n , R o s l yn S p e arm an w a s b uy i n g dru g s o n th e c o rn e r o f P att o n S tr e e t an d Y o rk S tr e e t , a p p ro x i m at e l y s i x t o e i g h t h o u s e s fr o m M r . B ri g g m an I s r e s i d e n c e , w h e n s h e h e ar d an e xp l o s i o n an d s aw d e fe n d an t an d B r an d o n C o tt l e runn i n g o ut o f M r . B ri g g m an ' s r e s i d e n c e . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 8 1 - 8 6 . O n e b l o c k aw ay fr o m M s . S p e arm an , an o th e r w o m an , K ar e n C h i l dr e y , w a s u s i n g dru g s w i th h e r c o u s i n o n s o m e o ut d o o r s t e p s o n th e 2 5 0 0 b l o c k o f P att o n S tr e e t. N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 5 9 - 6 0 . M s . C h i l dr e y h e ar d a l o u d " b o o m , " b ut d i d n o t kn o w th e s o ur c e o f

th e e xp l o s i o n . N . T . 3 / 6 /2 0 1 2 at 6 1 - 6 2 . Wh e n th e P h il a d e l p h i a F i r e D e p artm e nt arr i v e d at th e s c e n e t o i nv e s t i g at e th e e xp l o s i o n th at h a d d e s tro y e d M r . B r i g g m an ' s h o u s e , th e y d e t e rm i n e d th e c au s e o f th e fir e an d r e s u lt i n g e xp l o s i o n t o b e a p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s l i g h t i n g g a s o l i n e o n fi r e wi th i n th e h o u s e . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 3 9 - 4 2 . Wh il e i nv e s t i g at i n g th e s o ur c e o fth e fi r e , m e mb e r s o f

th e F i r e D e p artm e nt d i s c o v e r e d th e b o dy o f M r . B r i g g m an i n s i d e 3 Ri c k H u gh e s ' s c a s e w a s s e v e r e d fr o m d e f e n d ant ' s d u e t o th e un av a il ab ili ty o f h i s c o un s e l . B r an d o n C o tt l e a g r e e d t o c o o p e r at e an d p i e d g u il ty t o o n e c o un t o f c o n s p i r a c y t o c o mm i t mur d e r ( J 8 P a . C . S . § § 9 0 3 , 2 5 0 2 ) . 3th e h o u s e . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 8 - 1 9 . M r . B r i g g m an w a s p r o n o un c e d d e a d at th e s c e n e . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 1 3 . A l th o u g h th e c au s e o f h i s d e ath w a s l at e r d e t e rm i n e d t o b e mu l t i p l e s t ab w o un d s , h e w a s b urn e d o v e r 7 0 p e r c e nt o f h i s b o dy fr o m th e fi r e . 

### N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 1 5 , 1 2 2 . M r . B r i g g m an h a d b e e n s t a b b e d fi v e t i m e s i n th e h e a d an d n e c k , fi v e t i m e s i n th e c h e s t , o n c e i n th e s h o u l d e r , an d o n c e i n th e b a c k . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 1 5 . P o l i c e arr i v e d s h o rt l y a ft e r th e e xp l o s i o n an d a p p ro a c h e d M s . C h il dr e y an d h e r c o u s i n , wh o t o l d p o li c e th e y d i d n o t kn o w wh e r e th e e xp l o s i o n c am e fr o m , an d th at al l th e y h e ar d w a s a l o u d n o i s e . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 6 2 - 6 3 . A ft e r th e p o li c e l e ft , d e fe n d an t a

p p ro a c h e d M s . C h il dr e y an d t o l d h e r " d o n ' t t a l k t o th e c o p . " N . T . 3 / 6 /2 0 1 2 at 6 4 - 6 5 . L at e r i n th e d ay , d e f e n d ant r e t urn e d an d t o l d M s . C h il dr e y a g a i n n o t t o t a l k t o th e p o l i c e , th i s t i m e thr e at e n i n g h e r wi th a g un . N . T . 3 / 6 /2 0 1 2 at 6 4 - 6 5 . O n th e n i g h t o f Janu ar

y 1 3 , 2 0 0 7 , L a s h e e n a C o ttl e s aw Ri c k H u g h e s fo r th e fi r s t t i m e s i n c e th e fi r e th at m o rn i n g . N . T . 3 / 5 / 2 0 1 2 at 2 3 3 - 2 3 4 . H e h a d b um s an d b ru i s e s o n b o th h i s fa c e an d h i s h an d s . N . T . 3 / 5 /2 0 1 2 at 2 3 4 . T h e n e x t d ay , L a s h e e n a C o ttl e n o t i c e d d e fe n d ant li mp i n g an d h e t o l d h e r h e h a d b e e n s t ab b e d . N . T . 3 / 5 / 2 0 1 2 at 2 3 5 - 2 3 6 , 2 3 9 . O n Jun e 7 , 2 0 0 7 , th e F u g i t i v e U n i t o fth e P h il a d e l p h i a P o li c e D e p artm e nt arr e s t e d d e fe n d an t an d B r an d o n C o ttl e fo r th e mur d e r o f M r . B r i g g m an . N . T . 3 / 6 /2 0 1 2 at 1 6 1 ; 3 /7 / 2 0 1 2 at 2 8 . B r an d o n C o tt l e c o n fe s s e d t o b e i n g th e " l o o k o ut " fo r h i s b ro th e r an d R i c k H u g h e s as th e y k ill e d d e fe n d ant , an d t o l d th e p o li c e o th e r d e t a i l s o f th e c r i m e . N . T . 3 / 6 / 2 0 1 2 at 1 6 9 - 1 7 0 ; 3 /7 / 2 0 1 2 at 4 1 -4 4 . D e fe n d an t a l s o g av e a s t at e m e nt t o p o li c e , i n w h i c h h e a dm i tt i n g s e lli n g c ra c k c o c a i n e t o M r . B r i g g m an fo r y e ar s an d th at Mr . B r i g g m an , i n th e p as t , h a d o w e d hi m m o n e y . N . T . 3 /7 / 2 0 1 2 at 9 L H e c l a i m e d th at , o n th e d ay o fth e i n ci d e nt , h e h a d g o n e o v e r t o M r. B r i g g m an ' s h o u s e t o s e ll h i m dru g s , an d w a s th e r e att a c k e d 

### b y M r . B ri g g m an an d s o m e unk

n o wn m an an d w a s s tab b e d b y M r . B ri g g m an i n th e l e g . H e cl a i m e d t o h av e fl e d fr o m th e h o u s e a ft e r p u s h i n g M r . B r i g g m an o nt o a g l as s c o ff e e t ab l e , b ut d e n i e d b e i n g p r e s e n t w h e n any o n e s t ab b e d M r . B r i g g m an . N . T . 3 /7 i 2 0 1 2 at 8 5 - 9 2 . P o l i c e s e ar c h e d d e f e n d ant an d fo un d a h e a l e d s t ab w o un d o n h i s l e g . N . T. 3 /7 /2 0 1 2 at 4 5 - 4 8 . I T r i a l C o urt O p i n i o n , fil e d O c t o b e r 4 , 2 0 1 2 , at p p . 2 - 5 . II . D I S C U S S I O N A n a p p e ll at e c o urt ' s r e v i e w o f a P C RA c o urt ' s g r an t o r d e n i a l o f r e li e f " i s li m i t e d t o d e t e rm i n i n g wh e th e r th e c o urt ' s fi n d i n g s ar e s u p p o rt e d b y th e r e c o r d an d th e c o urt ' s o r d e r i s o th e rw i s e fr e e o fl e g a l e rr o r . " C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . Y a ge r , 6 8 5 A. 2 d 10 0 0 , 10 0 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 6 )

4

### ( c i t i n g C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . L e g g , 

### 6 6 9 A. 2 d 3 8 9 , 3 9 1 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 5 ) ) . T h e r e v i e w i n g c o u rt 

### " w ill n o t d i s tur b fi n d i n g s th at ar e s u

p p o rt e d b y th e r e c o r d . " I d . 

### H e r e , d e fe n d ant ' s o n l y s ub s t ant i v e cl a i m p e rt a i n s t o th e a ll e g e d i n e ff e c ti v e a s s i s t an c e o f tr i a l c o un s e l. U n d e r P e nn s y l v an i a l aw , c o un s e l i s p r e s um e d e ff e c t i v e an d th e b ur d e n t o p r o v e o th e rw i s e li e s w i th th e p e t i t i o n e r . C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . B a s e m o re, 1 4 4 

### A . 2 d 7 1 7 , 7 2 8 ( P a . 2 0 0 0 ) , n . 1 0 ( c i t i n g C

o m m o n w e a lt

h v . C o p e n h e fe r , 

### 7 1 9 A . 2 d 2 4 2 , 2 5 0 ( P a . 1 9 9 8 ) ) . 

### T o o b t a i n c o ll at e r a l r e l i e f b a s e d o n th e i n e ff

e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e o f c o un s e l , a 

### p e t i t i o n e r mu s t s h o w th at c o uns e l ' s r e p r e s e nt at i o n 

### fe ll b e l o w a c c e p t e d s t an d ar d s o f a dv o c a c y an d th at a s a r e s u l t th e r e o f , th e p e t i t i o n e r w a s p r e

j u d i c e d . S

tr i c k l a n d v . W a s h i ng to n , 

### 4 6 6 U . S . 6 6 8 , 6 9 4 ( 1 9 8 4 ) . I n P e nn s y l v an i a , th e S

tr i c k la n d 

### s t an d ar d i s i nt e rp r e t e d a s r e qu i r i n g p ro o f th at : ( 1 ) th e c l a i m un d e r l y i n g th e i n e ff

e c t i v e n e s s cl a i m 

### h a d ar g u ab l e m e r i t ; ( 2 ) 

### c o un s e l ' s a c t i o n s l a c k e d 

### any r e a s o n ab l e b a s i s ; an d 

### ( 3 ) th e i n e ff e c t i v e n e s s o f c o un s e l c au s e d th e p e t i t i o n e r p r e j u d i c e . C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . M ille r , 

### 9 8 7 A. 2 d 6 3 8 , 6 4 8 ( P a . 2 0 0 9 ) ; C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . P i e rc e, 

### 5 2 7 A. 2 d 9 7 3 , 9 7 4 � 7 5 ( P a . 1 9 8 7 ) . T o s at i s f y th e th i r d p ro n g o f

th e t e s t , th e p e t i t i o n e r mu s t p ro v e th at , b ut fo r c o un s e l ' s e rr o r , th e r e i s 

### a r e as o n ab l e p r o b ab ili ty th at th e o ut c o m e 

### o f th e p r o c e e d i n g w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff

e r e nt. C o m m o n w e a l t

h v . S n e e d , 

### 8 9 9 A. 2 d 1 0 6 7 , 1 0 8 4 ( P a . 2 0 0 6 ) ( c i t i n g S tr i c k la n d , 

### 4 6 6 U . S . at 6 9 4 ) . If 

### th e P C RA c o urt d e t e rm i n e s 

### th at an y 

### o n e o f th e thr e e p ro n g s c ann o t b e m e t , th e n th e c o urt n e e d n o t h o l d an e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g a s s u c h a h e ari n g w o u l d s e rv e n o p urp o s e . C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . J o n es , 

### 9 4 2 A. 2 d 9 0 3 , 9 0 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) , a

p p . d e n i e d , 

### 9 5 6 A. 2 d 4 3 3 ( P a . 2 0 0 8 ) .

5A . F a ilu r e to O b

j e c t to th e I

n t ro d u c ti o n , A d

m i s s i o n , a n d R e a d

i ng o f B ra n d o n C o tt le ' s Pre - t r i a l S ta te m e n t to Po li c e D e fe n d ant fi r s t cl a i m s th at tr i al c o un s e l fa il e d t o " o b j e c t t o th e i n tr o d

u c ti o n , a dm i s s i o n an d r e a d i n g o f C o mm o nw e a l th w i tn e s s B r an d o n C o tt l e ' s p r e tr i a l s tat e m e nt t o p o li c e . .. " S t at e m e n t o f E rr o r s at 

## ,r 2 . T h i s cl a i m i s w i th o ut m e r i t. A t tr i a l , th e C o mm o nw e a lth p r e s e n t e d th e t e s t i m o ny o

_ f B r an d o n C o tt l e , d e f e n d ant ' s y o un g e r b r o th e r. 4 P ri o r t o d e f e n d ant ' s tr i a l , B r an d o n w a s i n t e rv i e w e d b y d e t e c t i v e s an d c o n fe s s e d t o a c t i n g a s a l o o k o ut w h i l e d e f e n d an t an d h i s c o c o n s p i r at o r , R i c k H u gh e s , s t ab b e d th e v i c t i m , Jo s e p h B r i g gm an , t o d e ath . N . T . 3 / 6 /1 2 at 1 6 9 - 7 0 . I n h i s s tat e m e n t t o th e d e t e c t i v e s , B r an d o n g av e d e t a i l e d i n fo rm at i o n r e g ar d i n g th e mur d e r. I n p art i c u l ar , h e t o l d th e d e t e c t i v e s th at a fe w d ay s p ri o r t o th e mur d e r , h e h a d h e ar d d e fe n d ant an d H u g h e s t a l k i n g a bo ut k ill i n g B r i g g m an . H e a l s o s t at e d th at o n th e d ay o f th e mur d e r , d e fe n d ant i n s tru c t e d h i m t o e nt e r B r i g g m an ' s h o m e w i th d e fe n d ant an d H u g h e s , an d t o c h e c k th e h o m e t o s e e i f any o n e e l s e w a s th e r e . N . T. 3 / 6 / 1 2 at 17 2 . A c c o r d i n g t o th e s t at e m e nt , o n c e B r an d o n c h e c k e d th e b a s e m e nt o f th e h o m e , h e c am e u

p s t ai r s t o fi n d d e f

e n d ant h o l d i n g B r i g g m an d o wn , w h il e H u g h e s w a s r e p e at e d l y s t a

b b i n g h i m . 

### I

d. H o w e v e r , at tr i a l , B r an d o n d e n i e d kn o w i n g any th i n g a b o ut th e i n c i d e n t an d cl a i m e d n o t t o r e m e mb e r g i v i n g th e p o rt i o n s o fh i s s t at e m e nt t o d e t e c t i v e s i n w h i c h h e i n c u l p at e d d e fe n d ant an d H u g h e s . N . T . 3 / 6 / 1 2 at 1 6 2 - 8 1. A s a r e s u l t , th e C o mm o nw e a lth p r e s e n t e d th e s i gn e d p o li c e s t at e m e n t o f B ran d o n C o tt l e , h e r e at i s s u e . R u l e 8 0 3 . 1 ( 1 ) o f th 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 s e t s fo rth an e x c e p ti o n t o th e h e ar s ay ru l e fo r c e rt a i n p r i o r i n c o n s i s t e nt s t at e m e n t s o f w i tn e s s e s w h o t e s t i f y at tr i a l an d ar e s ub j e c t t o c r o s s - e x am i n at i o n . I n c l u d e d un d e r th i s e x c e p t i o n t o th e h e ar s ay ru l e ar e s t at e m e nt s th at h av e b e e n r e d

u c e d t o a wr i t i n g th at w a s s i gn e d an d a d o p t e d b y th e w i tn e s s . 

### P a . RE . 4 B e c au s e B r an d o n C o tt l e an d h i s b r o th e r , d e f e n d ant C hr i s t o p h e r C o tt l e , b o th h av e th e s am e s urn am e , B ran d o n C o tt l e i s r e fe rr e d t o h e r e a ft e r a s " B r an d o n . " 

### 68 0 3 . 1 (1 ) ( 8 ) . S u c h s t at e m e nt s ar e a dm i s s i b l e a s s ub s t ant i v e e v i d e n c e e v e n wh e n th e wi tn e s s

r e p u d i at e s th e p ri o r s t at e m e n t d ur i n g h i s t e s t i m o ny at tr i a l. A s l o n g a s th e C o mm o nw e a l th p r o v e s th at th e s t at e m e n t w a s s i gn e d b y th e wi tn e s s an d a d o p t e d at s o m e t i m e p r i or t o th e tr i a l , i t i s c o v e r e d b y th i s h e ar s ay e x c e p t i o n . 

### S e e C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . B ro w n , 5 2 A . 3 d 1 1 3 9 , 1 1 6 9 - 7 1 ( P a . 2 0 1 2 ) . S u c h p ri o r i n c o n s i s t e n t s t at e m e nt s a l o n e m ay b e s u f fi c i e nt t o s u s ta i n a g u i l ty v e r d i c t. 

### I d. H e r e , B r an d o n , at tr i a l , cl a i m e d t o kn o w n o th i n g a b o ut th e i n ci d e n t , an d t o n o t r e c a ll g i v i n g h i s s t at e m e nt t o d e t e c t i v e s . T h e r e fo r e , h i s s t at e m e nt t o p o li c e c o nt a i n i n g d e t a il e d i n fo rm at i o n a

b o ut th e k i lli n g w a s p l a i n l y i n c o n s i s t e nt w i th h i s tr i a l t e s t i m o ny . M o r e o v e r , th e C o mm o nw e a l th o ff

e r e d th e t e s t i m o ny o f D e t e c t i v e Jo hn M c D e rm o tt , w h o t o o k th e s t at e m e nt a l o n g w i th D e t e c t i v e D av i d B ak e r , t o p r o v e th at B r an d o n m a d e th e s tat e m e nt. N . T . 3 /7 / 1 2 at 2 7 - 4 4 . I n a d d i t i o n , D e t e c t i v e C hry s t a l W ill i am s t e s t i fi e d th at s h e r e a d b a c k th e e nt i r e s t at e m e nt t o B r an d o n , an d th at h e m a d e n o c o rr e c t i o n s , s i g n e d e a c h p a g e o f th e s t at e m e n t , an d a c kn o w l e d g e d th at th e s t at e m e nt a c c ur at e l y m e m o r i a li z e d wh at h e h a d t o l d th e d e t e c t i v e s . N . T . 3 /7 / 1 2 at 1 9 - 2 2 , 2 5 . T h e r e fo r e , th e s t at e m e nt w a s p ro p e r l y a dm i tt e d a s s u b s t ant i v e e v i d e n c e un d e r R u l e 8 0 3 .l ( l ) ( B ) . D e fe n d ant ar g u e s th at d e fe n s e c o un s e l fa il e d t o o b j e c t t o th e p ro s e c ut o r r e a d i n g B r an d o n ' s s t at e m e nt t o th e j ury w i th o ut a p ro p e r fo un d at i o n . I n p art i c u l ar , h e c o nt e n d s th at th e s t at e m e n t w a s r e a d , w i th o ut c o un s e l o b j e c t i n g , b e fo r e B r an d o n g av e any t e s t i m o ny i n c o n s i s t e nt w i th th e s t at e m e nt , an d b e fo r e any wr i t i n g w a s u s e d t o att e mp t t o r e fr e s h h i s r e c o ll e c t i o n . T h i s ar g um e nt i s m e r i tl e s s . It i s tru e th at th e p ro s e c ut o r att e mp t e d t o i ntr o d u c e th e s t at e m e nt b e fo r e a s k i n g B r an d o n anyth i n g ab o ut th e e v e nt s at i s s u e i n th e c a s e . B e c au s e B r an d o n h a d y e t t o g i v e t e s t i m o ny i n c o n s i s t e n t w i th th e s t at e m e nt , i t s i ntro d u c t i o n at th at t i m e w o u l d h av e b e e n i mp r o p e r .

7H o w e v e r , tr i a l c o un s e l d i d o b j e c t t o th e i n tro d

u c t i o n o f th e s t at e m e nt at th at t i m e , an d th e C o urt s u s t a i n e d th e o b

j e c t i o n . N . T . 3 / 6 / 1 2 at 1 6 1 - 6 5 . T h e r e a ft e r , B r an d o n d e ni e d kn o w i n g w h at h a p p e n e d t o th e d e c e d e n t , Jo s e p h B r i g g m an , d ur i n g th e m o n th o f th e mur d e r , e v e n th o u g h B r an d o n h a d p l e a d e d g u il ty t o c o n s p i r i n g t o k ill B r i g g m an . 

### N . T . 3 / 6 / 1 2 at 1 6 5 - 6 7 . H e c l a i m e d th at h e w a s h i g h w h e n h e p i e d g u il ty an d w h e n h e g av e th e s t at e m e nt t o d e t e c t i v e s . 

### I d at 1 6 6 - 6 7 . O n c e B r an d o n d e n i e d any kn o w l e d g e o f th e k i l l i n g , h i s d e t a il e d a c c o unt i n g o f th e e v e nt s i n h i s s t at e m e nt w a s i n c o n s i s t e n t w i th h i s tr i a l t e s t i m o ny an d w a s p ro p e r l y a dm i tt e d . 

### S e e C o m m o n w e a lt

h v . C a r m o d y , 7 9 9 A. 2 d 1 4 3 , 1 4 8 - 4 9 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 2 ) ( w h e r e w i tn e s s c l a i m e d s h e h a d b l a c k e d o ut fr o m a l c o h o l an d c o u l d n o t r e c a ll any th i n g th at h a d h a p p e n e d , h e r p r i o r s t at e m e nt t o p o l i c e w a s a dm i s s i b l e ) . I t i s a l s o tru e th at th e p ro s e c ut o r m a d e n o att e mp t t o r e fr e s h B r an d o n ' s r e c o ll e c t i o n w i th h i s p r i o r s t at e m e nt. H o w e v e r , th e r e i s n o r e qu i r e m e n t , i n th e R u l e s o f E v i d e n c e o r e l s e w h e r e , th at s u c h an att e mp t b e m a d e b e fo r e o ff e ri n g a p r i o r i n c o n s i s t e n t s t at e m e nt. F i n a ll y , i t i s tru e th at th e p r o s e c ut o r r e a d th e s t at e m e n t d ur i n g th e d i r e c t e x am i n at i o n o f B r an d o n , p ri o r t o o ff

e r i n g th e e v i d e n c e fr o m th e d e t e c t i v e s t o p r o v e th at th e s t at e m e nt h a d b e e n m a d e an d a d o p t e d b y B r an d o n . · H o w e v e r , e x tr i n s i c e v i d e n c e o f a p r i o r i n c o n s i s t e nt s t at e m e nt i s g e n e r a ll y n o t a dm i s s i b l e , e v e n j u s t fo r i mp e a c hm e nt p urp o s e s , un l e s s th e s t at e m e n t i s fi r s t d i s cl o s e d t o th e w i tn e s s , an d th e w i tn e s s i s g i v e n an o p p o rt un i ty t o e xp l a i n o r d e ny th e m ak i n g o f th e s t at e m e nt. P a . R. E . 6 13 ( b ) . A c c o r d i n g l y , B r an d o n ' s s t at e m e nt t o p o li c e w a s p ro p e r l y a dm i tt e d a s s ub s t ant i v e e v i d e n c e un d e r R

u l e 8 0 3 . l (l ) ( B ) . A lth o u g h th e C o mm o nw e a l th att e mp t e d t o qu e s t i o n B r an d o n ab o ut th e s t at e m e n t b e fo r e a p r o p e r fo un d at i o n h a d b e e n l a i d , d e f e n s e c o un s e l o b

j e c t e d an d a p ro p e r fo un d at i o n w a s p r e s e n t e d . T h e r e a ft e r , any o b j e c t i o n b y c o un s e l t o th e s t at e m e n t w o u l d

8• ' • t

C o mm o nw e a l th v . C h r i s t o p h e r C o tt l e

T yp e o f O r d e r : 1 9 2 5 ( a ) O p i n i o n P R O O F O F S E R V I C E C P - 5 l - C R - 0 0 0 0 9 6 2 - 2 0 0 8

I h e r e b y c e rt i f

y th at I am th i s d ay s e rv i n g th e fo r e g o i n g C o urt O r d e r u p o n th e p e r s o n ( s ) , an d i n th e m ann e r i n d i c at e d b e l o w , wh i c h s e rv i c e s at i s fi e s th e r e qu i r e m e nt s o f P a . R. C r i m . P . 1 1 4 : D e f e n s e C o un s e l/P arty : B e n j am i n C o o p e r , E s qu i r e 1 5 0 0 W a l nut S t 2 2 n d F l o o r P h il a d e l p h i a , P A 1 9 10 2 T yp e o f S e rv i c e : D i s tr i ct A tt o r

n e y :

T yp e o f S e rv i c e ( ) P e r s o n a l ( X ) F i r s t C l as s M a il 

## O O th e r , p l e as e s p e c i f y : L awr e n c e G o o d e , E s qu i r e I nt e r i m S u

p e rv i s o r , Ap p e a l s U n it O f fi c e o f th e D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y T hr e e S o uth P e nn S qu ar e P h il a d e l p h i a , P A 1 9 10 7 - 3 4 9 9 ( ) P e r s o n a l () F i r s t C l a s s M a il ( X ) O th e r , p l e a s e s p e c if y : I n te ro ffi c e M a il A d d i t i o n a l C o un s e l/P arty : Jo s e p h 

### D . S e l e tyn , E s qu i r e P r o th o n o t ary O ffi c e o fth e P r o th o n o t ary - S u p e ri o r C o urt 5 3 0 W a l nut S tr e e t , S u i t e 3 1 5 P h i l a d e l p h i a , P A 1 9 1 0 6 T yp e o f S e rv ic e : ( ) P e r s o n a l ( X ) F i r s t C l a s s M a i l ( ) O th e r , p l e a s e s p e c i f y :



### D at e d : Au g u s t 6 , 2 0 1 8