J - S31023 - 19

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENN SYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellee v. RAYMOND JAVIER RIVERA Appellant No. 1535 WDA 2018 Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered October 15 , 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County Criminal Division at No: CP - 65 - CR - 0004795 - 2011 BEFORE: OLSON, STABILE, AND McLAUGHLIN, JJ. MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J: FILED AUGUST 27, 2019 Appellant, Raymond James Rivera, appeals from the October 15, 2018 order dismissing his petition pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A . § 9541 - 9546. We affirm. The PCRA court summarized the pertinent facts: The charges in this matter arise from a shooting that occurred in New Kensington, Westmoreland County, on October 20, 2011, wherein [Appellant] shot two individuals, one of whom died, and the other whom was seriously injured. On the evening of the crime, John (a/k/a “New York Mike”) Evans, Willie Young, and Laquan (“Zay”) Cargill were at the Central City Plaza shopping center in the City of New Kensington. Evans intended to visi t the Family Dollar store, which was one of the businesses in the strip mall, to meet up with another friend called “Tree.” When Evans entered the Family Dollar, Young and Cargill continued to the Shop - n - Save store to buy cigarettes. When Young and Cargi ll returned to the Family Dollar store, Young briefly entered the store and told Evans that they had returned, and then waited with Cargill outside the store. As Evans and “Tree” came out of the front doors of the Family Dollar store, Young heard a woman, laterJ - S31023 - 19

- 2 -

identified as April Cevario, begin screaming at Evans. Young noted that Evans did not react to the screaming woman. He then saw [Appellant] pull up in his car in the parking lot near the Family Dollar store. Young testified that Evans told [Appel lant], “Come get your girl,” and [Appellant] lifted up his shirt, pulled out his gun, and shot Evans two or three times. Evans fell immediately to the ground. [Appellant] then stepped over Evans, pointed the gun at Young, and stated, “You’re next.” [App ellant] then fired the gun at Young, who turned and ran into the Family Do llar store. Young suffered gun shot wounds to his leg and arm. Evans died at the scene. [Appellant] then fled the scene and disposed of the gun, but turned himself in to police the following day. PCRA Court Opinion, 10/15/18, at 1 - 2 (record citations omitted). On November 13, 2013, the trial court sentenced Appellant to serve life i n prison without parole for first - degree murder (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(a)). This Court affirmed the judgment of sentence on June 18, 2015, and our Supreme Court denied allowance of appeal on February 1, 2016. Appellant, pro se , filed timely first PCRA petition on December 12, 2016. Appointed counsel filed an amended petition on April 26, 2017. The PC RA conducted a hearing on July 6, 2018. This timely appeal followed the PCRA court’s denial of relief. Appellant presents two questions for our review: 1. Whether the court below erred in failing to find trial counsel ineffective for failing to interview or subpoena a witness named Deon Lee who could have testified that that the victim possessed a firearm shortly before the shooting, which would have supported Appellant’s claim of self - defense[?] 2. Whether the court below erred in failing to find trial co unsel ineffective for failing to engage an expert to determine whether the victims had the presence ofJ - S31023 - 19

- 3 - gunshot residue on their hands, which would have supported Appellant’s claim of self - defense[?] Appellant’s Brief at 3. We conduct our review as follows : In PCRA appeals, our scope of review is limited to the findings of the PCRA court and the evidence on the record of the PCRA court’ s hearing, viewed in the light most favorable to the prevailing party. Because most PCRA appeals involve questions of fact and law, we employ a mixed standard of review. We defer to the PCRA court ’ s factual findings and credibility determinations supported by the record. In contrast, we review the PCRA court's legal conclusions de novo. Com monwealth v. Reyes - Rodriguez , 111 A.3d 775, 779 ( Pa. Super. 2015) ( en banc ) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted) , appeal denied , 123 A.3d 331 (Pa. 2015). To establish that counsel rendered constitutionally ineffective assistance, a PCRA petitioner must plead and prove that the underlying issue is of arguable merit; that counsel had no reasonable strategic basis for the disputed action or inaction; and that counsel’s error prejudiced the petitioner, such that the outcome of the proceeding would have been different but for th e error. Id. at 780. Appellant argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call a witness, Deon Lee, who would have testified that the decedent was in possession of a firearm shortly before Appellant shot him. To prevail on this claim, Appe llant needed to prove that: Lee existed; Lee was available and willing to testify for the defense; counsel knew or should have known of Lee’sJ - S31023 - 19

- 4 -

existence; and the absence of Lee’s testimony deprived Appellant of a fair trial. Commonwealth v. Washington , 92 7 A.2d 586, 599 (Pa. 2007). Appellant has failed in his burden in this case because he failed to produce Lee at the PCRA hearing. There is no evidence that Lee was available and willing to testify for the defense, or that he would have testified in acco rdance with Appellant’s claim. Indeed, there is no evidence that Lee exists. For the reasons explained on pages five through eight of the PCRA court’s October 15, 2018 opinion, we conclude that Appellant’s argument lacks merit. With his second argument , Appellant asserts that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to procure expert analysis of gun shot residue (“GSR”) kits performed on the victims’ clothing. Appellant claims positive results would have supported his self - defense theory of the case. As the PCRA court explained, however, no ne of the witness on the scene corroborated Appellant’s claim that Young was armed and fired at Appellant . No gun was recovered from Evan s ’ body. All seven shell casings recovered from the scene were fired from App ellant’s gun. Appellant himself testified that Evans did not fire a shot. In summary, there is no evidence that either victim was armed or fired at Appellant, and therefore it is unlikely that the GSR tests would have been positive. While a positive tes t would have bolstered the defense, a positive test was unlikely given the available evidence. On the other hand, a negative test c ould have been damag ing to the defense, and a negative result seemsJ - S31023 - 19

- 5 -

likely given the available evidence. For the reasons ex plained on pages twelve through fourteen of the PCRA court’s October 15, 2018 opinion, Appellant’s argument lacks merit. Based on our observations above and on the PCRA court’s well - reasoned opinion, we affirm the order denying relief. We direct that a copy of the PCRA court’s opinion be filed along with this memorandum. Order affirmed. Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 8/27/2019Circulated 07/25/2019 02:40 PM



### IN T HE C O URT O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F W E S T M O RE L AND C O UN T Y ,

P ENN S Y L VAN IA - C RIMINAL D IVI S I O N C O MM ON WE AL T H O F P ENN S YL VANI A ) ) ) ) ) 

### ) N o . 4 7 9 5 C 2 0 1 1 v s . 

### RAYM OND RI VE RA , D e fe n d ant.

O P IN I O N AND O RD E R O F C O URT AN D N O W , th i s £d ay o f O c t o b e r , 2 0 1 8 , u p o n c o n s i d e rat i o n o f D e fe n d ant' s p e t i t i o n fi l e d p ur s u ant t o th e P o s t C o nv i c t i o n Re l i e f A c t , ( 4 2 P a . C
. S
. § 9 5 4 1 , e t s e q .) 

### an d t e s t i m o ny t ak e n d

uri n g an e v i d e nt i ary h e arin g o n Ju l y 6 , 2 0 1 8 , i t i s h e r e b y O RD E RE D
an d D E C RE E D th at D e fe n d ant ' s p e t i t i o n fo r p o s t - c o nv i c ti o n r e l i e f i s D I S MI S S E D fo r th e fo ll o w in g r e a s o n s : 

### I. F A C T UA L AND P RO C E D U RA L H I S T O R Y : Th e c h arg e s in th i s m att e r ari s e fr o m a s h o o ti n g th at o c c urr e d in 

### N e w K e n s in gt o n , W e s tm o r e l an d C o unty , o n O c t o b e r 2 0 , 2 0 11 , wh e r e in D e fe n d ant s h o t tw o in d i v i d u al s ; o n e o f wh o m di e d , an d th e o th e r wh o m w a s s e ri o u s l y in j ur e d
. O n th e e v e n in g o f th e c rim e , Jo hn 

### ( a/k/ a " N e w Y o rk M i k e " ) E v an s , W i ll i e Y o un g , an d L a qu an ( " Z ay " ) C ar g ill
w e r e at th e C e ntr al C i ty P l az a s h o p p i n g c e nt e r in th e C i ty o f N e w K e n s in g t o n . E v an s int e n d e d t o v i s i t th e F ami l y D o ll ar s t o r e , wh i c h w a s o n e o f th e b u s i n e s s e s 

### in th e s trip : , 

### m a ll , t o m e e t u

p w i th an o th e r fri e n d c a ll e d " T r e e . " ( TT 1 6 2 )
. 1 

### Wh e n E v an s e nt e r e d th e

1 Num e r a l s in p ar e nth e s i s p r e c e d e d b y th e l e tt e r s " IT ' r e fe r t o s p e c i fi c p a g e s o fth e tr ans c ri p t o f th e t e s t im o ny p r e s e nt e d at tri a l , h e l d Au gu s t 1 2
- 1 7 , 2 0 1 3 , an d m a d e a p art o f th e r e c o r d h e r e in
. 

### 1F am il y D o ll ar , Y o un g an d C ar g ill c o nt i nu e d t o th e S h o p - n - S av e s t o r e t o b uy c i g ar e tt e s .

( T T 1 6 4 )
. Wh e n Y o un g an d C ar g ill r e turn e d t o th e F am il y D o ll ar s t o r e , Y o un g b ri e fl y

. e nt e r e d th e s t o r e an d t o l d E v an s th at th e y h a d r e turn e d , an d th e n w a i t e d w i th C ar gi ll
o ut s i d e th e s t o r e . ( TT 1 6 4
- 6 5 )
. A s E v an s an d " T r e e " c am e o ut . o f th e fro nt d o o r s o f th e F am il y D o ll ar S t o r e , Y o un g h e ar d a w o m an , l at er i d e nti fi e d a s Ap ril C e v ari o , b e g i n . s c r e amin g at E v an s . ( TT 1 6 7 )
. Y o un g n o t e d th at E v an s d i d n o t r e a c t t o th e s c r e am in g w o m an . H e th e n s aw D e fe n d ant p u ll u p in h i s c ar in th e p arkin g l o t n e ar th e F am il y D o ll ar s t o r e . Y o un g t e s ti fi e d th at E v an s t o l d D e fe n d ant , " C o m e g e t y o ur g irl , " an d D e fe n d ant li ft e d u

p h i s s h irt , p u ll e d o ut h i s gun , an d s h o t E v an s tw o o r thr e e t i m e s . ( T T 1 6 8
- 6 9 )
. E v an s fe ll i rrun e d i at e l y t o th e gr o un d
. D e fe n d ant th e n s t e p p e d o v e r E v an s , p o int e d th e 

### gun at Y o un g , an d s t at e d , " Y o u ' r e n e xt . " ( TT 1 6 9 )
. D e fe n d ant th e n fi r e d th e gun at Y o un g , wh o turn e d an d r an int o th e F am il y D o ll ar s t o r e . Y o un g s u ff e r e d gun s h o t
w o un d s t o h i s l e g an d h i s arm . ( T T 1 7 0 )
. E v an s d i e d at th e s c e n e . D e fe n d ant th e n fl e d th e s c e n e an d d i s p o s e d o f

th e gun , b ut turn e d h i m s e l f int o p o li c e th e fo ll o w in g d ay . D e fe n d ant w a s c h ar g e d w ith o n e c o unt o f c rimi n a l h o m ic i d e , 1 8 P a . C
. S
. A
. § 2 5 0 1 ( a) , o n e c o unt o f att e mp t e d h o m i c i d e , 1 8 P a . C
. S
. A
. § 9 0 1 ( a) , o n e c o unt o f a g gr av at e d a s s au lt , 1 8 P a . C
. S
. A
. § 2 7 0 2 ( a) (l ) , o n e c o unt o f a g gr av at e d a s s au lt , 1 8 P a . C
. S
. A
. § 2 7 0 2 ( a) ( 4 ) , an d
o n e c o unt o f

p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi r e arm , p ro h ib i t e d , 1 8 P a . C
. S
. A
. § 6 0 1 5 ( a) (l )
. D e fe n d ant p ro c e e d e d t o a j ury tr i a l , wh e r e in h e w a s r e p r e s e nt e d b y Att o rn e y s C hri s t o p h e r H a i dz e an d Al an M an d e rin o o f th e p ub li c d e fe n d e r ' s o ffi c e . H e w a s fo un d Gu i l ty at a ll c o unt s o n Au gu s t 1 6 , 2 0 1 3
. D e fe n d ant w as s e nt e n c e d o n N o v e mb e r 13 , 2 0 1 3 t o li fe i n p ri s o n w i th o ut th e p o s s i b ili ty o fp ar o l e . D e fe n d ant fi l e d a d ir e c t a p p e a l , an d th e 

### 2C o urt ' s j u d gm e nt o f s ent e n c e w a s a ffi rm e d b y th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e ri o r C o urt o n Jun e 1 8 , 2 0 1 5
. D e fe n d ant ' s p e t i ti o n fo r a ll o w an c e o f a p p e a l w a s d e n i 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 n F e b ru ary 1 , 2 0 1 6
. D e fe n d ant fil e d a 

### pro- s e p e t i t i o n fo r p o s t - c o nv i c t i o n r e li e f o n D e c e mb e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 6
.

. Th e C o urt a

p p o i nt e d Att o rn e y T i m o thy An dr e w s t o r e p r e s e nt h i m , an d Att o rn e y An dr e w s fi l e d an am e n d e d P C RA p e t i t i o n o n Ap ri l 2 6 , 2 0 1 7
. T h e C o urt o r d e r e d an 

### e v i d e nti ary h e ari n g o n th e m att e r , b ut p ri o r t o th e h e ar in g , Att o rn e y An dr e w s fil e d a m o ti o n t o
w i th dr aw a s c o un s e l , c i ti n g D e fe n d ant' s s t at e m e nt th at h e h a d r e p o rt e d hi m t o th e D i s c ip li n ar

y B o ar d fo r f

ai lur e t o p ur s u e D e fe n d ant' s cl a i m s . T hu s , o n O c t o b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 , Att o rn e y An dr e w s ' a

p p e ar an c e w a s w i th dr awn , an d Att o rn e y M i c h a e l D e M att w a s
a p p o int e d t o r ep r e s e nt D e fe n d ant i n furth e r p ro c e e d i n g s . An e v i d e nti ary h e ari n g w a s h e l d
o n Ju l y 6 , 2 0 1 8
. In h i s am e n d e d p e ti ti o n fo r r e li e f , D e fe n d ant m ak e s th e fo ll o w i n g cl a i m s : ( 1 ) th e fa ilur e t o i nt e rv i e w o r � ub p o e n a a w i tn e s s n am e d D e o n L e e r e g ar d in g in fo rm at i o n th at th e v i c t i m p o s s e s s e d a fi r e arm m inut e s b e fo r e th e c o n fr o nt at i o n r e p r e s e nt s in 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 ; ( 2 ) c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa il in g t o s e c ur e an inv e s t i g at o r t o d e t e rm i n e i f any o th e r b u ll e t s c o u l d b e r e c o v e r e d fr o m th e c ri m e s c e n e ; ( 3 ) c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c ti v e fo r fa i li n g t o i nt e rv i e w an d s ub p o e n a fo rm e r Arn o l d P o li c e C h i e f E ri c D o ub t
wh o D e f e n d ant av e r s w o u l d h av e t e s t i fi e d th at th e v i c t im h a d thr e at e n e d D e fe n d ant ' s 

### li fe ;
an d ( 4 ) c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e in fa il in g t o a dv i s e D e fe n d ant o f a p l e a o ff e r fr o m th e C o mm o nw e a l th p ri o r t o tr i a l ; an d ( 5 ) c o un s e l w a s in e ff e c t i v e fo r f

a il in g t o p e r fo rm a gun s h o t r e s i d

u e t e s t o n e i th e r J o hn E v an s o r W i lli e Y o un g . 

### 3

### II
. E L I G IB IL I T Y F O R RE L IE F :

T h e r e qu ir e m e nt s fo r r e li e f un d e r th e P o s t - C o nv i c ti o n Re li e f A c t ar e s e t fo rth b o th i n th e A c t i t s e l f ( 4 2 P a . C
. S
. § 9 5 4 1 , e t. s e q . ) an d i n th e R u l e s o f C ri m i n a l P ro c e d ur e ( P a . R
. C ri m . P
. R

u l e s 9 0 1 an d 9 0 2 )
. G e n e r a ll y s p e akin g , P C RA p e ti t i o n e r s , t o b e e li g ib l e fo r r e li e f , mu s t , int e r a li a , p l e a d an d p r o v e th e ir a s s e rti o n s b y a p r ep o n d e ran c e o f th e e v i d e n c e . S e c ti o n 9 5 4 3 ( a)
. I nh e r e nt in th i s p l e a d in g an d p ro o f r e qu i r e m e nt i s th at th e p e ti ti o n e r mu s t n o t o n l y s t at e wh at h i s i s s u e s ar e , b ut a l s o h e mu s t d e m o n s tr at e in h i s p l e a di n g s an d b ri e fs h o w th e i s s u e s w ill b e p ro v e d
. M o r e o v e r , a ll e g ati o n s o f c o n s ti tut i o n a l v i o l at i o n o r o f in e ff e c t i v e n e s s o f c o un s e l mu s t b e d i s c u s s e d " i n th e c ir c um s tan c e s o f th e c a s e . " S e c ti o n 9 5 4 3 ( a) ( 2 ) (i
- i i )
. A d d i t i o n a ll y , th e p e ti ti o n e r mu s t e s t a b li s h b y · a p r e p o n d e ran c e o f e v i d e n c e th at b e c au s e o f th e a ll e g e d c o n s ti tuti o n a l v i o l ati o n o r in e ff e c ti v e n e s s , " n o r e l i ab l e a d j u d ic at i o n o f gu il t o r inn o c e n c e c o u l d h av e t ak e n p l a c e . " S e c t i o n 9 5 4 3 ( a) ( 2 ) (i
- ii )
. F i n al l y , p e t i t i o n e r mu s t p l e a d an d p ro v e th at th e i s s u e h a s n o t b e e n w a i v e d o r fi n a ll y l i ti g at e d , § 9 5 4 3 ( a) ( 3 ) , an d i f th e i s s u e h a s n o t b e e n li t i g at e d e arl i e r , th e p e ti t i o n e r mu s t p l e a d an d p ro v e th at th e fa ilur e t o l i ti g at e " c o u l d n o t h av e b e e n th e r e s u l t o f any r at i o n a l , s tr at e g i c o r t a c t i c al d e c i s i o n b y c o un s e l. " S e c t i o n 9 5 4 3 ( a) ( 4 )
. 

### C o m m . v. R iv e r

s, 7 8 6 A
. 2 d 9 2 3 , 9 2 7 (P a . 2 0 0 1 )
. F urth e r , a P C RA p e t i ti o n , in c lu di n g s e c o n d an d s ub s e qu e nt p e ti ti o n s , mu s t b e fil e d
w i th i n o n e y e ar o f th e d at e th at th e j u d g m e nt o f s e nt e n c e b e c o m e s fi n a l. 4 2 P a . C
. S
. § 9 5 4 5 (b ) ( l ) ; P a . R
. C ri m . P
. R u l e 9 0 1. Th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o urt " h a s r ep e at e d l y s t at e d th at th e P C RA ti m e l i n e s s r e qu i r e m e nt s ar e j uri s di c t i o n al in n atur e an d , a c c o rd i n g l y , a P C RA c o urt c ann o t h e ar unt im e l y P C RA p e ti t i o n s . " 

### C o m m . v. L i

go n s, 9 7 1 A
. 2 d 1 1 2 5 , 1 1 6 4 ( P a . 2 0 0 9 ) ( c i t in g 

### C o m m . v. R i e nz i

, 8 2 7 A
. 2 d 3 6 9 , 3 7 1 ( P a . 2 0 0 3 ) )
.


### 4I n th i s c a s e , th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o urt d e n i e d D e fe n d ant ' s p e ti ti o n fo r
a ll o w an c e o f a

p p e a l o n F e b ru ar

y 1 , 2 0 1 6
. Th e i n s t ant P C RA p e ti ti o n w a s fil e d o n D e c e mb e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 6
. T hu s , D e fe n d ant ' s p e ti ti o n i s p at e nt l y ti m e l y . A d d i ti o n a ll y , b e c au s e D e fe n d ant h a s ra i s e d an a ll e g ati o n o f th e in e ff e c ti v e a s s i s t an c e
o f c o un s e l , h e mu s t p l e a d an d p ro v e , b y a p r e p o n d e r an c e o f th e e v i d e n c e : (1 ) th at th e r e i s m e ri t t o th e un d e rl y in g cl a i m ; ( 2 ) th at c o un s e l h a d n o r e a s o n ab l e b a s i s fo r h i s o r h e r c o ur s e o f c o n d u c t ; an d ( 3 ) th at th e r e i s a r e a s o n a b l e p ro b ab i li ty th at , b ut fo r th e a c t o r o m i s s i o n c h a ll e n g e d , th e o ut c o m e o f th e p ro c e e d in g w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff e r e nt. 

### C o m m . v. J

o n es, 6 8 3 A. 2 d 1 1 8 1 , 1 1 8 8 (P a . 1 9 9 6 )
. C o un s e l i s p r e s um e d t o b e e ff e c t i v e an d Ap p e ll ant h a s th e b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g o th e r

w i s e . 

### C o m m . 

### v. M

a r s h a ll , 6 3 3 A
. 2 d 11 0 0 ( P a . 1 9 9 3 )
. A d d i ti o n a ll y , c o un s e l c ann o t b e c o n s i d e r e d in e ff e c ti v e fo r fa il in g t o ra i s e a c l a i m th at i s w i th o ut m e ri t. 

### C o m m . v. Pe te r k in , 6 4 9 A
. 2 d 1 2 1 (P a . 1 9 9 4 ) ; 

### C o m m. v. H

o llo w a y , 7 3 9 A
. 2 d 1 0 3 9 , 1 0 4 4 (P a . 1 9 9 9 )
. E a c h o f D e fe n d ant' s c l a im s o f 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 w ill b e d i s c u s s e d in 

### turn . ID
. D I S C U S S I O N : ( A ) W HE T H E R C O UN S E L WA S IN E F F E C T IVE F O R F AI L IN G T O IN T E R V I E W O R S U B P O ENA D E O N L E E ? F ir s t , D e fe n d ant a s s e rt s th at c o un s e l w a s in e ff e c t i v e fo r f

ai l in g t o s ub p o e n a D eo n L e e fo r tri a l , r e g ar d i n g t e s ti m o ny th at v i c ti m J o hn " N e w Y o rk M i k e " E v an s h a d b e e n thr e at e n i n g D e fe n d ant , an d w a s i n p o s s es s i o n o f a fi r e ami s h o rt l y b e fo r e th e s h o o ti n g . Wh e n r a i s in g a fa i lur e t o c a ll a p o t e nti a l w i tn e s s c l a im , th e P C RA p e t i t i o n e r s at i s fi e s th e p e r fo rm an c e an d p r e j u d i c e r e qu i r e m e nt s o f th e in 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 t e s t b y · e s t ab li s h in g th at: (1 ) th e w i tn es s e x i s t e d ; ( 2 ) th e w i tn e s s w a s av a il ab l e t o t e s t i fy fo r th e d e fe n s e ; ( 3 ) c o un s e l kn e w o f , o r s h o u l d h av e kn o wn o f , th e e x i s t e n c e o f 5th e w i tn e s s ; ( 4 ) th e w i tn e s s w a s w i lli n g t o t e s t i fy fo r th e d e f e n s e ; an d ( 5 ) th e a

b s e n c e o f th e t e s t im o ny o f

th e w i tn e s s w a s s o p r e

j u d i c i a l a s t o h av e d e n i e d th e d e fe n d ant a fa i r tri a l. 

### C o m m . v. W

as h i ngto n , 9 2 7 A
. 2 d 5 8 6 , 5 9 9 ( P a . 2 0 0 7 )
. T o d e m o n s trat e p r e j u d i c e , th e P C RA p e t i t i o n e r " mu s t s h o w h o w th e un c a ll e d w i tn e s s e s 1 t e s t i m o ny w o u l d h av e b e e n b e n e fi ci a l un d e r th e c ir c um s t an c e s o f th e c a s e . " 

### C o m m . v. G i bs o n , 9 5 1 A
. 2 d 1 1 1 0 , 1 1 3 4 (P a . 2 0 0 8 ) ; 

### s e e a l

s o C o m m . v. C

h m i e l , 8 8 9 A
. 2 d 5 0 1 , 5 4 6 (P a . 2 0 0 5 ) ( " T ri a l
c o un s e l' s fa i lur e t o c a ll a p art i c u l ar w i tn e s s d o e s n o t c o n s t i tut e in e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e w i th o ut s o m e s h o w i n g th at th e a b s e nt w i tn e s s 1 t e s ti m o ny w o u l d h av e b e e n b e n e fi c i a l o r h e lp fu l i n e s t ab li s h i n g th e a s s e rt e d d e f e n s e . " )
. Att o rn e y C hri s t o p h e r H a i dz e t e s t i fi e d at th e e v i d e nti ar y h e ari n g : I r e m e mb e r th e n am e . I d o n ' t think w e c a ll e d h i m : I d o n ' t kn o w th at w e g o t in t o u c h w i th h i m t o c a ll h i m a s a w i tn e s s . I d o n ' t r e c a ll i f h e w o u l d ' v e b e e n a w i tn e s s fo r p ri o r i s s u e s b e tw e e n th e tw o o f th e m o r fr o m th at n i g ht. B ut I d o n o t kn o w th at w e tri e d t o c o nt a c t h i m . . b ut i f w e d i d c o nt a c t h i m, an d h e d i d p ro v i d e u s [ r e l e v ant ] i n fo rm at i o n , th at w e w o u l d h av e u s e d h i m . I d o n ' t r e c a ll th at w e w e r e a b l e t o fi n d h i m . ( P C RA 7 )
. 2 D e fe n d ant a l s o e nt e r e d i nt o e v i d e n c e a l e tt e r th at w a s c o nt a in e d w i th i n th e p ub li c d e fe n d e r ' s fil e . Th e l e tt e r w a s d at e d a fe w m o nth s p ri o r t o tri a l , an d w a s s i gn e d b y D e o n L e e . I t r e a d , i n p art :

H e c am e a c ro s s th e s tr e e t t o M i k e ' s s h o p . An d M ik e an d hi s c o u s in j o in e d 

### in wi th s c r e ami n g at [ D e fe n d ant ] an d m akin g thr e at s t o w ar d s [ D e fe n d ant ]
. [D e fe n d ant ] h a s n e v e r g o t in any tro ub l e wh ats o e v e r. H e i s v e ry · p o li t e p l e a s ant t o e v e ry o n e , h ar d w o rk e r .

2 Num e r a l s i n p ar e nth e s i s p r e c e d e d b y th e l e tt e r s " P C RA " r e fe r t o s p e c ifi c p a g e s o fth e tr an s c rip t o f th e t e s ti m o ny p r e s e nt e d at th e P C RA e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g , h e l d July 6, 2 0 1 8 , an d m a d e a p art o f th e r e c o r d h e r e in
. 

### 6T h e h ar a s s m e nt w e nt o n fo r s o m e t i m e . 

### It g o t t o th e p o int wh e r e I t o l d Mi k e t o l e av e hi m a l o n e . H e d o n ' t b o th e r any o n e . H e t o l d m e t o s hut th e " F " u p . I w o u l d t a l k w i th [ D e fe n d ant ] j u s t ab o ut e v e ry d ay t o s e e i fh e w a s o k ay b e c au s e I kn o w h e w a s b e i n g h ara s s e d an d thr e at e n e d
. I w o u l d t e ll h i m M i k e s t art e d t o r un ar o un d t o wn li k e h e w a s a r e a l ki ll e r , b i g t i m e g an g s t e r .
I s e e n Mi k e t ak e th e gun fr o m un d e r hi s c ab i n e t - c o unt e rt o p an d p ut i t in h i s p ant s o n th e ri ght s i d e . W e l e ft o ut o f h i s s h o p an d T h a i an d P o k e y w a s th e r e . S o Mi k e a s k e d m e t o w a l k o v e r t o F am i l y D o ll ar w ith th e m . I t o l d h i m n o . W e g o t t o th e c o m e r o f 9 th an d 4 th , an d I t o l d h i m I w as g o i n g h o m e an d w o u l d s e e hi m t o m o rr o w . ( P C RA 9
- 10 )
. Att o rn e y M an d e rin o s i m il arl y t e s t i fi e d th at h e c o u l d n o t r e c a ll wh e th e r h e r e a c h e d o ut t o D e o n L e e in r e g ar d s t o th e l e tt e r. ( P C RA 3 3 )
. C e rt a i n l y , th e a fo r e m e nt i o n e d t e s t i m o ny w o u l d b e b e n e fi c i a l fo r D e fe n d ant , a s L e e w o u l d a s s e rt th at E v an s w a s arm e d s h o rtl y b e fo r e th e s h o o t in g , an d th at E v an s h a d b e e n h ar a s s i n g D e fe n d ant fo r s o m e ti m e . Att o rn e y s H a i dz e an d M an d e r in o w e r e a l s o aw ar e o f thi s w i tn e s s , as r e fl e c t e d in th e l e tt e r c o nt a in e d w i thi n th e p ub li c d e f e n d e r ' s fil e . Wh at i s l e s s cl e ar i s wh e th e r D e o n L e e w a s w ill i n g t o t e s t i fy at tri a l , an d wh e th e r h e w a s a c tu a ll y av a i l ab l e . M o r e o v e r , b e c au s e L e e d i d n o t t e s ti fy at th e e vi d e nti ary h e ari n g , i t i s imp o s s ib le fo r th i s C o urt t o d e t e rmin e wh e th e r D e f e n d ant w a s p r e

j u d i c e d , s in c e 

### it w a s n o t a b l e t o j u d g e h i s c r e d ib ili ty . 

### C o m m . v. K

h a l if a h , 8 5 2 A .2 d 1 2 3 8 (P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 4 )
. A s
n o t e d b y th e S u

p r e m e C o urt i n 

### J

o h n s o n , th e m a in r e a s o n th at e v i d e nti ary h e arin g s ar e h e l d i s " s o th at c r e d ib ili ty d e t e rmin ati o n s c an b e m a d e ; o th e rw i s e , i s s u e s o f m at e ri a l fa c t 7c o u l d b e d e ci d e d o n p l e a d in g s an d a f fi d av i t s a l o n e . " 

### C

o m m . v. J

o h n s o n , 9 6 6 A .3 d 3 2 9 ( P a . 2 0 0 9 )
. 

### If L e e w e r e p r e s e nt , h e c o u l d a l s o s t at e wh e th e r h e w a s w ill i n g t o t e s t i fy at tri a l. I n L e e ' s ab s e n c e , th e C o urt i s l e ft o n l y w i th a l e tt e r p urp o rt e d l y s i gn e d b y an i n d i v i d u a l w i th unkn o wn c r e d i b ili ty wh o h a s n e v e r t e s t i fi e d un d e r o ath r e g ar d i n g h i s s t at e m e nt s . F o r th e s e r e a s o n s , D e fe n d ant ' s c l a im s r e g ar d in g h i s c o un s e l ' s fa i lur e t o c a ll th i s w itn e s s ar e m e ri t l e s s . 

### ( A ) WHE T H E R C O U N S E L WA S IN E F F E C T I VE F O R F AI L IN G T O S E C URE AN INVE S T I GA T O R T O D E T E RM IN E I F ANY O T H E R B UL L E T S C O UL D B E RE T RIE VE D F R O M T H E C RIM E S C EN E ? D e f e n d ant n e xt c o nt e n d s th at i n an att e mp t t o b o l s t e r h i s cl a i m o f s e l f
- d e f e n s e , c o un s e l s h o u l d h av e h i r e d an e xp e rt t o r e c o v e r a d d i t i o n a l b u ll e t s o r s h e ll c a s i n g s fr o m th e
c ri m e s c e n e . At tri a l , D e t e c ti v e Hu gh S h e ar e r , an e xp e rt i n th e fi e l d o f c r im e s c e n e inv e s t i g at i o n w i th 4 2 y e ar s o f l aw e n fo r c e m e nt e xp e ri e n c e ( 1 2 y e ar s o f whi c h h a d b e e n d e d i c at e d t o c ri m e s c e n e i nv e s t i g at i o n ) , t e s t i fi e d th at h e r e c o v e r e d fo ur ( 4 ) 9 m ill i m e t e r
c artri d g e c a s i n g s n e ar E v an s ' p e r s o n . ( TT 3 4 5 , 3 5 1 )
. C artr i d g e c a s i n g o n e ( 1 ) w a s
r e c o v e r e d s i x ( 6 ) fe e t s o uth o f E v an s ' h e a d ; c artr i d g e c a s i n g tw o ( 2 ) w a s r e c o v e r e d e i g ht ( 8 ) fe e t s o uth o f E v an s ' w a i s t ; c artri d g e thr e e ( 3 ) w a s r e c o v e r e d n i n e ( 9 ) fe e t s o uth o f E v an s ' w a i s t ; an d c artri d g e c a s e fo ur ( 4 ) w a s r e c o v e r e d tw e l v e ( 1 2 ) fe e t s o uth o f E v an s ' fe e t. ( TI 3 5 3 )
. D e t e c t i v e S h e ar e r al s o r e c o v e r e d thr e e ( 3 ) a d d i t i o n a l s p e nt c a s i n g s o n th e
s i d e w a lk in fr o nt o f th e F am il y D o ll ar S t o r e . ( TI 3 5 4 )
. F r a g m e nt s o f b u ll e t s w e r e a l s o l o c at e d n e ar th e s c e n e an d i n s i d e th e F am i l y D o ll ar S t o r e . ( T T 3 6 0
- 6 2 )
. M o r e o v e r , 

### 8D e t e c ti v e S h e ar e r t e s ti fi e d th at " d ur in g th e c o ur s e o f m o v i n g th e v i c ti m ' s l e ft l e g , a b u ll e t , a d i s c h ar g e d b u ll e t , h a d [ fa ll e n ] o ut o f th e c u ff o f [ ] h i s p ant l e g o f

hi s l e ft l e g . ( TI 3 6 8 )
. Att o rn e y H a i dz e t e s t i fi e d d urin g th e e v i d e nti ary h e ari n g th at " w e g o t i nv o l v e d
w e ll a ft e r th e p r e li m i n ary h e ari n g s o w e d i dn ' t h av e any o n e inv e s t i g at in g th e s c e n e fo r tra c e e v i d e n c e o r p hy s i c a l e v i d e n c e li k e th at . " (P C RA 1 2 )
. T h e r e i s n o m e ri t t o D e fe n d ant ' s cl a i m . A s n o t e d , 

### s u p ra, an e xp e ri e n c e d c ri m e s c e n e inv e s t i g at o r p o r e d o v e r th e c ri m e s c e n e in c ar e fu l an d m e t i c u l o u s fa s hi o n . D e t e c t i v e S h e ar e r m e th o di c a ll y s e ar c h e d th e a c ti v e c ri m e s c e n e an d p h o t o gr a p h e d an d l ab e l e d a ll e v i d e n c e s h o wn . A s n o t e d b y Att o rn e y H ai dz e , th e p ub li c d e fe n d e r ' s o f fi c e w a s n o t inv o l v e d w i th th e c a s e unt il a ft e r th e p r e l imin ary h e ar in g , at wh i c h p o int th e c r im e s c e n e w a s n o l o n g e r in th e s am e c o n di t i o n a s i t w a s s h o rt l y a ft e r th e c o mmi s s i o n o f th e c r im e . Any s e ar c h c o n d u c t e d a ft e r th e r e l e v ant e v i d e n c e h a d a lr e a dy b e e n c o ll e c t e d
w o u l d n o t h av e b e e n l e g a ll y a dm i s s i b l e . F o r th e s e r e a s o n s , d e fe n s e c o un s e l w a s n o t in e ff e c t i v e i n th e i r fa ilur e t o c a ll an o th e r b a lli s ti c s e xp e rt t o s e ar c h th e s c e n e . 

### (B ) WH E T H E R C O U

N S E L WA S INE F F E C T IVE F O R F AIL IN G T O C AL L 

### A S A W I TNE S S P O L I C E C HI E F E RI C D O UB T ? D e fe n d ant n e xt cl a im s th at d e fe n s e c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa ili n g t o i nt e rv i e w o r c al l Arn o l d P o l i c e C h i e f E ri c D o ub t. D e fe n d ant av e r s th at h e in fo rm e d C hi e f D o ub t th at V i c t im h a d thr e at e n e d h i s li fe v i a t e l e p h o n e . S p e c i fi c a ll y , D e fe n d ant t e s t i fi e d :

I l e t th e m kn o w th at I w a s thr e at e n e d b y M ik e - - I w e nt t o th e p o li c e s t at i o n 

### in Arn o l d , P A
. I r e p o rt e d t o th e C h i e f o f P o li c e . H e h a d a dv i s e d m e t o c o m e d o wn t o W e s tm o r e l an d C o unty 

### 9C o urth o u s e an d t o try t o p ut a r e s tra ini n g o r d e r o n M i k e an d hi s guy s . (P C RA 4 5 )
. D e fe n d ant furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at a r e s tr a i n i n g o r d e r w a s n e v e r i s s u e d
. 

### I d. A s n o t e d , 

### s u

p ra, i n o r d e r t o s u c c e s s fu ll y a s s e rt a c l a i m o f in e ff e c t i v e a s s i s t an c e i n
c o un s e l i n r e fe r e n c e t o fa i l ur e t o c a ll a w i tn e s s , th e d e fe n d ant mu s t e s t ab li s h (1 ) th e w i tn e s s e x i s t e d ; ( 2 ) th e w i tn e s s w a s av a il a b l e t o t e s t i fy fo r th e d e fe n s e ; ( 3 ) c o un s e l kn e w o f , o r s h o u l d h av e kn o wn o f , th e e x i s t e n c e o f th e w i tn e s s ; ( 4 ) th e w i tn e s s w a s
w ill in g t o t e s ti fy fo r th e d e fe n s e ; an d 

### ( 5 ) th e a b s e n c e o f th e t e s t i m o ny o f th e w i tn e s s w a s
s o p r e j u d i c i a l a s t o h av e d e n i e d th e d e f e n d ant a fa ir tr i a l. 

### C

o m m . v. W

as h i ngto n , 9 2 7 A
. 2 d 5 8 6 , 5 9 9 (P a . 2 0 0 7 )
. 

### In thi s in s t an c e , D e fe n d ant h a s fa il e d t o e s t a b li s h e v e n a s in g l e p ro n g . Unl i k e th e p ro ff e r e d t e s t im o ny o f D e o n L e e , D e fe n d ant h a s n o t intr o d u c e d any p i e c e o f e v i d e n c e th at w o u l d s u

p p o rt 

# th e n o t i o n th at C h i e f D o ub t w o u l d h av e t e s t i fi e d t o s u c h a
c o nv e r s at i o n w i th D e f e n d ant . N e i th e r Att o rn e y H a i dz e n o r M an d e r in o h a d any
r e c o ll e c t i o n o f c o nv e r s at i o n s w i th C h i e f D o ub t. (P C RA 1 3 , 3 4 )
. S im il ar l y , C hi e f D o ub t
w a s n o t p r e s e nt t o t e s ti fy r e g ar d in g h i s c o nv e r s at i o n s w i th D e fe n d ant : Thu s , wh at i s le ft fo r th e C o urt t o an a l y z e i s a s t at e m e nt 

### b y D e fe n d ant r e g ar d in g an a ll e g e d c o nv e r s ati o n
w i th C hi e f D o ub t , wh o d i d n o t t e s ti fy t o · th e a c c ur a c y o f s u c h a s t at e m e nt. F o r m any o f th e s am e r e a s o n s th at D e fe n d ant ' s ar gum e nt r e g ar d i n g D e o n L e e mu s t fa il , p a ir e d w i th th e fa c t th at C h i e f D o ub t h a s n o t v e ri fi e d th e v e ra c i ty o f D e fe n d ant' s s t at e m e nt s , thi s
c l a i m t o o mu s t fa il
.
1 0

### ( C ) WH E T HE R C O UN S E L WA S INE F F E C T I VE F O R F AI L IN G T O

AD VI S E D E F END AN T O F A P L E A O F F E R F RO M T HE C O M M O N W E A L T H ? D e f e n d ant a l s o a s s e rt s th at c o un s e l w as i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa il in g t o n o t i fy h i m o f an o ff e r m a d e b y th e C o mm o nw e a l th
. D e fe n d ant d o e s n o t s t at e th e d e t a il s o f s u c h an o ff e r , b ut t e s t i fi e d at th e e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g a s fo ll o w s :

I r e m e mb e r th at I w a s t o l d b y my c o un s e l th at i t w a s a s e l fd e fe n s e c a s e ; i t w a s a ll o r n o thin g . Th at th e y d i dn ' t b e l i e v e th e p l e a o ff

e r th at w a s g i v e n t o m e w a s - th at I s h o u l dn ' t t ak e i t. I t w a s g o o d fo r m e t o w in th e c a s e . ( P C RA 4 6 )
. Wh e n a s k e d wh at th e o ff e r w a s , D e fe n d ant t e s t i fi e d , " th e r e w a s - fi n a l 1 0 t o - 5 t o 1 0 fo r d i ff e r e nt typ e s o f p ro gr am s o r e xt e n s i o n s - fo r d i ff e r e nt typ e s , runn in g s e p arat e . " ( P C RA 4 6 )
. A l th o u g h D e fe n d ant' s am e n d e d P C RA a s s e rt s th at D e f e n d ant w a s J?. O t in fo rm e d o f
a p l e a o ff

e r , D e fe n d ant i s s e e m i n g l y ar gu in g th at c o un s e l w a s in e ff e c t i v e fo r a dv i s i n g D e f e n d ant t o r e

j e c t a p ro ff

e r e d o ff e r . C e rt a in l y , c o un s e l h a s a d uty t o in fo rm h i s o r h e r c li e nt o f t e n d e r e d p l e a a gr e e m e nt s an d m ay b e fo un d i n e ff e c t i v e fo r fa ili n g t o d o s o . 

### C o m m . v. C

o p e l a n d , � 5 4 A
. 2 d 5 4 (P a . S u

p e r. 1 9 8 8 )
. T o s u c c e e d o n th i s i s s u e , D e fe n d ant mu s t p ro v e (1 ) an o ff e r fo r a p l e a w a s m a d e ; ( 2 ) tri a l c o un s e l fa il e d t o i n fo rm h i m o f s u c h
. o ff

e r ; ( 3 ) tri a l c o un s e l h a d n o r e a s o n ab l e b a s i s fo r fa il in g t o in fo rm h i m o f th e p l e a o ff

e r ; an d ( 4 ) h e w a s p r e

j u d i c e d th e r e b y . 

### I

d
. If D e fe n d ant i s av e rrin g th at c o un se l imp ro p e rl y a dv i s e d h i m t o r e j e c t a p l e a o f

fe r , th e s t an d ar d in 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 thr e e - p ro n g t e s t w o u l d a p p l y .

1 1Att o rn e y H a i dz e t e s t i fi e d th at h e d i d n o t r e c a ll any p l e a o ff e r s b e i n g m a d e , b ut th at i f th e r e w e r e " w e w o u l d h av e d i s c u s s e d w i th 

### Mr
. Ri v e r a . " ( P C RA 1 4 )
. F urth e r , h e t e s t i fi e d th at h e " w o u l d n e v e r a dv i s e a c li e nt t o r e j e c t an o ff

e r , " an d th at i t i s h i s p ra c t i c e t o s imp l y a dv i s e a cl i e nt o f th e o ff e r . ( P C RA 2 2 )
. Att o rn e y M an d e ri n o t e s t i fi e d th at h e d i d n o t r e c a ll any p l e a o ff e r s b e i n g m a d e . ( P C RA 3 4 )
. H e a l s o t e s t i fi e d th at h e a l w ay s i n fo rm s c l i ent s o f p l e a o ff e r , v i e win g i t a s h i s " o b li g at i o n e v e n i f th e o ff e r w a s ri d i c u l o u s . " (P C RA 3 9 )
. D e fe n d ant h a s n o t o ff

e r e d any p ro o f

th at s u c h a p l e a o ff

e r e xi s t e d
. 

### If D e f

e n d ant i s
argu in g th at h e w a s un aw ar e th at a p l e a o ff e r e x i s t e d , i t i s un c l e ar h o w D e fe n d ant l e arn e d
o f s u c h an o ff

e r th at d o e s n o t e x i s t i n th e r e c o r d n o r i n th e p ub li c d e fe n d e r ' s fi l e . 

### If D e fe n d ant i s argu i n g th at c o un s e l a dv i s e d hi m t o r e j e c t an o ff

e r , Att o rn e y H a i dz e an d M an d e ri n o ' s c r e d ib l e t e s t im o ny b e li e s th i s av e rm e nt , A s a p t l y n o t e d 

### b y Att o rn e y H a i dz e at th e e v i d e nt i ary h e ari n g , " p ro b ab l y e v e ry ti m e w e g e t an o ff e r , w e e n c o ura g e th e cl i e nt t o c o n s i d e r i t b e c au s e th at c e rt a i n l y m o v e s th in g s a l o n g qu i c k e r th an i nv e s t in g th e ti m e th at i t t o o k t o try th i s c a s e . " (P C RA 2 2 )
. A s th e C o urt h a s d e t e rm in e d th e d e fe n s e
c o un s e l' s t e s ti m o ny w a s c r e d ib l e an d th at D e fe n d ant ' s t e s ti m o ny w a s n o t c r e d i b l e , th i s cl a i m , t o o , mu s t fa i l. 

### ( E ) W H E T H E R C O U

N S E L WA S INE F F E C T IVE F O R F A I L IN G T O H IRE AN E XP E RT T O D E T E RM IN E WH E T H E R GU N S H O T RE S ID U E
. WA S P RE S EN T O N VI C T IM ' S P E RS O N ? L a s t , D e fe n d ant av e r s th at c o un s e l w a s in e ff e c ti v e i n th e ir d e c i s i o n n o t t o p r e s e nt
an e xp e rt wh o c o u l d d e t e rm i n e wh e th e r gun s h o t r e s i d u e w a s p r e s e nt o n th e cl o th i n g o f 1 2J o hn E v an s . T e s ti m o ny p r e s e nt e d at tri a l e s t ab li s h e d th at gun s h o t r e s i d u e t e s t s w e r e n o t p e r fo rm e d o n e ith e r W ill i e Y o un g o r 

### Jo hn E v an ' s cl o th i n g b e c au s e i t i s th e p o li c y o f th e P e nn s y l v an i a S t at e P o l i c e n o t t o p e r fo rm s u c h t e s t s o n v i c ti m s . ( T T 1 2 1 )
. F i r s t , th e r e i s m e r i t t o D e fe n d ant ' s c l a i m . 

### If gun s h o t r e s i d u e w e r e fo un d o n e i th e r
v i c t i m , s u c h e v i d e n c e w o u l d c e rt a i n l y b e b e n e fi c i a l fo r D e fe n d ant' s c l a i m s o f s e l fd e fe n s e . H o w e v e r , D e fe n d ant c ann o t s u c c e s s fu ll y . a s s e rt th at h a d s u c h a t e s t b e e n p e r fo rm e d o n th e v i c t im s , th e r e i s a r e a s o n ab l e p ro b ab i li ty th at th e o ut c o m e o f th e p ro c e e d in g w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff e r e nt. D o c t o r C yri l W e c ht t e s ti fi e d th at J o hn E v an s d i e d a s th e r e s u l t o f tw o ( 2 ) gun s h o t
w o un d s . ( T T 3 3 2 )
. Y o un g t e s t i fi e d th at h e b e li e v e d th at D e fe n d ant s h o t at h im thr e e t i m e s , b ut h e w a s s h o t tw i c e . ( T T 1 7 0 , 1 7 3 )
. T h e ir t e s ti m o ny i s c o n s i s t e nt w i th th e fi n d in g s o f D e t e c ti v e S h e ar e r , wh o l o c at e d a t o t a l o f s e v e n ( 7 ) s h e ll c a s in g s at th e s c e n e . F o ur ( 4 ) o f th o s e w e r e r e c o v e r e d n e ar V i c t i m J o hn E v an ' s p e r s o n , wh i l e thr e e ( 3 ) w e r e r e c o v e r e d o n th e s i d e w a lk o f th e F am i l y D o ll ar , n e ar wh e r e V i c t i m W ill i e Y o un g w a s
s t an d in g at th e ti m e h e w a s s h o t. M o r e o v e r , C o rp o ra l D av i d 

### J. B url i n g am e t e s ti fi e d th at
a s an e xp e rt in th e fi e l d o f b a ll i s t i c s , i t w a s h i s o p ini o n th at th e s e v e n ( 7 ) d i s c h ar g e d s h e ll
c a s i n g s w e r e d i s c h ar g e d b y D e f e n d ant ' s fi r e arm . ( IT 4 5 2 )
. A s t o h i s c o nt e nt i o n th at Jo hn E v an s ' c l o thi n g s h o u l d h av e b e e n t e s t e d fo r gun s h o t r e s i d

u e , D e fe n d ant t e s t i fi e d at tri a l th at E v an s n e v e r fi r e d a s h o t p r

_i o r t o b e i n g
m o rt a ll y w o un d e d
. A ft e r fi rin g tw o w arni n g s h o t s at th e gro un d , D e fe n d ant t e s t i fi e d th at E v an s " k e p t c o m i n g " at him
. At th at t i m e , D e fe n d ant s t at e d h e t o o k a 

### gun o ut o f hi s
w a i s t b an d , an d <w a s o n h i s w ay t o p o i nt in g t o w ard s m e . " H e th e n s h o t E v an s . ( IT 7 7 9 - 

### 137 8 1 )
. Thu s , b a s e d o n D e fe n d ant ' s o wn t e s ti m o ny an d th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e nt e d , d e f e n s e c o un s e l a c t e d r e a s o n a

b l y i n n o t t e s ti n g E v an s ' cl o th i n g fo r gun s h o t r e s i d u e , an d th e r e i s li ttl e e v i d e n c e th at th e r e s u lt at tri a l w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff e r e nt h a d th e t e s t b e e n a dm i ni s t e r e d
. Wh il e D e fe n d ant c o nt e n d s th at E v an s n e v e r fi r e d a s h o t , h e d i d t e s ti fy th at h e o n l y s h o t Y o un g a ft e r Y o un g fi r e d a s h o t in h i s d i r e c t i o n . S p e c i fi c al l y , h e t e s ti fi e d th at p ri o r t o s h o o t in g Y o un g , h e s aw h i m r e a c hi n g fo r h i s w a i s t b an d an d " h e ar d a p o p c o m in [ g ] fro m hi s d ir e c ti o n . ( TT 7 8 2 )
. At th at p o i nt , h e t e s ti fi e d th at h e s h o t h i m . ( T T 7 7 9
- 8 2 )
. D e fe n d ant ' s t e s ti m o ny i s n o t s u p p o rt e d b y th e r e c o rd
. A s n o t e d , 

### s u p ra, C o rp o ra l B urli n g am e s t at e d i n h i s e xp e rt o p in i o n , a ll s h e ll c a s in g s fo un d at th e s c e n e c am e fr o m th e D e fe n d ant ' s fi r e arm th at w a s d i s c ard e d an d l at e r r e c o v e r e d b y o f fi c e r s . ( IT 4 5 2 )
. N o n e o f th e in d i v i d

u a l s wh o arri v e d at th e s c e n e s h o rtl y a ft e r th e s h o o t in g t e s ti fi e d th at Y o un g w a s in p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi r e arm . ( TT 7 0
- 9 0 )
. · B as e d o n th e l a c k o f e vi d e n c e i n th e r e c o r d s u p p o rt i n g th e n o t i o n th at W il li e Y o un g fi r e d a s h o t at D e f e n d ant p ri o r t o b e in g s h o t b y h i m , th e r e i s li ttl e e v i d e n c e th at h a d a gun s h o t r e s i d

u e t e s t b e e n p e r fo rm e d o n Y o un g , th e r e s u l t at tri a l w o u l d h av e b e e n d i ff e r e nt. F o r th at r e a s o n , D e fe n d ant' s cl a i m in g r e g ard i n g W i lli e Y o un g mu s t a l s o 

### fa i l.
F o r th e r e a s o n s s e t fo rth in th e C o urt ' s O p i n i o n , D e fe n d ant' s P e t i ti o n fo r P o s t C o nv i c t i o n R e li e f

, fil e d p ur s u ant t o th e P o s t C o nv i c ti o n Re li e f A c t , ( 4 2 P a . C
. S
. § 9 5 4 1 

### e t . S e q . ) i s h e r e b y 

### D I S M I S S E D
.



### 1 4

### T HE D E F E N D A NT I S N O T I F I E D T HA T A N Y A P P E A L T O T H E

S UP E RI O R C O U R T O F P E N N S Y L VA NI A F R O M T H I S C O UR T ' S D I S MI S S A L O F H I S P C RA P E T I T I O N M U S T B E F IL E D W I T HIN T HIR T Y ( 3 0 ) D AY S F R O M T H E D A T E O F T ID S O RD E R O F C O UR T .

A T T E S T : C l e rk o f C o urt s

c c : F if

e Jo hn P e tru s h , E s q . , A s s i s tant D i s tric t Att o rn e y Mi c h a e l D e m att , E s q . , C o un s e l fo r D e fe n d ant C hri s H a i dz e , E s q . , T ri a l C o un s e l fo r D e fe n d ant A l an M an d e rin o , E s q . , T ri a l C o un s e l fo r D e fe n d ant R aym o n d Ri v e r a , D e fe n d ant - S C I F o r e s t, ( L Y
- 3 7 5 2 )

2 8 6 W o o d l an d D ri v e P
. O
. B o x 9 4 5 M ari e nv ill e , P A 1 6 2 3 9 P am e l a N e i d e r

h i s e r , E s q . , C o urt A dm in i s tr at o r ' s O ffi c e

1 5