### J - S 02030 - 18

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

v. TERRANCE M. JONES

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

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 1130 EDA 2016 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 28, 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0008269 - 2013 BEFORE: BOWES, J., NICHOLS, J., and RANSOM, J. * 

### MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.: FILED MARCH 29, 2018 Appellant Terrance M. Jones appeals from the judgment of sentence entered following a four - day jury trial and his convictions for possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a firearm in Ph iladelphia, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, and reckless ly endangering another person. 1 

### He challenges whether his conviction s w ere against the weight of the evidence. We affirm. We adopt the facts and procedural history set forth in the trial court ’ s opinion. See Trial Ct. Op., 3/22/17, at 1 - 5. Following his convictions, the court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate sentence of six - and - a - half to

_________________ ____________________ _______ * 

### Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § § 6105, 6106, 6108, 907, 2701, 2705, respectively.

### J - S 02030 - 18

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seventeen years ’ imprisonment. Appellant timely filed a post - sentence motion challengi ng the weight of the evidence, which the court denied. Appellant timely filed a court - ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement. Appellant raises the following issue: Was not the verdict of guilt against the weight of the evidence to the degree that such seriou s doubt is cast upon the validity of [Appellant ’ s] conviction as to shock the conscience where, taking into consideration all the evidence presented at trial, there was exculpatory and contradictory evidence as to [Appellant ’ s] actions and location at the time the complainant was shot, and also inculpatory evidence as to another party who had the opportunity and motivation to commit the shooting, and the evidence thereby failed to prove by sufficient weight that it was [Appellant] who shot the complainant o r otherwise committed the crimes of which he was convicted? Appellant ’ s Brief at 3. In support of his issue, Appellant contends that the complainant ’ s identification of him as the culprit was suspect. Appellant ’ s Brief at 16. Appellant labels the complai nant ’ s identification testimony as equivocal and incredible because the complainant was intoxicated. Id. at 16 - 17. He also accuses the complainant as predisposed to identifying him because of a prior incident in which Appellant purportedly threatened the complainant with a weapon. Id. at 17. Appellant also points out that no other witness testified he was the shooter. Id. at 18. Finally, Appellant references alibi testimony by defense witnesses that he was not present at the time of the shooting. Id. Our sta ndard of review is well - settled: A claim alleging the verdict was against the weight of the evidence is addressed to the discretion of the trial court. Accordingly, an

### J - S 02030 - 18

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appellate court reviews the exercise of the trial court ’ s discretion; it does not answer for itself whether the verdict was against the weight of the evidence. It is well settled that the jury is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence and to determine the credibility of the witnesses, and a new trial based on a weight o f the evidence claim is only warranted where the jury ’ s verdict is so contrary to the evidence that it shocks one ’ s sense of justice. In determining whether this standard has been met, appellate review is limited to whether the trial judge ’ s discretion wa s properly exercised, and relief will only be granted where the facts and inferences of record disclose a palpable abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Houser , 18 A.3d 1128, 1135 - 36 (Pa. 2011) (quotation marks and citations omitted). After careful review of the record, the parties’ briefs, and the decision by the Honorable Diana Anhalt, we discern no abuse of discretion by the trial court. See Trial Ct. Op. at 5 - 7 (summarizing conflicting testimony). As the trial court accurately notes, credibility deter minations and resolving contradicting testimony were for the jury. See id. ; accord Houser , 18 A.3d at 1135 - 36 . Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 3/29/180041_Opinion Circulated 03/14/2018 01:10 PM

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p p e a l s th i s C o urt ' s j u d gm e nt r e g ar d i n g h i s c o nv i c t i o n fo r P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm , 1 8 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 6 1 0 5 ( a) (l ) an d r e l at e d o ff e n s e s . T h e C o urt s ub m it s th e fo ll o w i n g O p i n i o n i n a c c o r d an c e wi th th e r e qu i r e m e nt s o f P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 ( a) . F o r th e r e a s o n s s e t fo rth h e r e i n , th e C o urt h o l d s th at th e j u d g m e nt o f c o nv i c ti o n s h o u l d b e a f fi rm e d . 

### P R O C E D U RA L H I S T O R Y O n Jun e 9 , 2 0 13 , p o li c e arr e s t e d an d c h ar g e d Ap p e ll ant , T e rr an c e Jo n e s w i th num e ro u s o ff e n s e s s t e mm i n g fr o m a s h o o t i n g . O n N o v e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 5 , fo ll o w i n g aj ury tri a l , Ap p e ll ant w a s c o nv i c t e d o f

P o s s e s s i o n o f a F i r e arm ( F 2 ) , C arry i n g a F i r e arm W i th o ut a L i c e n s e ( F 3 ) , C arry i n g a F i r e arm i n P h i l a d e lp h i a ( M l ) , P o s s e s s i n g an I n s trum e nt o f C ri m e ( " P I C " ) ( M l ) , S i mp l e A s s au l t ( M 2 ) an d R e c k l e s s l y E n d an g e ri n g An o th e r P e r s o n ( " RE A P " ) ( M 2 ) . O n Janu ary 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , th i s C o urt s e nt e n c e d Ap p e ll ant t o an a g g r e g at e t e rm o f 6 . 5 - 1 7 y e ar s o f i n c ar c e rat i o n . Ap p e ll ant fi l e d a t i m e l y n o t i c e o f a p p e a l o n Ap ri l 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 . O n Ap ril 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 , th i s C o urt or d e r e d Ap p e ll ant p ur s u ant t o P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) t o fil e w i th th e C o urt a C o n ci s e S t at e m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o fo n Ap p e a l. O n M ay 6 , 2 0 1 6 , Ap p e ll ant fil e d a M o t i o n fo r E x t e n s i o n o f- · · - : · . ; . - . - . . · - • - - . - · . . � · ·

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t i m e . O n J anu ary 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 , th i s C o urt a g ai n o r d e r e d Ap p e ll ant p ur s u ant t o P a . R. A . P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) t o fil e w i th th e C o urt a C o n ci s e S t at e m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l. O n F e b ru ary 2 , 2 0 1 7 , Ap p e ll ant fil e d a S u p p l e m e nt a l S t at e m e nt o f E rr o r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l. Ap p e ll ant ra i s e s th e fo ll o w i n g i s s u e o n a p p e al : 1. T h e v e r d i c t o f gu il t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e fo r a ll o f

th e c ri m e s o f wh i c h th e d e fe n d ant w a s c o nv i c t e d t o th e d e g r e e th at s u c h s e ri o u s d o ub t i s c a s t u p o n th e v al i d i ty o f

th e d e fe n d ant' s c o nv i c t i o n a s t o s h o c k th e c o n s ci e n c e ; t o w it , t aki n g i nt o c o n s i d e rat i o n a ll th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e nt e d at tri a l , i n clu d i n g e x c u lp at o r y an d a l s o c o ntra d i c t o r

y e v i d e n c e a s t o , 

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e r a li a , th e d e fe n d ant' s a c t i o n s an d l o c at i o n s at th e t i m e o f th e c o mm i s s i o n o f

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un i ty an d m o t i v at i o n t o c o mm i t th e c ri m e s , an d th e s o ur c e o f th e s h o t th at w o un d e d th e c o mp l a i n ant , th e e v i d e n c e f ai l e d t o p ro v e b y s u f

fi ci e nt w e i g ht th at i t w a s th e d e fe n d ant wh o s h o t th e c o mp l a i n ant o r o th e rw i s e c o mm i tt e d th e c r i m e s o f wh i c h h e w a s c o nv i c t e d . 1 F A C T U AL H I S T O R

Y O n Jun e 8 , 2 0 13 , W ayn e O li v e r att e n d e d a p arty a c ro s s th e s tr e e t fr o m h i s h o m e o n th e 4 8 0 0 b l o c k o f

N o rth 7 th S tr e e t i n P h i l a d e lp h i a . N o t e s o fT e s t i m o ny (N . T . ) 1 1/2 3 / 1 5 at 9 . Ap p e ll ant ' s b ro th e r , M arl o n Jo n e s " M ar l o " an d a b un c h o f o th e r p e o p l e th at li v e o n th e b l o c k att e n d e d th e p arty . 

### I

d . at 1 1 . D uri n g th e p arty , M r . O li v e r an d M arl o g o t i nt o an ar gum e nt an d M arl o thr e w a p un c h at M r . O li v e r . 

### I d . at 1 4 . A s M r . O li v e r w a l k e d a c ro s s th e s tr e e t t o h i s h o u s e ,

1 C o un s e l n o t e s th at th i s s u p p l e m e nt a l s t at e m e nt i s fil e d i n r e s p o n s e t o th e c o urt ' s R u l e 1 9 2 5 ( b ) o r d e r o fJanu ary 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 , a p p ar e nt l y fi l e d in r e s p o n s e t o c o un s e l' s r e qu e s t fo r an e x t e n s i o n o f t i m e t o fi l e a s u

p p l e m e nt a l s t at e m e nt o f e rr o r s u p o n r e c e i p t o fa ll n e c e s s ary n o t e s o f t e s t i m o ny . C o un s e l n o t e s th at at th e t i m e o ffi l in g o f th i s s u p p l e m e nt a l s t at e m e nt , c o un s e l h a s r e c e i v e d a ll o ut s t an d i n g n o t e s o ft e s t i m o ny , h a s r e v i e w e d th o s e n o t e s an d i s r a i s i n g n o a d d i t i o n a l c l a i m s o fe rr o r b e y o n d th e c l a i m ra i s e d in th e o r i g in a l s t at e m e nt o fe rr o r s fil e d o n M ay 6 , 2 0 1 6 . 2· - · · · - · · - · . •

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M arl o fo ll o w e d hi m an d thr e at e n e d t o s h o o t an d b e at hi m . 

### I d . at 1 5 . M r. O li v e r m e t M arl o i n th e m i d d l e o f

th e s tr e e t , p un c h e d h i m twi c e , g o t o n t o p o f h i m an d " b e at th e h e ll o ut o f h i m . " 

### I d . at 1 7 . M r . O li v e r ' s s o n - i n - l aw , Anth o ny , r e m o v e d M r . O li v e r o ff o f M ar l o an d w a l k e d h i m b a c k u p th e b l o c k . 

### I

d . Anth o ny th e n d i r e c t e d M r . O li v e r b a c k t o h i s h o u s e . 

### I d . at 1 9 . A ft e r ab o ut 1 0 - 1 5 m i nut e s , 

### Mr . O l i v e r c am e b a c k o ut s i d e o n h i s p o r c h an d e n c o unt e r e d M ar l o ' s s o n . 

### I

d . at 2 0 . M arl o ' s s o n a s k e d Mr . O l i v e r wh o h i t h i s d a d an d Mr . O li v e r r e s p o n d e d th at h e d i d . 

### I

d . at 2 1. M arl o ' s s o n th e n thr e w a p un c h at M r . O l i v e r , j ump e d o ffh i s p o r c h an d r an b a c k i nt o th e s tr e e t. 

### I

d . M r . O l i v e r g o t o ff h i s s t e p s an d b e g an t o fi g ht M arl o ' s s o n . 

### I d . at 2 2 . M r . O l i v e r th e n n o t i c e d M ar l o ' s b ro th e r , Ap p e ll ant , l e an i n g o n a c ar o n th e o th e r s i d e o fth e s tr e e t . 

### I d . at 2 2 - 2 3 . A s M r . O li v e r an d M arl o ' s s o n w e r e fi g ht i n g , M ar l o ' s s o n r an t o w ar d Ap p e ll ant. 

### I d . at 5 6 . M r . O l i v e r th e n ran t o w ar d M ar l o an d Ap p e ll ant. 

### I d . at 5 6 - 5 7 . A t th i s p o i nt , 

### Mr . O l i v e r an d Ap p e ll ant ar e ab o ut thr e e fe e t fr o m e a c h o th e r . 

### I d . at 5 7 . Mr . O l i v e r tri e d t o s w i n g at Ap p e ll ant a s Ap p e ll ant ' s " h an d c am e u p . " 

### I d . at 2 4 . Ap p e ll ant th e n s h o t Mr . O li v e r o n c e . 

### I d . at 2 5 . T h e b u ll e t w e nt thr o u g h th e t o p o f h i s g r o i n , w a s l o d g e d i n h i s l e g an d r e m ai n s th e r e t o th i s d ay . 

### I d . at 2 7 . Anth o ny th e n p i c k e d M r . O li v e r u p an d c arri e d h i m t o h i s p o r c h . 

### I d . at 3 0 . M r . O li v e r th e s t ay e d o n th e p o r c h unt i l th e amb u l an c e an d th e p o li c e arri v e d . 

### I d . M r . O li v e r w as th e n ru s h e d t o E i n s t e i n M e d i c al C e nt e r . 

### I d . at 3 1 . 

### Mr . O l i v e r t o l d D e t e c t i v e s th at Ap p e ll ant s h o t h i m wh e n a p p r o a c h e d at th e h o s p i t a l. 

### I d . at 3 3 - 3 4 . L aw an d a O li v e r , M r . O li v e r ' s d au g ht e r , s t at e d th at h e r fath e r l i mp e d i nt o th e h o u s e an d y e ll e d " th at fat fu c ki n g T s h o t m e . " 2 N . T . 1 1 /2 0 / 1 5 at 5 4 . Ti ar a O li v e r , a l s o M r . O li v e r ' s d au g ht e r , w i tn e s s e d h e r fath e r an d M arl o ar gu i n g fa c e t o fa c e at 4 8 2 1 N . 7 t h S tr e e t , th e a d dr e s s o f th e p arty . 

### I

d . at 8 4 . M arl o t o l d h e r th at h e r d a d b e tt e r l e av e t o n i ght b e c aus e h e w as g o i n g t o k ill

2 " T " r e fe r s t o Ap p e ll ant , T e rr an c e Jo n e s . 

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### I d . at 8 5 . T i ar a th e n w i tn e s s e d h e r fath e r an d M arl o fi g ht i n th e s tr e e t. 

### I d . at 8 7 . A t th e e n d o f th e fi g ht , M arl o w a s kn o c k e d t o th e gr o un d an d b e g an t o b l e e d fr o m hi s m o uth an d h e a d . 

### I d . at 8 8 . Ti ar a , wh o h a s m e d i c a l a s s i s t ant e xp e ri e n c e , att e mp t e d t o a i d M arl o . 

### I d . at 8 8 . T i ar a th e n w e nt b a c k t o th e h o us e an d s t o o d o n h e r p o r c h wh e n s h e s aw Ap p e ll ant p u ll u p i n a r e d C o rv e tt e an d M arl o ' s s o n p u ll u

p i n a b l a c k v an . 

### I

d . at 9 3 . S h e th e n w e nt i nt o th e h o u s e an d b e li e v e d th at e v e r ythi n g w a s o v e r . 

### I

d . at 9 6 . A s s h e w e nt b a c k t o h e r fr o nt d o o r s h e h e ar d o n e gun s h o t . 

### I d . at 9 7 . A ft e r M r . O li v e r w as h e lp e d i n s i d e th e h o u s e , Ti ar a l o o k e d o ut s i d e an d s aw e v e r yb o dy tr y i n g t o g e t o ut o f

th e w ay . 

### I

d . at 9 8 - 9 9 . T i ar a w i tn e s s e d Ap p e ll ant g e t b a c k i nt o hi s c ar an d M ar l o ' s s o n g e t i nt o h i s v an an d b o th p u ll aw ay . 

### I d . at 9 9 - 1 0 0 . S h e th e n w e nt b a c k i n s i d e h e r h o u s e wh e r e h e r fath e r s c r e am e d " T f - i n g s h o t m e . " 

### I

d . at 10 2 . D e t e c t i v e J e ff

r e y G e li e b t e r m e t w i th Mr . O l i v e r at 3 : 3 0 a . m . o n Jun e 9 , 2 0 13 , at E i n s t e i n H o s p i t al . N . T . 1 1/2 3 / 1 5 at 9 2 . H e s h o w e d M r . O li v e r a p h o t o arr ay t o wh i c h h e i d e nt i fi e d an d c ir c l e d th e s e c o n d p i c t

ur e fr o m th e l e ft o n th e b o tt o m ro w , a p i c tur e o f Ap p e ll ant. 

### I

d . at 9 1. Mr . O li v e r i n d i c at e d th at Ap p e ll ant w a s th e m an wh o s h o t h i m an d th at h e w a s " a hun dr e d p e r c e nt s ur e h e w a s l o o ki n g at h i m wh e n h e w a s s h o t. " 

### I d . at 9 3 . D e t e c t i v e R o b e rt H a s s e l m e t wi th 

### Mr . O l i v e r at E i n s t e in H o s p i t a l an d c o n d u c t e d an i nt e rv i e w ar o un d 1 1 : 4 5 p . m . 

### I d . at 1 0 8 . M r . O l i v e r t o l d D e t e c t i v e H a s s e l th at a m an n am e d " T " s h o t h i m , th e b ro th e r o f th e m an h e w a s fi g ht i n g . 

### I d . at 11 0 . H o w e v e r , th e r e ar e tw o v e r s i o n s o f th e e v e nt s th at un fo l d e d th e ni g ht o f Jun e 8 , 2 0 13 . M arl o t e s t ifi e d t o h i s a c c o unt o fth e e v e n i n g . B e li n d a M o o r e an d Ap p e ll ant w e r e c arr y i n g h i m i nt o hi s h o u s e wh e n h e h e ar d a gun s h o t. 

### I d . at 1 5 6 - 1 5 8 . H o w e v e r , M arl o ' s m e m o ry i s h az y . H e s t at e d th at h e d i d n o t r e m e mb e r wh o w as at th e p arty o r wh o w a s n e x t d o o r wh e n h e g o t t o th e p arty . 

### I d . at 1 6 9 . M arl o c l a i m e d th at h i s m e m o ry o f th e e v e nt s w a s b e tt e r t o d ay th an h o ur s a ft e r 

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j · · . . · : · . • , · , · • .\I . " ' ' · - - : · · .- . ,. . · . · · • · - - · . - · ..: . " ' . : · . . · ., . · .

h a p p e n e d . I d . at 1 7 5 . M arl o r e as o n e d th at h e w as cl o s e t o " b l a c k o ut drunk " th at e v e ni n g . I d . at 1 7 3 . M ar l o , b y h i s o wn a dm i s s i o n , m e nt i o n e d h i s m e m o ry w as l e s s th an p e r fe c t. I d . at 1 8 2 . Q : S o I th i nk w e c an a ll a g r e e th at y o ur r e c o ll e c t i o n o f th at n i g ht i s fo g g e d ? A : Y e ah , I' m n o t s ay i n g i t' s p e r fe c t , b ut I' m g i v in g y o u th e b e s t an s w e r s I c o u l d g i v e y o u . 

### I d. at 1 8 2 - 1 8 3 . B e li n d a M o o r e , M arl o ' s w i fe , t e s t i fi e d t o a s im i l ar s e t o f e v e nt s . S h e a l s o att e n d e d th e p arty at 4 8 2 1 N . 

### 7 th S tr e e t o n Jun e 8 , 2 0 1 3 . I d . at 1 9 6 . S h e s t at e d th at Mr . O l i v e r an d h e r hu s b an d g o t i nt o a p hy s i c a l a l t e r c at i o n a ft e r h an g i n g o ut an d dri nki n g a ll d ay . I d . at 1 9 8 . A s a r e s u l t o f th e tw o fi g ht i n g , M s . M o o r e c a ll e d th e p o li c e , Ap p e ll ant , an d h e r n e p h e w D e rri c k b e c au s e n o n e o f

th e n e i g hb o r s w e r e h e lp i n g b r e ak u p th e fi g ht. I

d . at 1 9 9 . Ap p e ll ant p i c k e d u p M ar l o o ff

th e g ro un d an d p r o c e e d e d t o c arry h i m i nt o th e h o u s e . I d . at 2 0 1 . A s M s . M o o r e w a s g o i n g i n th e h o u s e s h e h e ar d wh at s o un d e d l i k e a gun s h o t. I d . S o s h e , M ar l o an d Ap p e ll ant ru s h e d i nt o th e h o u s e . I

d . at 2 0 2 . S h e s t at e d th at a s th e gun s h o t w e nt o ff , s h e w a s h o l d i n g M ar l o ' s o n e arm an d Ap p e ll ant w a s h o l d i n g th e o th e r . I d . D e rri c k a l s o t e s t i fi e d th at h e h e lp e d t ak e M arl o i nt o th e h o u s e . I d . at 2 2 9 . D I S C U S S I O N Ap p e ll ant c o nt e n d s th at th e gu i l ty v e r d i c t w as a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f e v i d e n c e . S p e ci fi c al l y , Ap p e ll ant a s s e rt s th at th e e v i d e n c e f ai l e d t o p ro v e b y s u ffi c i e nt w e i g ht th at i t w as Ap p e ll ant wh o s h o t th e c o mp l a i n ant o r o th e rw i s e c o mm i tt e d th e c ri m e s o f wh i c h h e w a s c o nv i c t e d . " T h e w e i g ht o fth 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 wh o i s fr e e t o b e li e v e a ll , p art , o r n o n e o f

th e e v i d e n c e an d t o d e t e rm i n e th e c r e d ib ili ty o f th e w itn e s s e s . " C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v. C h a m p n e y , 8 3 2 A . 2 d 4 0 3 , 4 0 8 ( P a . 2 0 0 3 ) . T h e S u p r e m e C o urt o fP e nn s y l v an i a i n C h a m p n e y 5· . . _ · · . • . , . _ . : ·_. . • . . · : · . . . . · - · - · · • . • · . • . . , · · • . . · . · . , . ·

_ · . ' ::," d � � · · · - · · . . · . • • - · = · -

_ '. _ . . · ' · - · · · -'--'-"- � _._,___, , ." . � . - - · · . • . · . , "' � ' . · · · . � · · · · ; . , , ,
_ : . • • - � , . • . "" · · : · . · . · - · · -_ , ' - · • . . . . · . , : · · , - r.. ·

_ � u � · · � '. � � · - · · · · · . · � · . , . · . . : · . : · · · .



### e xp l a i n e d th at an a

p p e ll at e c o urt c ann o t s ub s t i t ut e i t s j u d g m e nt fo r th at o f th e fi n d e r o f fa c t. I

d . 

### T h e r e fo r e , th e c o urt m ay o n l y r e v e r s e th e l o w e r c o urt i f th e v e r d i c t i s s o c o ntr ar

y t o th e e v i d e n c e a s t o " s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e . " I

d . c i ti ng C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. S m a ll , 

### 7 4 1 A. 2 d 6 6 6 , 6 7 2 - 7 3 ( P a . 1 9 9 9 ) ( c it at i o n s o m i tt e d) . T h e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s s e t fo rth th e fo ll o wi n g s t an d ar d o fr e v i e w fo r Ap p e ll ant ' s cl a i m th at th e v e r d i c t i s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f e v i d e n c e an d th at h e s h o u l d b e e nt i tl e d t o a n e w tri a l : T h e e s s e n c e o f a

p p e ll at e r e v i e w fo r a w e i ght cl a i m a p p e ar s t o l i e i n e n s uri n g th at th e tri a l c o urt ' s d e c i s i o n h as r e c o r d s u p p o rt . Wh e r e th e r e c o r d a d e qu at e l y s u p p o rt s th e tri a l c o urt , th e tri a l c o urt h a s a c t e d w i th i n th e l i m i t s o f i t s d i s c r e t i o n . A m o t i o n fo r a n e w tri a l b a s e d o n a cl a i m th at th e v e r d i c t i s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e i s a d dr e s s e d t o th e d i s c r e t i o n o f th e tri a l c o urt . A n e w tri 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 fli 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 arri v e d at a d i ff e r e nt c o n c lu s i o n . R ath e r , th e ro l e o f th e tri a l j u d g e i s t o d e t e rm i n e th at n o twi th s t an d i n g a ll th e fa c t s , c e rt ai 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 ht th at t o i g n o r e th e m o r t o g i v e th e m e qu a l w e i g ht w i th a ll th e fa c t s i s t o d e ny j u s t i c e . C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. Cla y , 

### 6 4 A. 3 d 10 4 9 , 10 5 4 - 5 5 ( P a . 2 0 13 ) . ( ci t at i o n s an d qu o t at i o n o m i tt e d) . S e e a l s o K a p l a n v. 0 ' K a n e, 

### 8 3 5 A . 2 d 7 3 5 , 7 3 7 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) . ( h o l d i n g " [ t ] h e p o w e r t o g rant a n e w tri a l li e s i nh e r e ntl y w i th th e tri al c o urt , an d [ th e ] a p p e ll at e c o urt w ill n o t r e v e r s e i t s d e c i s i o n ab s e nt a cl e ar ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n o r an e rr o r o fl aw wh i c h c o ntro l s th e o ut c o m e o f th e c a s e . " ) . T h e d e fe n d ant i n C h a m p n e y 

### cl a i m e d th at th e gu il ty v e r d i c t w a s a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f th e e v i d e n c e s i n c e th e j ur

y s u p p o s e d l y i g n o r e d i mp o rt ant e v i d e n c e i n r e fe r e n c e t o th e th o r o u g hn e s s o fp o li c e i nv e s t i g at i o n . C h a m p n e y , 

### 8 3 2 A. 2 d at 4 0 8 . T h e S u p r e m e C o urt o f P e nn s y l v an i a i n C h a m p n e y 

### e xp l ai n e d th at i t w as e x clu s i v e l y wi th i n th e j ury ' s p r o v i n c e t o w e i g h th i s e v i d e n c e , an d thu s , th e d e fe n d ant ' s cl a i m fa il e d . I d . 

### at 4 0 9 .



### 6· · · - · · • · · /

_

_ · · · · · - · · · , . . . c ..· • c .. . ." c, . " ; , . . , · · ." · · - · • · · · · .. . - ." • . - • · . · - · · -' . . · · . . c .: · · · - · . . . . · · . � · · --'-"---" � · · � · . . . · . .. . . · · · · � Sf · · . v , . . ., • . . · . · • · � • · :o · - ,c · · · · • �

- · · · · . ., . . · + · · · · · · - � . .. / , ' · · . . . ·

. L , . , • . . > · . , . .. . . , . .

H e r e , Ap p e ll ant p o i nt s t o M ar l o ' s an d M s . M o o r e ' s t e s t i m o ny a s e v i d e n c e th at e x c u lp at e s h i m fr o m hi s c o nv i c t i o n i n c o nn e c t i o n w i th th e s h o o t i n g . S p e c i fi c a ll y , Ap p e ll ant d ir e c t s o ur att e nt i o n t o t e s t i m o ny th at s h o w s h i m c arr y i n g M arl o i nt o h i s h o u s e a s th e s h o t w a s fi r e d wh i c h p r o v e s th at h e w a s n o t th e gunm an . N . T . 1 1/2 3 / 1 5 at 1 5 6 - 1 5 8 . H o w e v e r , th e r e ar e m any i s s u e s wi th M arl o ' s t e s t i m o ny . T h e j ur y w as p r o p e r wh e n i t d i s c o unt e d th e t e s t i m o ny o f M arl o , a m an wh o , b y h i s o wn a dm i s s i o n , d i d n o t h av e g r e at m e m o ry . 

### I d . at 1 8 2 . M arl o , h i m s e l f

, u s e d th e t e rm

" b l a c k o ut drunk . " 

### I

d . at 1 7 3 . T h e o th e r t i m e th e j ury h e ar d th at Ap p e ll ant w a s c arr y i n g M arl o wh e n th e gun s h o t w e nt o ff w a s fr o m M s . M o o r e . 

### I

d . at 2 0 1. M s . M o o r e i s M arl o ' s wi fe an d th e r e fo r e , Ap p e ll ant' s s i s t e r - i n - l aw . 

### I d . at 1 9 6 . T h at r e l at i o n s h ip n at ur a ll y ra i s e s qu e s t i o n s a s t o h e r i nt e nt i o n s t o p ro v i d e c r e d ib l e t e s t im o ny . S i n c e th e j ury w as fr e e t o b e li e v e a ll , p art o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e a g ai n s t Ap p e ll ant o utl i n e d ab o v e , an d s i m i l ar t o 

### C h a m p n e y , th e j ury w a s p ro p e r i n b e li e v i n g M r . O li v e r ' s c r e d ib l e v e r s i o n o f e v e nt s an d i g n o ri n g o r d i s c r e d i t i n g M arl o ' s an d M s . M o o r e ' s v e r s i o n . Th at th e j ury c o nv i c t e d Ap p e ll ant wi th e v i d e n c e p ro v i d e d b y Mr . O li v e r , L aw an d a an d T i ar a i s n o t s o c o ntr ary t o th e e v i d e n c e th at i t w o u l d s h o c k o n e ' s s e n s e o f j u s t i c e . T h e r e fo r e , th e gu il ty v e r d i c t w a s n o t a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f e v i d e n c e .

7- · -- · . · · . · .. � - · - · - - - � · . · , · . .--- . : · , . · : " · · · , . : · . - - - : · · · - · · . . · - -- · · · . - · · · - · . . : . · · - - · · · . . : , _ _ . _ ,;..;.: • · � � - · - - . -• . _. · • · - · , }'.'.\ . ' · - - · · ' . · : : . . · · · , · , " · · · - · ' · .. · � - ' " . - '
· · . · · · - 1 -- - · « - .. · ..:. : . · .. · · - - " - - , ' .J. . : . • · · - � · ' . , - · · · · . ' · - · ..:.. . · · - · - · ·



### C O N C L U S I O N A ft e r r e v i e w o f

th e a p p li c ab l e s t at

ut e s , t e s t i m o ny , an d c a s e l aw , th e v e r d i c t w as n o t a g a i n s t th e w e i g ht o f e v i d e n c e . A c c o r d i n g l y , th i s C o urt ' s d e c i s i o n s h o u l d b e a f fi rm e d .



### B Y T H E C O U R T :

D A T E : M a r c h 21, 2 0 1 7

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### O F S E R V I C E I h e r e b y c e rt i f

y th at o n th e d at e s e t fo rth b e l o w , I c au s e d an o ri g in a l c o p y o f th e Ju d i ci a l O p i n i o n t o b e s e rv e d u p o n th e p e r s o n s at fo ll o wi n g l o c at i o n s , 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. A. P . 1 2 2 : M ark C i c h o wi c z , E s qu i r e D e fe n d e r A s s o ci at i o n o f P h il a d e lp h i a 1 4 4 1 S an s o m S tr e e t P h i l a d e lp hi a , P A 1 9 1 0 2 H u g h B um s , E s qu i r e P h il a d e lp h i a D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y s O ffi c e T hr e e S o uth P e nn S qu ar e P h il a d e lp h i a , P A 1 9 1 0 7

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