Case Name: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. Antyane ROBINSON, Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 2005-06-22
Citations: 877 A.2d 433
Docket Number: 
Parties: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. Antyane ROBINSON, Appellant.
Judges: BEFORE: CAPPY, C.J., and CASTILLE, NIGRO, NEWMAN, SAYLOR, EAKIN and BAER, JJ.
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 877
Pages: 433–458

Head Matter:
COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. Antyane ROBINSON, Appellant.
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Submitted March 12, 2003.
Decided June 22, 2005.
David J. Foster, Esq., for Antyane Robinson.
Jaime M. Keating, Esq., Amy Zapp, Esq., for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
BEFORE: CAPPY, C.J., and CASTILLE, NIGRO, NEWMAN, SAYLOR, EAKIN and BAER, JJ.

Opinion:
OPINION
Justice EAKIN.
Antyane Robinson appeals from the order denying his petition for relief pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S. § 9541-9546, following a hearing. We affirm.
The relevant facts are as follows:
Appellant dated Tara Hodge on and off during the time period beginning in early 1998 until February 1995, when Hodge discovered that appellant had another girlfriend. They did not see each other for over a year, until March 30, 1996, when appellant re-established an intimate relationship with Hodge. Between March 30, 1996 and the night of the incident in question, Hodge was with appellant for one night on both March 30 and April 30, four days between May 10 and 13, and one night on June 1, 1996. Hodge met Rashawn Bass on May 26, 1996, after she responded to a personal ad in the local paper. On June 10, 1996, Hodge broke off the relationship with appellant by letter.
On the evening of June 29, 1996 . Hodge met Bass at her apartment.... After eating . pizza, Bass took a shower. Shortly after midnight, while Bass was in the shower, appellant arrived at [Hodge's] apartment.... Hodge let him into her apartment. Upon finding that Hodge had a guest at her apartment appellant and Hodge had an argument. Appellant requested that Hodge ask Bass to leave. When Hodge refused to ask Bass to leave, appellant pulled a gun out of his "sweats," which he pointed at Hodge and shot her....
At about 1 a.m. on the morning of June 30, 1996, Hodge regained consciousness in a pool of her own blood. She then entered the bathroom where she saw that Bass was dead inside the shower stall. She was able to drag herself to her next door neighbor's home. The police arrived at the neighbor's house and saw that Hodge had a head wound. Unable to speak, Hodge wrote a note directing the police to her apartment. The ambulance arrived and took Hodge to the hospital. The officer went to Hodge's apartment and found Bass' body in the shower. After leaving the apartment, the officer went to the hospital to speak with Tara Hodge. At the hospital, Hodge identified appellant as the person who had shot her.
At the time of arrest, appellant . was advised of his Miranda rights and signed a written waiver. [A]ppellant stated that he knew Tara Hodge and her family. Appellant also told police that he had owned a 9 millimeter handgun, which had been stolen by his niece's boyfriend before June, and a 380 handgun, which he had sold.
The police conducted a search of appellant's room in his parents' home in Fort Washington, Maryland. In the bedroom, they found documents in a locked safe relating to a 9 millimeter Lorcin handgun. They did not find the weapon. They also found a picture of appellant holding a 9 millimeter Star handgun, as well as a Federal 44 SPL revolver with ammunition. The police also found the letter from Tara Hodge postmarked June 10, 1996. The police also searched the residence of a woman whom appellant was dating. They found some of appellant's belongings at her house, including 9 millimeter ammunition.
Commonwealth v. Robinson, 554 Pa. 293, 721 A.2d 344, 349-50 (1998). Appellant was convicted and sentenced to death.
Appellant's claims for relief encompass the following areas: (1) pretrial issues; (2) trial issues; (3) jury charge issues; (4) penalty phase issues; and (5) a proportionality of sentencing issue.
Five of appellant's issues have been previously litigated. An issue has been previously litigated if "the highest appellate court in which- the petitioner could have had review as a matter of right has ruled on the merits of the issue[.]" 42 Pa.C.S. § 9544(a)(2). On direct appeal, appellant asserted Tara Hodge provoked him into the killing; he claimed entitlement to a voluntary manslaughter charge. However, as Hodge was not the victim and appellant did not claim he was attempting to kill her, this Court held a voluntary manslaughter charge was without legal support. Robinson, at 354. Appellant's assertion of counsel's ineffectiveness will not revive this issue. See Commonwealth v. Bracey, 568 Pa. 264, 795 A.2d 935, 939 n. 2 (2001) (appellant cannot obtain post conviction review of claims previously litigated on appeal by alleging ineffective assistance of prior counsel and presenting new theories of relief to support previously litigated claims).
On direct appeal, appellant asserted the evidence was insufficient to support the finding of the (d)(7) aggravating circumstance, and that the trial court failed to include the required limiting instruction, rendering the aggravator vague and over-broad. He now claims counsel was ineffective in failing to litigate these claims, but offers nothing that was not already reviewed by this Court on direct appeal.
Additionally, on direct appeal this Court concluded a Simmons charge was not necessary because appellant's future dangerousness was not expressly implicated. Robinson, at 355. Any trial reference to appellant's past dangerousness did not run afoul of Simmons, and appellant's assertion of counsel's ineffectiveness will not revive this issue. See Bracey, supra.
On direct appeal, appellant asserted the trial court erred in not allowing his mother to testify concerning his gun possession. This Court concluded, "[a]lthough . the trial court erred in refusing to allow Mrs. Robinson to testify, based on . harmless error analysis, the instant case presents the situation where properly admitted evidence of guilt was overwhelming. Accordingly, this error was harmless." Robinson, at 353. Appellant's assertion of counsel's ineffectiveness will not revive this issue. See Bracey, supra.
PRETRIAL ISSUE
Appellant asserts he was tried while incompetent, and counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and challenge appellant's competency.
Appellant is required to "plead and prove by a preponderance of the evidence . that the conviction or sentence resulted from . ineffective assistance of counsel which, in the circumstances of the particular case, so undermined the truth-determining process that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken place." Commonwealth v. McGill, 574 Pa. 574, 832 A.2d 1014, 1020 (2003) (quoting Commonwealth v. Pierce, 567 Pa. 186, 786 A.2d 203, 213 (2001)). See also 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(2)(h). It is the ineffectiveness claim, not the underlying error at trial, which is reviewed. Commonwealth v. Clayton, 572 Pa. 395, 816 A.2d 217, 220 (2002). To establish ineffectiveness, appellant must show: (1) the claim has arguable merit; (2) counsel had no reasonable strategic basis for his or her action; and (3) but for the errors and omissions of counsel, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceedings would have been different. Commonwealth v. Kimball, 555 Pa. 299, 724 A.2d 326, 333 (1999). Appellant bears the burden of proving all three prongs, Commonwealth v. Travaglia, 541 Pa. 108, 661 A.2d 352, 357 (1995); failure to prove any of these prongs is sufficient to warrant dismissal of the claim without discussion of the other two. Commonwealth v. Basemore, 560 Pa. 258, 744 A.2d 717, 738 n. 23 (2000).
Pursuant to 50 P.S. § 7402(c), appellant's treating psychiatrist and psycholo gist at the prison petitioned for his involuntary commitment. The trial court ordered appellant to undergo evaluations to determine whether he was competent to stand trial. Appellant was admitted to a state hospital December 26, 1996, and his status was assessed weekly.
Appellant asserts that at the time of trial, he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, rendering him incompetent. To support this claim, he offers the following: (1) during his incarceration, he refused to eat, claiming the food was poisoned; (2) he has a family history of mental illness; (3) trial counsel testified appellant was paranoid, believed all of Carlisle, Pennsylvania was trying to kill him, was unwilling to talk to his attorneys, and counsel admittedly failed to investigate appellant's competency; (4) the results of an examination by Dr. Rocco Manfredi at Norristown Psychiatric Hospital found appellant suffered from paranoid ideation; and (5) testimony from Drs. Ragusea and Rotenberg, taken five years after the murder, stated that at the time of trial appellant was not competent.
Appellant's claim is contrary to a mental health evaluation by Dr. Murray Caplin, a board certified psychiatrist, performed less than one year after the murder and a month before trial began. On February 7, 1997, after six weeks of observation, Dr. Caplin diagnosed appellant as possibly malingering with no indication of mental illness. See Letter by Murray S. Caplin, M.D., to the Honorable Edgar B. Bayley, 2/7/97. Dr. Caplin's report noted appellant would not talk without his lawyer present. Id. The doctor opined this was a deliberate attempt to postpone trial, and concluded appellant was fit to stand trial. Id. At the PCRA hearing, the Commonwealth offered rebuttal testimony from John O'Brien, M.D., a board certified psychiatrist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
We agree with the PCRA court that counsel reasonably relied on the mental health evaluation conducted by Dr. Caplin and staff at the state hospital. The PCRA court noted the mental health observations indicated: (1) appellant was able to interact with people when he wanted to; (2) the fact he did not cooperate with counsel did not mean he was unable to; (3) appellant's jealousy and rage towards Tara Hodge did not equal mental illness; (4) appellant's family history was not consistent with paranoid schizophrenia; (5) the reports Dr. Rotenberg reviewed did not contain anything regarding how appellant adjusted in prison in the past four years, but used only data from appellant's short stay in Cumberland County Prison. Further, the PCRA court made a credibility determination between testifying experts that there was no basis for arriving at the conclusion appellant was incompetent.
Although appellant offered testimony of two different psychiatrists in support of his claim, this testimony was negated by the evaluation done less than a year after the murder, which concluded appellant was competent. Accordingly, trial counsel was not ineffective and this claim warrants no relief. See Commonwealth v. Bracey, 568 Pa. 264, 795 A.2d 935, 942 (2001) (testimony of two physicians who examined appellant five and six years after murder and concluded he had organic brain damage was negated by evaluation done less than one year after killing); Commonwealth v. Lewis, 560 Pa. 240, 743 A.2d 907, 909 (2000) (testimony from psychiatrist, who examined appellant 15 years after killing, was negated by mental health evaluation taken .less than one year after murder). Further, as appellant has failed to establish the ineffectiveness of trial counsel, this necessarily defeats his claim that appellate counsel was ineffective. See McGill, at 1028.
TRIAL ISSUES
Appellant asserts he was prejudiced by pervasive prosecutorial misconduct throughout his trial. First, he asserts the prosecutor improperly used his race by portraying him as a young man from the big city that was disrespected and sought retribution. Appellant's Brief, at 21. Appellant argues these remarks had a definite racial overtone, which was highly prejudicial and improper. Id.
A prosecutor's remarks are fair if they are supported by evidence or contain inferences reasonably derived from that evidence. Commonwealth v. Carter, 537 Pa. 238, 643 A.2d 61, 75 (1994). "[P]rosecutorial misconduct does not occur unless the unavoidable effect of the comments at issue was to prejudice the jurors by forming in their minds a fixed bias and hostility toward the defendant, thus impeding their ability to weigh the evidence objectively and render a true verdict." Commonwealth v. Paddy, 569 Pa. 47, 800 A.2d 294, 316 (2002) (citing Commonwealth v. Rizzuto, 566 Pa. 40, 777 A.2d 1069 (2001)). Due to the nature of a criminal trial, both sides must be allowed reasonable latitude in presenting their cases to the jury. See id. A prosecutor's comments must be reviewed in the context in which they were made. Commonwealth v. Smith, 490 Pa. 380, 416 A.2d 986, 989 (1980).
Appellant asserts trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object where the prosecutor injected race into the argument. The Commonwealth argues, "[t]he lack of respect for human life over a perceived disrespect or the perception of the defendant as an outsider has nothing to do with race." Commonwealth's Brief, at 24. We agree. Specifically, appellant takes issue with the following comments made by the prosecutor in his opening statement:
This is going to be a case of images, ladies and gentlemen. Every case like this has a theme, I suppose, and in this one you are going to see how a young man and a young woman paid the big city price for a perceived disrespect. You've all heard that word, and you've seen it in television shows. He disrespected me.
You are going to hear evidence about this perceived disrespect, a disrespect to that man and how he responded to it. Because I'm from the big city, you disrespected me, I'm going to have to hurt you.
You'll say, sir, you got the benefit of every one of those rights, but you don't come up here into this county and shoot a boy and a hard working young lady....
N.T., 3/12/97, at 5-6, 12. The prosecutor continued this theme in his closing:
Now there was an image projected here, and it's that big city image. You'll get to look at this. Man, I got to carry a gun wherever I go. He's not the person in here that all my life I've been treated so badly. This is the image of a kind of person capable of forming the specific intent to kill. This is a lifestyle. You look at that and you judge these acts carefully.
I would say an ordinary person doesn't want to do that, but a person that wants to project this kind of image, the kind of guy that has to drive into Cumberland County and have guns in his waistband and his home has to have a bullet proof vest, those are the kind of guys I submit to you that say I ain't going to be disrespected, disrespect me and you're going to have to pay.
N.T., 3/13/97, at 273, 277.
Appellant relies on Commonwealth v. Anderson, 490 Pa. 225, 415 A.2d 887 (1980); his reliance is misplaced. In Anderson, this Court held the prosecutor committed misconduct when he referred to appellant as an "executioner" and "asked the jury to draw unwarranted inferences the victim was killed because he violated some code...." Id., at 889. The record in Anderson did not support such an argument; there was no support for a motive to murder the victim because he violated "some code" of the streets.
Here, the prosecutor's remarks were not a deliberate attempt to destroy the objectivity of the jury, but merely summarized the evidence presented at trial with oratorical flair permitted during argument. See Commonwealth v. Barren, 501 Pa. 493, 462 A.2d 233 (1983). The theme of the prosecution throughout trial was that appellant had a reputation to protect, and when he found out his girlfriend was seeing another man, he felt disrespected. The prosecution did not mention the fact appellant is an African-American, nor do the comments suggest, as appellant argues, that because of his race he was more likely to Mil to protect his reputation. Further, trial counsel testified that initially she thought the statement was unfair, but as the trial proceeded and evidence was introduced, she realized the statements were supported by the evidence. N.T., 10/10/01, at 89.
Concerning appellant's claims of counsel's ineffectiveness, it must be noted he was representing himself during opening arguments. Trial counsel testified to a written agreement between herself and appellant where counsel would not offer any advice unless asked. N.T. PCRA Hearing, 10/10/01, at 88. Appellant never asked counsel for guidance during opening statements. He cannot now claim he was ineffective or that standby counsel was ineffective because he never sought her guidance. See Commonwealth v. Tilley, 566 Pa. 312, 780 A.2d 649, 653 n. 9 (2001) (citing Commonwealth v. Auker, 545 Pa. 521, 681 A.2d 1305, 1319 (Pa.1996) (defendant cannot raise his own ineffectiveness)).
At the time of closing, standby counsel was counsel of record. When asked at the PCRA hearing whether those comments were objectionable, counsel testified, "to be honest, I think they were borderline. I chose not to object to them because I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to them by the jury and just try to make attempts to neutralize it in my own closing...." N.T. 10/10/01, at 92. Further, counsel testified the prosecution's argument was supported by the evidence. Id., at 89. It is difficult to ascertain what prejudice allegedly resulted from the prosecutor's comments, and appellant has not demonstrated but for these comments, the outcome of his trial would have differed. Accordingly, his claim of trial counsel's ineffectiveness fails, which necessarily defeats his claim of appellate counsel's ineffectiveness. McGill, at 1023. Since appellant is not entitled to relief on his underlying claim, we need not remand for development of the remaining two prongs of Pierce with respect to appellate counsel. See Commonwealth v. Rush, 576 Pa. 3, 838 A.2d 651, 657-58 (2003); McGill, at 1025.
Next, appellant asserts the Commonwealth maligned his constitutional rights by denigrating his right to the presumption of innocence. During . opening statements, the prosecutor stated:
During this part, understand fully this man came in here presumed innocent. He has a lot of rights. That's our system of government. I'm sure every one of you thinks back to your elementary school days and took great pride in our system.
We've come to this stage and when you put those rights out there, the thing that you're here to decide now is what happened on a particular day, and you have just as much of an obligation to be fair to the people of Pennsylvania and Cumberland County as you do to that man right there.
When you hear the. evidence, it's no longer a question of presumed innocent. .
You'll say, sir, you got the benefit of every one of those rights, but you don't come up here into this county and shoot a boy and a hard working young lady-
I have to prove each and every element of these crimes and you'll hear long renditions of what these offenses are and the elements. It's not particularly important now because you are fact finders.
N.T. Trial, 3/12/97, at 2, 3,11,12.
The Commonwealth argues the prosecutor was merely explaining what the defendant's constitutional rights were. Commonwealth's Brief, at 27. The PCRA court found the comments did not warrant relief because the trial court instructed the jury as to appellant's rights and presumption of innocence. PCRA Court Opinion, 4/22/02, at 22. Appellant is entitled to a fair trial, not a perfect trial. See Commonwealth v. Rios, 554 Pa. 419, 721 A.2d 1049, 1054 (1998) (when reviewing allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, this Court reviews whether defendant received fair trial, not perfect one). We agree with the PCRA court that the comments, viewed in context along with the proper instructions given by the court, do not undermine the truth-determining process and do not require another trial. Appellant asserts his counsel was ineffective for failing to raise this issue on direct appeal, but as trial counsel was not ineffective, the claim of appellate counsel's ineffectiveness fails. See McGill, supra.
Lastly, appellant argues counsel was ineffective for failing to object to irrelevant and improper victim impact testimony and for failing to raise this issue on direct appeal. In his opening, the prosecutor quoted victim's personal advertisement that he was "a single black Christian male." N.T. Trial, 3/12/97, at 7. During direct examination of Tara Hodge, the prosecutor had her read the very same advertisement. In closing, the prosecutor returned to this theme by referring to victims as Christians, stating:
[Y]ou got to remember being fair to a girl that got shot in the head and to a young man who came to Carlisle in search of a single Christian female and ended up ending his young life in the bottom of that shower.... [T]his young man, this boy, comes into Carlisle, a single black Christian male, a mellow fellow, new to the 'burbs' in search of a single Christian female, loves church, and he did find a nice girl who is working, who did want to be with him, and what did he get?
N.T. Trial, 3/13/97, at 268, 277-78.
Appellant asserts the prosecutor sought to prejudice the jury by injecting religion into the case, seeking to have the jury return a verdict based on sympathy, passion, and prejudice. The Commonwealth claims these comments merely addressed how the victim met Hodge and why he was in her home the night he was murdered. Commonwealth's Brief, at 58. The PCRA court agreed with the Commonwealth, finding the admission of this evidence was "very limited" to the background of the victims and how they met; relief was not warranted. PCRA Court Opinion, 4/22/02, at 25.
The record does not indicate the prosecution was attempting to inject religion into the trial. Even assuming this background information was victim impact testimony, it was so brief it did not affect the jury's decision. See Commonwealth v. Freeman, 573 Pa. 532, 827 A.2d 385, 414 (2003) (brief, non-specific testimony that, prior to her murder, victim was "peaceful" and "nice" constituted victim impact testimony; however, testimony was so fleeting and general, it was not prejudicial); see also Commonwealth v. Rollins, 558 Pa. 532, 738 A.2d 435, 447 (1999) (even if considered victim impact evidence, brief testimony that boy was afraid of guns as result of witnessing crime did not prejudice defendant). As appellant fails to prove prejudice, his claim of trial counsel's ineffectiveness fails, see Basemore, supra, as does the claim appellate counsel was ineffective. McGill, supra.
JURY CHARGE ISSUE
Appellant claims trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to the court's charge, which equated specific intent with malice. Appellant claims the following excerpts from the trial court's charge were confusing and incorrect:
A killing is with malice if it is done with a specific intent to kill.
If the defendant had a specific intent to kill, the killing was malicious.

Again, the difference between first degree murder and third degree murder is a specific intent to kill. If a person has a specific intent to kill, as I have defined it, that constitutes malice, and it is the specific intent to kill with malice that raises third degree murder to first degree murder.
If the defendant had a specific intent to kill, it is malicious. If the defendant did not have a specific intent to kill but acted with malice, then a malicious killing without the specific intent to kill is third degree murder.
N.T. Trial, 3/13/97, at 287-88, 304-05. Appellant claims these instructions equated malice with specific intent, thus eliminating the Commonwealth's burden of proving every element of murder.
When evaluating jury instructions, the charge must be read as a whole to determine whether it was fair or prejudicial. The trial court has broad discretion in phrasing its instructions, and may choose its own wording so long as the law is clearly, adequately, and accurately presented to the jury for its consideration.
Commonwealth v. Hawkins, 567 Pa. 310, 787 A.2d 292, 301 (2001).
Recently, this Court addressed a similar instruction on malice, in Commonwealth v. Overby, 575 Pa. 227, 836 A.2d 20 (2003). There the trial court instructed the jury on the three mental states of malice and the distinguishing factor between first and third degree murder. Id., at 24 "[F]irst degree murder requires the specific intent to kill. Third degree murder does not require the specific intent to kill." Id. (quoting N.T., 7/20/98, at 104). Further, the court instructed the jury, "a killing by a person who has the specific intent to kill is a killing with malice.... " Id. (quoting N.T., 7/20/98, at 102-08). We concluded the trial court did not err in giving this instruction to the jury. Id.
Here, after the initial charge, the jury requested clarification on the difference between first and third degree murder. The trial court explained that each element of first degree murder must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt: "[element] [t]hree, that the killing was with a specific intent to kill.... [Element] [flour, that the killing was with malice." N.T. Trial, 3/13/97, at 302-03.
Contrary to appellant's assertion, after reviewing the charge in its entirety, the instruction adequately and accurately explained the law to the jury. Here, the trial court gave a comprehensive explanation on all the elements of both first and third degree murder in the initial charge, and fully explained them again after the jury requested clarification. These charges, read as a whole, provided ample guidance for the jury's deliberations. Appellant has failed to prove trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to this charge; as the underlying claim lacks arguable merit, appellate counsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to raise this issue on direct appeal. See McGill, supra.
PENALTY PHASE ISSUES
First, Appellant argues that the "in perpetration of a felony" aggravating circumstance, 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(6), should be limited to the six felonies enumerated in the definition of "perpetration of a felony" at 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(d). This section defines "perpetration of a felony" as "[t]he act of the defendant in engaging in or being an accomplice in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing, or attempting to commit robbery, rape, or deviate sexual intercourse by force or threat of force, arson, burglary or kidnapping." 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(d). Appellant asserts because he was not found guilty of any of the felonies enumerated in § 2502(d), the jury's finding of the (d)(6) aggravating circumstance cannot stand and trial counsel was ineffective for failing to litigate this claim. This Court addressed and rejected a nearly identical claim in Commonwealth v. Walker, 540 Pa. 80, 656 A.2d 90 (1995).
In Walker, the appellant asserted the trial court erred in permitting the jury to consider the felony of criminal trespass, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3503(a)(2), as an aggravating circumstance under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(6). Walker, 656 A.2d at 102. In support of this claim, Walker argued "the legislature did not intend to include criminal trespass among those felonies that may be considered for purposes of determining aggravating circumstances." Id. Our Court held a jury may find an "in perpetration of a felony" aggravating circumstance and that felonies are expressly defined in the Crimes Code at 18 Pa.C.S. § 101 et seq. Id. Additionally, we held Walker's claim had no merit "[b]eeause 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d) expressly permits the use of 'felonies' as an aggravating circumstance . " Id. We, therefore, found a jury may consider criminal trespass as a felony for purposes of the (d)(6) aggravating circumstance. Id. Importantly, we did not limit felonies for purposes of (d)(6) to those enumerated in § 2502(d).
Appellant attempts to distinguish his argument from Walker's by providing legis lative history to support his claim. According to Appellant, this history suggests that prior to the United States Supreme Court's landmark decision in Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238, 92 S.Ct. 2726, 33 L.Ed.2d 346 (1972), 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502 and 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711 were part of the same statute. Appellant asserts that following Furman, when the Legislature severed the statute into present day Sections 2502 and 9711, it overlooked the necessity to import the definitional subsection of § 2502 into § 9711, which would necessarily include the definition of "perpetration of a felony" in § 2502. We are not persuaded by this argument.
We decided Walker on March 23, 1995. Since that time, the General Assembly has amended 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711 on no less than five occasions, including October 11, 1995, November 17, 1995, April 25, 1997, June 25, 1997, and October 12,1999. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711. In these amendments, the Legislature did not alter the law as interpreted by this Court. "The failure of the General Assembly to change the law which has been interpreted by the courts creates a presumption that the interpretation was in accordance with the legislative intent; otherwise the General Assembly would have changed the law in a subsequent amendment." Fonner v. Shandon, Inc., 555 Pa. 370, 724 A.2d 903, 906 (1999) (citation omitted); see 1 Pa.C.S. § 1922(4)("In ascertaining the intention of the General Assembly . the following presumptions . may be used: That when a court of last resort has construed the language used in a statute, the General Assembly in subsequent statutes on the same subject matter intends the same construction to be placed upon such language"). Accordingly, consistent with our decision in Walker, we find that 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(6) expressly allows a jury to find as an aggravating circumstance that a killing was committed while in perpetration of a "felony." What constitutes a "felony" in this Commonwealth is defined in the Crimes Code at 18 Pa.C.S. § 101 et seq.
Here, in addition to being found guilty of first degree murder, the jury found Appellant guilty of, among other things, attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and concealing a firearm on his person or in his vehicle without a license. These offenses are felonies; therefore, the jury properly could consider these offenses when determining whether Appellant committed a killing while in the perpetration of a felony for purposes of 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(6) Accordingly, Appellant's claim lacks merit, and counsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to litigate a meritless claim. Commonwealth v. Pursell, 555 Pa. 233, 724 A.2d 293, 304 (1999).
Appellant asserts the prosecutor presented irrelevant, non-statutory aggravating evidence which was incorporated from, the guilt phase into the penalty phase, thus undermining the truth-determining process and rendering the sentence unreliable. Additionally, appellant asserts the prosecutor argued his future dangerousness, and that counsel was ineffective for failing to object or ask for a limiting instruction. 'Without such instruction, the jury was left without guidance as to the use it could legitimately make of the inflammatory evidence and may have been more inclined, therefore, to sentence [appellant] to death." Appellant's Brief, at 31 (quoting Commonwealth v. Billa, 521 Pa. 168, 555 A.2d 885, 842 (1989)).
Capital juries are to weigh only the aggravating and mitigating circumstances enumerated in the statute. See Commonwealth v. Marrero, 546 Pa. 596, 687 A.2d 1102, 1108 n. 19 (1996) (future dangerousness is not proper aggravating circumstance and should not be weighed by jury); see also 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711. However, a prosecutor must be afforded reasonable latitude in arguing to the jury, and may employ oratorical flair in arguing in favor of the death penalty. Basemore, at 869.
The prosecutor did not specifically refer to non-statutory aggravating factors. In his closing, the prosecutor reminded the jury it was to weigh the various aggravating and mitigating circumstances and "that those things that you heard . during the trial are all part of this process." N.T. Trial, 3/14/97, at 352. The trial court informed the jury to incorporate "[a]ll of the evidence from the Commonwealth and defendant, including the evidence you heard during the first culpability phase of the trial.... " Id., at 372. Counsel did not object to this instruction and appellant now claims counsel was ineffective for failing to do so.
This argument is meritless. On direct appeal, this Court concluded the erroneously admitted evidence was harmless. Robinson, at 352. This same evidence remains harmless at the penalty phase, as appellant's guilt had already been determined, and the incorporation of this evidence into the penalty stage was purely a procedural matter carried out pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(a)(2). Id. ("evidence may be presented as to any other matter that the court deems relevant and admissible on the question of the sentence to be imposed."); Commonwealth v. Albrecht, 510 Pa. 603, 511 A.2d 764, 777 (1986).
Appellant asserts the prosecutor improperly argued his lack of remorse:
Of all the things that I think you would have maybe said, was, you know, given the argument yesterday, yeah, I did it, I was wrong, you know, where is one sound of I'm sorry, one sound to say something about the memory of this man? None. Well, he tossed it away just like that picture.
N.T. Trial, 3/14/97, at 358. He further contends counsel was ineffective for failing to object and raise this issue on direct appeal. This issue also lacks merit. Reviewed in context, the prosecutor's comments were in response to appellant's opening statement. Here, in his opening statement, appellant, representing himself, pled to the jury that everything he did was wrong, he never had a fair chance in life, and he would not receive a fair trial until the jury saw the whole picture. See N.T. Trial, 3/12/97, at 12. Contrary to what appellant argues, the prosecutor's comments do not warrant relief, as they were a fair response to appellant's opening. "A remark by a prosecutor, otherwise improper, may be appropriate if it is in fair response to the argument and comment of defense counsel." Commonwealth v. Trivigno, 561 Pa. 232, 750 A.2d 243, 249 (2000). As the underlying claim is merit-less, appellant's claim appellate counsel was ineffective also fails. See McGill, supra.
Next, appellant asserts he was denied effective assistance of counsel, because trial counsel failed to investigate and present readily available evidence of his increasingly debilitating paranoid behavior, strong indicia of paranoid schizophrenia, emotional trauma, and history of family dysfunction, all of which affected his behavior on the night of the offenses. We have already determined trial counsel was not ineffective for relying on the reports from the state hospital when- appellant's competency was challenged prior to trial. Counsel faced the same reports at the penalty phase. Counsel's stewardship will not be deemed ineffective in pursuing a particular strategy, as long as the course chosen was reasonable. See Commonwealth v. Rivers, 567 Pa. 239, 786 A.2d 923, 930 (2001). We agree with the PCRA court that it was not unreasonable for counsel to rely on the same evidence at the penalty phase.
Appellant's claim counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate his family background also fails. During the penalty phase, counsel called three -witnesses: appellant's mother Juanita Robinson, his Aunt Pearle Mae Williams, and Tara Hodge's mother Pamela Hodge. Mrs. Robinson testified at length as to appellant's family history. The jury learned appellant's oldest sister was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia; his other sister, Deondela, was found dead from an apparent suicide in a hotel room. N.T. Trial, 3/14/97, at 317, 318. She testified further about his academic achievements and military service. Id,., at 320-22. Mrs. Williams testified as to the effect Deondela's death had on the family. Id., at 338. Pamela Hodge testified appellant was a "nice boy." Id., at 339.
Additionally, counsel hired a social worker/mitigation expert, Lori Monroe, to investigate appellant's background. Mrs. Monroe testified at the PCRA hearing that appellant was uncooperative and his biggest concern was having someone digging into his family history. N.T. PCRA Hearing, 11/29/01, at 8. Mrs. Monroe testified she was made aware of appellant's family history through interviews with his family members, but chose to forgo the mental health issues as mitigation because he had been determined competent by the State. Id., at 12. Further, she testified appellant's lack of cooperation extended to his family members; she said she believed the family hid a lot of information and was not as forthcoming as they should have been. Id., at 17.
Counsel and Mrs. Monroe developed a reasonable strategy with the information appellant and his family were willing to provide. Counsel presented direct testimony from family members, and used this testimony to paint appellant in the most positive light possible. Counsel will not be deemed ineffective for pursuing a strategy reasonably designed to serve appellant's best interest. See Rivers, supra. Accordingly, trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to investigate and present the evidence complained of, and the claim of appellate counsel's ineffectiveness must also fail. McGill supra.
Appellant argues the prosecutor engaged in an irrelevant, prejudicial, inflammatory line of questioning of his mother that went beyond the scope of direct examination because it failed to deal with the character traits elicited on direct. Appellant asserts trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to this cross-examination. Although the PCRA court misconstrued appellant's argument. when it concluded it was previously litigated, appellant's issue is meritless. -
Appellant called Juanita Robinson to provide information concerning his education, employment background, military service, that he cared for his nieces, and his relationship to his deceased sister. N.T. Trial, 3/13/97, at 316-24. Specifically, appellant challenges the following questions, as to whether Mrs. Robinson was aware:
(1) Appellant had punched a girl while in the military;
(2) Appellant was on probation;
(3) Appellant had a gun at home even though he was not permitted to while on probation;
(4) Appellant had a lock on the door to the room in his home;
(5) Appellant "spent a lot of nights down at the boy['s] home"...;
(6) two years earlier Appellant's father had filed a report with the police alleging that appellant had pulled a gun on him and had assaulted him....;
(7) Appellant was discharged from the army reserves because he was in prison;
(8) Appellant had been arrested for shooting at a girl and convicted of reckless endangerment, assault and battery, and carrying a firearm illegally....
Appellant's Brief, at 95-96.
Appellant may present any evidence "relevant and admissible" to any mitigating circumstance, including any evidence "concerning the character and record of the defendant...." 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(a)(2) and (e)(8). However, appellant may not offer this evidence in a vacuum without challenge or rebuttal by the Commonwealth. Commonwealth v. O'Shea, 523 Pa. 384, 567 A.2d 1023, 1032 (1989). "[C]rossexamination is permissible within the sound discretion of the trial court." Commonwealth v. Ogrod, 576 Pa. 412, 839 A.2d 294, 322 (2003). On cross-examination, counsel may question the witness concerning subjects raised during direct examination, may refute inferences raised during direct testimony, and may attempt to discredit a witness through questions about acts or omissions inconsistent with his testimony. Id. The trial court's discretion will not be reversed unless there has been a clear abuse of discretion or an error of law. Id.
Here, the prosecutor's cross-examination of Mrs. Robinson was not irrelevant, prejudicial, or inflammatory, as it was an attempt to discredit the witness on appellant's character, which was offered by appellant on direct examination and clearly within the scope of direct. As there is no basis to conclude the trial court abused its discretion, appellant's claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel is meritless, and his claim appellate counsel was ineffective also fails. See McGill, supra.
Lastly, appellant asserts his death sentence should be overturned because the proportionality review conducted by this Court on direct appeal was constitutionally defective. Appellant claims the database relied upon by this Court is fundamentally flawed and inaccurate, violating his liberty interest. Appellant correctly states this Court has rejected this same argument on several occasions. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Miller, 560 Pa. 500, 746 A.2d 592, 604 (2000); Commonwealth v. Albrecht, 554 Pa. 31, 720 A.2d 693, 708 (1998); Commonwealth v. Gribble, 550 Pa. 62, 703 A.2d 426, 438-40 (1997). Appellant fails to offer a compelling reason for this Court to reexamine those decisions, and we decline to revisit this issue.
As appellant's issues have been either-previously litigated or meritless, we affirm the denial of post conviction relief. The verdict and sentence of death are af firmed.
Justice BAER files a concurring and dissenting opinion.
Justice NIGRO files a dissenting opinion.
Justice SAYLOR files a dissenting opinion.
. Appellant's issues have been re-ordered for clarity. Specifically, appellant asserts he is entitled to PCRA relief because:
(1) Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to develop and introduce evidence warranting a voluntary manslaughter charge and verdict and for failing to properly argue on direct appeal that appellant was entitled to an instruction on voluntary manslaughter.
(2) His death sentence is based upon an improper application of the perpetration of a felony aggravating circumstance and counsel was ineffective in failing to litigate claims about this aggravator.
(3) Trial counsel's failure to investigate and present at sentencing the readily available evidence of appellant's increasingly paranoid behavior, paranoid schizophrenia, family dysfunction and abuse, diminished capacity and emotional trauma at the time of the offenses deprived him of his constitutional right to the effective assistance of counsel.
(4) The sentencing jury, after hearing argument about his future dangerousness, was never instructed that, if sentenced to life, appellant would be ineligible for parole.
(5) Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the Commonwealth's cross-examination of appellant's mother at the penalty phase.
(6) Appellant was tried while incompetent and his counsel was ineffective.
(7) The Commonwealth's continuous misconduct throughout appellant's capital trial and sentencing prejudiced appellant.
(8) Defense counsel failed to object to irrelevant and improper victim impact testimony and argument.
(9) Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the court's erroneous charge during the guilt phase wherein the court repeatedly stated if appellant had a specific intent to kill, the killing was with malice.
(10) There was insufficient evidence to support the jury's finding of the (d)(7) aggravating circumstance, and the trial court failed to include the required limiting instruction rendering the (d)(7) aggravating circumstance vague and overbroad, and counsel was ineffective in failing to litigate these.
(11) Trial counsel was ineffective for failing to effectively argue on direct appeal that the court's refusal to admit testimony of appellant's mother about why he had guns violated appellant's constitutional rights to due process and fair trial, and the refusal to admit this testimony prejudiced appellant.
(12) The proportionality review performed by this Court was constitutionally defective.
. "In the commission of the offense the defendant knowingly created a grave risk of death to another person in addition to the victim of the offense." 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(7).
. See Simmons v. South Carolina, 512 U.S. 154, 166, 114 S.Ct. 2187, 129 L.Ed.2d 133 (1994) (jury instruction that life imprisonment means life without possibility of parole); see also Commonwealth v. Jones, 571 Pa. 112, 811 A.2d 994, 1004 (2002) ("a Simmons charge is triggered only upon the existence of twin requirements, i.e., future dangerousness being placed at issue, and a defense request.") (internal citation omitted).
."An application for Incompetency Examination. — Application to the court for an order directing an incompetency examination may be presented by . other official in charge of the institution or place in which [the defendant] is detained." 50 P.S. § 7402(c).
. Both doctors diagnosed appellant after reviewing his hospital records. Neither doctor was able to evaluate appellant in person because he failed to cooperate.
. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(6) provides as follows: (d) Aggravating circumstances. — Aggravating circumstances shall be limited to the following:
(6) The defendant committed a killing while in the perpetration of a felony.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 901, 2501, and 2502.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1).
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106.
.This included evidence which was later found by this Court to be inadmissible at trial. See Robinson, at 351 (admission of photographs of appellant with guns that were not the murder weapon, bullet-proof vest, and cartridges from revolver was erroneous).
. Appellant also asserts the PCRA court erred in holding the prosecutor's argument "we have to stop" appellant was not a Simmons statement. Appellant's Brief, at 32. This argument was addressed on direct appeal and thus was previously litigated. See issue 4, supra.
. The Prothonotary of the Supreme Court is directed to transmit the complete record in this case to the Governor in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. § 971 l(i).