Opinion ID: 2313776
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Jury Instructions Regarding Malice

Text: Next, appellant claims that the trial court erred when it answered a jury question during the guilt phase of the trial. During deliberations, the jury submitted the question: [i]n committing a crime does total disregard for the outcome of the victim constitute an intent to kill? Appellant alleges that the trial court answered this question with a yes, and that this answer constituted reversible error because the jury's question clearly described the mental state required for a finding of third-degree, not first-degree, murder. Once again, this claim of trial court error is waived because appellant never objected to the trial court's response. The trial court noted as much in its opinion. In addition, once again, although appellant does not acknowledge the waiver in accusing the trial court of error, he admits it in Claim IX, as he faults trial counsel for failing to object to the response. Appellant's Brief at 59. Because appellant did not raise this claim below, it is defaulted. Pa.R.A.P. 302(a).