Opinion ID: 2390272
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: failure of trial counsel to argue mitigating circumstances to the jury at the penalty phase

Text: Appellant claims that trial counsel was ineffective for not presenting sufficient evidence as to his character and background as a mitigating circumstance. There was evidence put on record concerning Appellant's excellent record while in the State Correctional Institution from November 30, 1976, to December 23, 1982, and his excellent record, fine work record and good conduct in York from December 23, 1982 up to the date of the killing. Apparently, Appellant is complaining that trial counsel did not provide witnesses to substantiate his good prison and work record. Unfortunately, Appellant never gave counsel the names of any people who could testify as to his character, nor does he explain how these witnesses would have been beneficial to him. Since counsel was unaware of these witnesses, he cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to call them to testify. Commonwealth v. Jasper, 526 Pa. 497, 587 A.2d 705 (1991); Commonwealth v. Anderson, 501 Pa. 275, 461 A.2d 208 (1983).