Opinion ID: 2056434
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Verdict Slip

Text: Appellant alleges that the trial court erred in accepting a verdict of death even though the verdict slip did not indicate the finding of any aggravating circumstances. Specifically, Appellant contends that the jury returned with a verdict of death after its deliberation, finding as an aggravating circumstance a history of progressively more violent felonies. N.T., 8/13/07, at 77. After review of the verdict slip, the trial court instructed the jury that the circumstance they found was not a specific statutory factor under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9711 and the jury was instructed to continue deliberations. The court pointed out the aggravating circumstance sought by the Commonwealth. The jury then returned a verdict of death citing Section 9711(d)(9). [17] According to Appellant, the trial court prejudiced him when it in essence, forced the jury to find an aggravating factor that they had not initially found. Appellant's Brief at 50. The Commonwealth retorts that the trial court properly instructed the jury on the aggravating circumstance sought by the Commonwealth, i.e., whether Appellant has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the person. N.T., 8/13/07, at 68. According to the Commonwealth, once the jury came back with a finding of the aggravating circumstance regarding a history of progressively more violent felonies, the trial court called a sidebar at which the trial court expressed its belief that the appropriate way to resolve the problem was to point this out to the jurors and send them back upstairs. N.T., 8/13/07, at 79. Defense counsel responded, I would agree, Your Honor. Id. Thereafter, the trial court reinstructed the jurors that the aggravating factor listed on the verdict slip was not an aggravating factor under the law. The trial court went on to explain to the jury that they were excused for further deliberations as to whether or not they found a statutory aggravating circumstance: Now, I don't know and will not speculate as to what was meant by the aggravating circumstance that you have listed here. I can only tell you that, as stated, it is not an aggravating circumstance under Pennsylvania law. Therefore, I am not going to record this verdict as stated. What I'm going to do instead is I'm going to excuse you to return to the jury deliberations room and determine through further deliberations  you should determine through further deliberations whether or not you have found a statutory aggravating circumstance. And the instructions that I gave you previously about what you should do if you find one apply. And what you should do if you do not find one apply as well as the instructions on the verdict slip itself. N.T., 8/13/07, at 81. Thus, the Commonwealth argues that, as defense counsel never objected to the trial court's decision to reinstruct the jury on the proper aggravating circumstance and to return them to deliberate, but concurred with this approach, counsel cannot now claim trial error. Based upon the above, we find that, by failing to object to the trial court's decision to reinstruct the jury or to the jury instruction, the issue as couched has been waived. Pa.R.A.P. 302. Moreover, even a cursory review of the record reveals that the trial court did not order the jury to find a statutory aggravator, but, rather, invited the jury to deliberate further and determine whether or not they found a permissible statutory aggravator. Thus, Appellant is not entitled to relief.