Opinion ID: 2271548
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency Review

Text: We begin by reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence for first degree murder. In conducting such an analysis, we are obliged to determine whether the evidence presented at trial and all reasonable inferences derived therefrom, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth as verdict winner, are sufficient to satisfy all elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Baumhammers, at 68; Commonwealth v. Bridges, 563 Pa. 1, 757 A.2d 859, 864 (2000). A person is guilty of first degree murder where the Commonwealth proves: (1) a human being was unlawfully killed; (2) the person accused is responsible for the killing; and (3) the accused acted with specific intent to kill. See 18 Pa.C.S. 2502(a); Baumhammers, at 68. An intentional killing is a [k]illing by means of poison, or by lying in wait, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate and premeditated killing. 18 Pa.C.S. 2502(d). The Commonwealth may prove that a killing was intentional solely through circumstantial evidence. The finder of fact may infer that the defendant had the specific intent to kill the victim based on the defendant's use of a deadly weapon upon a vital part of the victim's body. Commonwealth v. Blakeney, 596 Pa. 510, 946 A.2d 645, 651 (2008) (citations omitted). Appellant argues the verdict is supported by mere speculation. He cites various testimonial inconsistencies, contending these make the evidence so unreliable and contradictory as to render the verdict pure conjecture, and claiming as much evidence for the shooting lies against Rahsaan Anderson as against himself. Appellant's alleged inconsistencies include: Christina Ellison's initial uncertainties in identifying appellant as the shooter in court, [4] a police officer's redaction of his prior statement that he observed officers tackle appellant before he crawled under the vehicle, and claims police were going to arrest Rahsaan Anderson for the murder but were stopped by the District Attorney. An affidavit of probable cause was prepared for Anderson, but was never approved by the District Attorney; an arrest warrant was never obtained. See Appellant's Brief, at 10-11. The Commonwealth observes multiple people identified appellant as the shooter, and that police officers pursued appellant directly after the crime occurred, eventually detaining him and finding the murder weapon underneath the vehicle where appellant was hiding. The Commonwealth argues the inconsistencies noted by appellant come from an incomplete rendering of witness testimony. We find the Commonwealth established each element necessary to sustain appellants first degree murder conviction. It presented a wealth of evidence pointing to appellant as the person responsible for Crawford's killing. Eyewitnesses, located mere feet away from the shooting, each independently identified appellant as the shooter and gave consistent accounts of his actions. Further establishing appellants identity as Crawford's shooter were the pursuing officers, who stopped appellant moments after the crime occurred, pursued him upon flight, and recovered the murder weapon from the same location where he hid and was arrested. The Commonwealth also presented medical evidence revealing at least one of the wounds inflicted by appellant was fatal. Appellant's attempts to characterize the evidence as unreliable and contradictory are belied by the record, which manifestly identifies him as the shooter. See N.T. Trial, 5/25/05, at 150, 214-15. More importantly, the inconsistencies cited by appellant do not controvert his identity as the shooter or any other element of first degree murder. Having thoroughly reviewed the record, we find the evidence satisfies each element of first degree murder: (1) Robert Crawford was unlawfully killed; (2) he was killed by appellant; and (3) appellant specifically intended to kill Crawford, as is evidenced by his use of a deadly weapon upon vital parts of Crawford's body. See Blakeney, at 651. We therefore find the Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to convict appellant of first degree murder. We must now consider the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the aggravating circumstances. [T]he verdict must be a sentence of death if the jury unanimously finds at least one aggravating circumstance ... and no mitigating circumstance or if the jury unanimously finds one or more aggravating circumstances which outweigh any mitigating circumstances. The verdict must be a sentence of life imprisonment in all other cases. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(c)(1)(iv). As stated above, the jury found two aggravating circumstances: appellant, in the commission of the offense, knowingly created a grave risk of death to another person in addition to the victim, and appellant had previously been convicted of another murder. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(7), (d)(11). To determine whether the evidence establishes the grave risk of death aggravator, we consider if appellant's behavior brought someone other than the victim into a life-threatening situation. Commonwealth v. Boxley, 596 Pa. 620, 948 A.2d 742, 750 (2008); see also Commonwealth v. Drumheller, 570 Pa. 117, 808 A.2d 893, 909 (2002) ([T]he grave risk of death aggravator `applies to situations where the [appellant] in the course of killing his particular victim acts in a manner which endangers the lives of others close in proximity to the intended or actual victim.') (quoting Commonwealth v. Stokes, 532 Pa. 242, 615 A.2d 704, 713 (1992)). Sufficient evidence to support the grave risk of death aggravator exists where a nexus connects other persons in close proximity to the intended or actual victim to the zone of danger created by the defendant's actions in killing the victim. Commonwealth v. Paolello, 542 Pa. 47, 665 A.2d 439, 457 (1995). We have previously held the grave risk of death aggravator applies where there is potential for an errant, ricochet, or pass-through bullet; the endangered bystander need not be in the direct line of fire to be in grave risk of death. Commonwealth v. Wright, 599 Pa. 270, 961 A.2d 119, 146 (2008). The Commonwealth presented ballistics expert testimony indicating a .380 caliber bullet is capable of passing through a human body and harming another person when shot from 80-100 feet, even if that person is not in the immediate line of fire. Testimony revealed appellant fired upon Crawford within three to five feet of at least two people. Others were inevitably placed at risk, as appellant shot Crawford in an area rife with students and subway patrons, as well as restaurant and gas station clientele. This evidence proves other persons were within the zone of danger created by appellant's violent actions, supporting a finding of the grave risk of death aggravator. The prior murder aggravator was satisfied, as neither party disputes appellant was previously convicted of second degree murder. Though appellant contends the failure of any juror to find even one mitigating circumstance in light of the amount of testimony presented suggests the verdict is a result of arbitrariness, we find the jury's conclusion is supported by the record. The jury heard from appellant's brother, who grew up in similar circumstances and had not acted out in violence. Additionally, expert testimony revealed appellant understands rules, is capable of some impulse control, does not suffer from any sort of diminished cognitive ability, was not under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance when he killed Crawford, and exhibits no indices of an underlying thought disorder. Indeed, this testimony and the accompanying case facts remove appellant from the majority of the mitigating circumstances recognized by law. [5] That the jury found insubstantial the evidence offered as mitigation, especially when compared to the aggravating circumstances, does not render the death verdict arbitrary.