Opinion ID: 1954225
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of Psychiatric History

Text: Breakiron argues that he was prejudiced in the penalty phase of his trial because counsel did not present, as mitigating circumstances, any evidence of his past psychiatric problems during the penalty phase of his trial, including his history of black outs, drug abuse and psychiatric treatment. He alleges that he was prejudiced because had counsel properly used the MHPA, as discussed supra, he would have had the benefit of the private psychiatrist to testify as to these issues. [12] We reject Breakiron's claim because it appears that trial counsel had a reasonable trial tactic in failing to admit evidence of Breakiron's psychiatric history into the trial. At the sentencing hearing, trial counsel presented mitigating evidence concerning Breakiron's alcohol abuse, via the testimony of Breakiron's mother, and through Reverend Collins. Trial counsel testified that his decision to present only these witnesses and to omit any of Breakiron's past psychiatric admissions was a reasonable trial tactic because such history would show his past violence and aggressiveness, which would have an adverse impact on the jury. The PCRA court, citing Commonwealth v. Lark, 548 Pa. 441, 698 A.2d 43, 51 (1997), found that counsel's tactics were reasonable given the potential negative impact on the jury. We should scrupulously follow the presumption that attorneys act in the interests of their clients, and insist that defendants meet their burden of proving that their attorneys had no reasonable basis for their action. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Watson, 523 Pa. 51, 65, 565 A.2d 132, 139 (1989). Here, Breakiron has not done this and we affirm the order of the PCRA court denying relief.