Opinion ID: 1563959
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence of Parole Ineligibility (Simmons Charge)

Text: In his next argument, Appellant contends that [s]ince the evidence raised an inference of [Appellant's] future dangerousness, the [trial] court's failure to permit the defense to introduce evidence of [Appellant's] parole ineligibility, and the likelihood of commutation and to instruct the jury that Pennsylvania law does not permit a defendant convicted of first-degree murder to be released on parole violated [Appellant's (1)] due process and [(2)] Eighth Amendment rights. Appellant's Brief at 64; emphasis added. Appellant first contends that the trial court erred by failing to give the jury what is referred to as a Simmons instruction, i.e., that a life sentence means life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. We have described the Simmons instruction, and our law regarding when a criminal defendant is eligible for relief with respect to same, as follows: In Simmons v. South Carolina, 512 U.S. 154, 114 S.Ct. 2187, 129 L.Ed.2d 133 (1994) (plurality), a plurality of the United States Supreme Court would have held that, if a prosecutor argues a capital defendant's future dangerousness at a sentencing trial, the defendant may request and should be granted a jury instruction that a penalty of life in prison will render the defendant ineligible for parole. Id. at 170, 114 S.Ct. at 2197. This Court has held that a Simmons instruction is mandated only if two events occur: (1) the prosecutor must place the defendant's future dangerousness in issue; and (2) the defendant must have requested that the trial court issue the instruction. Commonwealth v. Dougherty, 580 Pa. 183, 860 A.2d 31, 37 (2004), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 835, 126 S.Ct. 63, 163 L.Ed.2d 89 (2005); Commonwealth v. Jones, 571 Pa. 112, 811 A.2d 994, 1004 (2002) (citing Commonwealth v. Spotz, 563 Pa. 269, 759 A.2d 1280, 1291 (2000), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 1104, 122 S.Ct. 902, 151 L.Ed.2d 871 (2002)). The failure to issue a Simmons charge is no basis for relief where these circumstances are not met. Jones, 811 A.2d at 1004. Commonwealth v. Carson, 590 Pa. 501, 913 A.2d 220, 273 (2006), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 128 S.Ct. 384, 169 L.Ed.2d 270 (2007) (emphasis added). As can be gleaned from the manner in which Appellant raises his argument, he does not allege that the prosecution had raised the issue of future dangerousness to the jury. Rather, he argues that the issue was brought forth to the jury by the nature of the general evidence itself. Specifically, he contends that the extensive evidence concerning his mental illness given by eight mental health experts (seven of whom had testified on behalf of Appellant) had established the issue of future dangerousness in the minds of the jury. With respect to the evidence given by the Commonwealth's mental health witness, Dr. Welner, Appellant notes that this witness opined that Appellant suffers from a personality disorder shared with perhaps 70% of the criminal population that is characterized by a pattern of rule breaking and lying, and that Appellant in particular has demonstrated a lifetime pattern of irresponsibility. See Appellant's Brief at 70. Appellant also notes the extensive evidence introduced at trial that highlighted his racist views. However, the evidence Appellant cites does not specifically indicate a tendency to prove dangerousness in the future. Kelly v. South Carolina, 534 U.S. 246, 254, 122 S.Ct. 726, 151 L.Ed.2d 670 (2002) (emphasis added). [23] For example, in Kelly, a case decided after Appellant's trial, the United States Supreme Court determined that a Simmons instruction was required where the prosecutor (1) adduced testimony that the defendant, following his arrest, created a shank while in prison and had made an escape attempt that included a plan to lure a female guard into his cell to be used as a hostage; (2) adduced testimony from a psychologist that the defendant was a sadist as a child and had developed an inclination to kill anyone who rubbed him the wrong way; (3) argued to the jury that the defendant was dangerous and unpredictable while referring to him as the butcher of Batesburg, Bloody Billy, and Billy the Kid; and (4) opined to the jury that murderers will be murderers[, and the defendant] is the cold-blooded one right over there. Id. at 248-50, 122 S.Ct. 726. By contrast, in the case sub judice, the Commonwealth did not present evidence establishing Appellant's future dangerous propensities. The evidence Appellant cites is not even remotely similar in character to the evidence in Kelly. Essentially, the evidence Appellant cites indicates only that he will continue to suffer from his mental disorders, making him, according to Dr. Welner, a liar, a rule-breaker, and irresponsible. This is not evidence of future dangerousness, or evidence of a demonstrated propensity for violence, triggering the need for a Simmons instruction. See Kelly, supra at 253, 122 S.Ct. 726. Additionally, the Commonwealth did not raise the issue of future dangerousness by its argument to the jury, nor does Appellant contend that it did. [24] More importantly, Appellant never specifically requested a Simmons instruction. Rather, he asked the trial court to allow him to publish to the jury an affidavit by Nelson R. Zullinger, Secretary of the Board of Pardons, which purportedly averred that since September 13, 1978, only one person sentenced to life imprisonment in the Commonwealth has ever had a sentence commuted or been granted clemency or a pardon. Appellant's Brief at 67. The trial court denied Appellant's request, holding that such evidence should not come in unless the Commonwealth raised the issue of future dangerousness. However, a request to introduce such evidence is not the equivalent of asking the court to provide a specific instruction to the jury pursuant to Simmons. Accordingly, Appellant has failed to meet either of the two requirements for obtaining relief on the issue of whether a jury should be instructed as to parole ineligibility, set forth, inter alia, in Carson, supra at 273. That is, Appellant has failed to show that the Commonwealth had placed the issue of future dangerousness before the jury and that he had requested a Simmons charge. Therefore, Appellant is not entitled to any relief under his due process claim. Carson, supra at 273. In the second prong of his argument, Appellant contends that he was entitled to introduce into evidence the affidavit of Mr. Zullinger pursuant to Appellant's rights under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Appellant acknowledges that the United States Supreme Court has never ruled that the Eighth Amendment requires a parole ineligibility instruction and the admission of evidence regarding same at every capital sentencing in states prohibiting release on parole on a life sentence, nor has this Court ever made a parole ineligibility instruction mandatory in capital cases. Notwithstanding, Appellant contends that Kelly, supra, which was decided after Appellant's trial and sentencing, affords him a basis for relief because that case purportedly acknowledged that a capital defendant's future dangerousness always will be a foremost consideration for jurors. Appellant's Brief at 75. However, in this case, Appellant has failed to point to any evidence that specifically indicates his future dangerousness, and, quite significantly, Appellant failed to request either a Simmons instruction or a jury instruction pursuant to the Eighth Amendment. Thus, no relief is due. See Carson, supra at 272-74 (rejecting the appellant's similar Eighth Amendment argument where the prosecution had not raised the issue of future dangerousness).