Com. v. Johns, D. ( 2019 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
DEREK JOHNS :
:
Appellant : No. 2022 EDA 2018
Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered June 29, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-09-CR-0005225-2006
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., NICHOLS, J., and PELLEGRINI*, J.
MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED AUGUST 06, 2019
Derek Johns appeals from the order, entered in the Court of Common
Pleas of Bucks County, dismissing his petition filed pursuant to the Post
Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”).1 Upon careful review, we affirm.
This Court has previously set forth the facts of this matter as follows:
On June 16, 2006, at approximately 7:00 p.m., [Johns] . . . was
walking through Creekside Apartments (hereinafter “Creekside”)
in Bensalem, Buck County, PA[,] with William Jones (hereinafter
“victim”). [Johns] shot the victim in the mouth with a Browning
semiautomatic pistol chambering a .22 long rifle cartridge, placed
the pistol in the victim’s hand, and fled the scene on foot. Minutes
after the shooting, [Johns] was stopped by police, identified by a
witness, and was arrested.
K.A.P., a 14[-]year[-]old witness, was playing cricket on a field at
Creekside with several friends when he noticed the two men
walking on the sidewalk within a few hundred feet of the cricket
field. K.A.P. testified that he saw the two black males walking
shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalk when one of the males, who
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1 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546.
____________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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was wearing a white t-shirt, pulled a gun from his waistband and
pointed it at the victim’s stomach and head. According to his
testimony, K.A.P. heard a loud noise as the male in the white shirt
fired the gun at the other’s head. K.A.P. testified that after the
man in the white shirt shot the victim, he placed the gun into the
falling man’s hand, screamed “oh shit, oh shit” and ran away.
K.I.P. was another 14[-]year[-]old witness who was playing
cricket when the shooting occurred. K.I.P. testified that he saw
the two men walking side by side, turned away to play cricket,
heard a loud pop, and when he turned towards the noise, he saw
one man on the ground, and another man running away. K.I.P.
testified that the man wearing a white t-shirt and a black “doo-
rag” (a tight fitting knit cap) ran in the direction of the Pathmark
store, which is located on Dunks Ferry Road.
Within minutes, Bensalem Township Police Officer Thomas
Jackson responded to Creekside after receiving a dispatch report
that there was a victim at Creekside who had been pistol whipped
and/or shot in the head. As Officer Jackson pulled up to the scene,
he saw the victim lying on the sidewalk between two buildings.
The officer approached [the victim] and noticed that he was lying
on his side with a firearm in his hand, and the officer immediately
kicked the weapon out of [the victim’s] hand as a safety
precaution. After initially noting that the wound to [the victim]
appeared to be self-inflicted, the officer was approached by a
witness who informed him that there was another man who had
fled the scene.
Officer Samuel Karley also responded to the scene of the shooting
at Creekside and began interviewing witnesses. The officer
approached K.I.P. for an interview and learned that K.I.P. felt that
he could identify the man he saw running from the scene of the
crime. Officer Karley took K.I.P. into his patrol car and began
driving around the Creekside neighborhood looking for the man
that K.I.P. had seen flee the scene of the shooting.
During this same time frame, Sergeant William McVey of the
Bensalem Township Police was responding to Creekside when he
heard a description of the suspect over his radio. As Sergeant
McVey neared Creekside, he saw a man fitting the description of
the suspect walking west on Dunks Ferry Road approximately one-
quarter to one-half mile away from the scene of the shooting.
Officer McVey testified that the man was wearing a white t-shirt
and a black skull-cap and identified [Johns] as the man that he
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saw walking on Dunks Ferry Road. Sergeant McVey testified that
he activated his lights, notified dispatch that he was exiting the
vehicle to engage a suspect and yelled for [Johns] to stop, make
his hands visible and come over to the vehicle. Sergeant McVey
then asked [Johns] several questions regarding the incident at
Creekside and [Johns] denied that he was at the scene or knew
anything about the shooting. Sergeant McVey conducted a pat[-
]down of [Johns’] outer clothing for officer safety when he felt a
rectangular object in [Johns’] pocket. In order to make sure that
the object did not have the potential to be used as a weapon, the
Sergeant retrieved the item, which proved to be a cellular phone,
from [Johns’] pocket.
During the pat down, Sergeant McVey received a radio
transmission which notified him that Officer Karley had an eye
witness in his vehicle and that he would be bringing the witness
to the stop location to attempt an identification. Sergeant McVey
placed [Johns] in handcuffs and moved him to the rear of the car
in order to see if a positive identification could be made.
According to K.I.P., as Officer Karley approached Sergeant
McVey’s vehicle, K.I.P. identified [Johns] from inside the squad
car based on the clothes that [Johns] was wearing. Officer Karley
testified that his patrol car was approximately 15 feet from
[Johns] when K.I.P. said “that’s him.” Officer Karley then asked
K.I.P. if he was 100% sure and K.I.P. affirmed his identification.
Officer Karley notified Sergeant McVey via radio that K.I.P. had
positively identified [Johns] and Sergeant McVey immediately
advised [Johns] that he had been identified as the person fleeing
the scene, and that he would be going back to the station.
Officer Mark Zdanowitz, who was already at the scene of the
identification, placed [Johns] in his squad car and began driving
to the station when [Johns] began yelling and questioning why he
was being arrested. Officer Zdanowitz informed [Johns] that he
was being detained for an investigation and that the Detectives
wanted to talk to him at headquarters. At that point, the officer
testified that [Johns] yelled, “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t shoot
him, he shot himself.” [Johns] also indicated that he would
consent to police testing in order to prove his innocence.
Shortly after [Johns] arrived at the station, Corporal Greg Young
administered a gun powder residue kit on [Johns’] hands. In
addition, Corporal Young administered a gun powder residue test
later that night on the [deceased] victim’s hands. [John Evans of
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the Pennsylvania State Police crime laboratory testified with a
reasonable degree of scientific certainty that, based on the
samples given to him, the sample taken from Johns’ hands tested
positive for gunshot primer particles. He indicated that he was
unable to get a result regarding the sample taken from the victim’s
hands as the machine was not functioning properly at the time he
attempted to run the analysis.]
Commonwealth v. Johns, 3060 EDA 2007 (Pa. Super. filed July 16, 2009)
(unpublished memorandum decision), quoting Trial Court Opinion, 6/26/08,
at 1-4 (citations to record omitted).
Johns was charged with criminal homicide and various firearms charges;
the firearms charges were subsequently withdrawn. On May 18, 2007, a jury
convicted Johns of third-degree murder. On May 24, 2007, the court
sentenced Johns to 16 to 40 years’ incarceration. Post-sentence motions were
denied and Johns filed a direct appeal to this Court, which affirmed his
judgment of sentence on July 16, 2009. See id. Our Supreme Court denied
Johns’ petition for allowance of appeal on March 9, 2010. See
Commonwealth v. Johns, 990 A.2d 728 (Pa. 2010) (Table).
On November 1, 2010, Johns filed a pro se PCRA petition. The PCRA
court appointed counsel, Ronald Elgart, Esquire, who filed an amended
petition. Johns claimed, inter alia, that trial counsel was ineffective for failing
to retain an expert to testify that certain writings by the victim were suicide
notes. On October 21, 2011, the court vacated Attorney Elgart’s appointment
and substituted current counsel, John J. Fioravanti, Jr., Esquire. On December
29, 2011, Attorney Fioravanti filed a motion requesting court approval for
funds to retain expert forensic psychiatrist Harry A. Doyle, M.D., to perform a
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“psychiatric autopsy” on the victim. By order dated January 23, 2012, the
PCRA court ordered Attorney Fioravanti to “provide the legal authority and an
outline of the factual basis which supports the proposition that the testimony
of an expert witness may be introduced in [c]ourt to offer an opinion as to
‘the nature’ of notes left by a victim.” Order, 1/23/12. Following a conference
with counsel, on November 8, 2012, the court issued an order again directing
counsel for Johns to submit the legal authority and factual basis for allowing
the requested expert testimony. After the court granted counsel two
extensions, on August 2, 2013, counsel filed a “Motion Seeking Authorization
To Hire Expert And Basis For Admission Of His Testimony.” In the motion,
counsel averred that Dr. Doyle was well qualified to render an opinion, he
possessed a specialized knowledge beyond that of a lay person, and his report
set forth a detailed basis for his expert opinion. By order dated October 10,
2013, the court authorized payment to Dr. Doyle for his services in the amount
of $1,500.
On January 8, 2015, the PCRA court granted counsel an extension of
time “to develop a record and obtain evidence in support of same” and
directed counsel to provide a status update by April 8, 2015. Order, 1/8/15.
Counsel failed to provide the required status update. Accordingly, by order
dated September 21, 2015, the court scheduled a status hearing to determine
whether a full evidentiary hearing was required. At the status hearing, held
on October 28, 2015, defense counsel requested additional time to allow
Johns’ family to secure funds to pay Dr. Doyle to testify at a hearing. The
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Commonwealth requested time to file a response addressing the admissibility
of Dr. Doyle’s testimony. The court granted both requests.
On November 25, 2015, after receiving a draft of Dr. Doyle’s report, the
Commonwealth filed an “Answer In Opposition To Admissibility Of Expert
Witness,” in which it argued, inter alia, that: (1) Dr. Doyle’s proffered opinion
does not support Johns’ claim; (2) Dr. Doyle’s opinion is inadmissible under
Pa.R.E. 404; and (3) Dr. Doyle’s opinion is purely speculative and is neither
relevant nor material. The parties briefed the issue and, on June 10, 2016,
the PCRA court issued notice of its intent to dismiss Johns’ petition2 without a
hearing pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 907. Included in the Rule 907 notice was
an instruction that Johns identify any remaining claims and make an offer of
proof of any additional facts to be developed at an evidentiary hearing.
On June 17, 2016, Johns filed a “Second Amended PCRA Petition” in
which he raised one new claim alleging that his sentence was illegal. After a
conference held on June 27, 2016, Johns filed a motion seeking an evidentiary
hearing on his multiple ineffectiveness claims—including the expert witness
claim—as well as his illegality of sentencing claim. A hearing was held on
December 21, 2016, at which Johns, Dr. Doyle, and trial counsel, Kenneth
Hone, Esquire, all testified. The court directed the parties to submit post-
hearing briefs.
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2 Although Johns raised multiple claims in his counseled amended PCRA
petition, the Rule 907 notice and accompanying decision of the court
addressed only the expert witness issue.
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Johns filed his brief on April 11, 2017, along with a motion to again
amend his PCRA petition. The court granted the motion and, on May 3, 2017,
Johns filed his fourth amended petition, raising a new claim that trial counsel
was ineffective for failing to object to the trial court’s instruction on voluntary
manslaughter. He also requested an additional evidentiary hearing. The
Commonwealth filed its post-hearing memorandum, as well as an answer to
Johns’ fourth amended PCRA petition, on May 25, 2017. On September 27,
2017, the trial court issued an order scheduling a further evidentiary hearing
for December 15, 2017. At the hearing, Johns and Attorney Hone testified
regarding the claim raised in the fourth amended petition. Following the
hearing, the court ordered the parties to file post-hearing briefs, which they
did. On June 29, 2018, the PCRA court dismissed Johns’ claims in their
entirety. This timely appeal follows, in which Johns raises the following
questions four our review:
1. Was trial counsel ineffective in failing to present expert
testimony that the writings of the deceased were suicide notes?
2. Was trial counsel ineffective in failing to consult with [Johns]
when the jury requested to review the autopsy [report] and
preliminary hearing [notes of testimony] during deliberations?
3. Was trial counsel ineffective in failing to challenge the
application of the five[-]year mandatory sentence under 42
Pa.C.S. § 9712 on constitutional grounds?
4. Was trial counsel ineffective in failing to challenge the
competency of K.A.P. and in failing to argue taint?
5. Was trial counsel ineffective in failing to properly object to the
trial court’s jury charge on voluntary manslaughter?
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Brief of Appellant, at 4.
We begin by noting our standard and scope of review of the denial of
PCRA relief:
On appeal from the denial of PCRA relief, our standard and scope
of review is limited to determining whether the PCRA court’s
findings are supported by the record and without legal error. Our
scope of review is limited to the findings of the PCRA court and
the evidence of record, viewed in the light most favorable to the
prevailing party at the PCRA court level. The PCRA court’s
credibility determinations, when supported by the record, are
binding on this Court. However, this Court applies a de novo
standard of review to the PCRA court's legal conclusions.
Commonwealth v. Medina, 92 A.3d 1210, 1214–15 (Pa. Super. 2014)
(citations, quotation marks and brackets omitted).
All of Johns’ claims assert the ineffectiveness of trial counsel.
Accordingly, we begin by noting that counsel is presumed effective, and it is
a petitioner’s burden to prove otherwise. Commonwealth v. Ousley, 21
A.3d 1238, 1244 (Pa. Super. 2011). In order to prove that counsel was
ineffective, a petitioner must plead and prove each of the following: “(1) the
underlying legal claim is of arguable merit; (2) counsel’s action or inaction
lacked any objectively reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client’s
interest; and (3) prejudice, to the effect that there was a reasonable
probability of a different outcome if not for counsel’s error.” Commonwealth
v. Grove, 170 A.3d 1127, 1138 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted). A failure
to plead or prove any prong will defeat an ineffectiveness claim. Id. Further,
[a] PCRA petitioner will be granted relief only when he proves, by
a preponderance of the evidence, that his conviction or sentence
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resulted from the ineffective assistance of counsel which, in the
circumstances of the particular case, so undermined the truth
determining process that no reliable adjudication of guilt or
innocence could have taken place.
Commonwealth v. Ligon, 206 A.3d 515, 519 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation
omitted).
Johns first claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present
expert testimony that two notes, left by the victim and written in the days
immediately preceding his death, were actually suicide notes.3 Johns’ defense
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3 The first note, Exhibit D-1, was found by Jessica Fontanos, the victim’s
girlfriend, in the visor of her car on the afternoon of June 16, 2006. The victim
had used Fontanos’ car the day before he died. The prosecutor read the note
into the record during Fontanos’ testimony as follows:
Q: Jessica, let me give you a copy. You tell me if I make any
mistakes reading it.
[“]Yo pops, to break it cut and dry, I don’t know what the
fuck is coming but it is. I stole a quarter key of coke from
Derek Africa Johns and a boy named Hollywood from Bristol,
PA. Hollywood live in Bloomsdale section. They have
information on us. How it was provided is anyone’s guess
because before I took it they never knew where I lived. But
Derek’s brother is a guard at BCCF. So I’m thinking that’s
how. They called Jessica’s crib a few times demanding shit.
I know where they’re mothers stay but I could not keep
waiting to see when to act on anything. Anyhow, pops, I
got all this little bit of info: Derek Johns 2677975172, 183
asterisk 612 asterisk 7284.[“]
Jessica, do you know what those numbers represent with the
asterisks? . . .
A: Nextel number.
Q: [“]Jimmy Hollywood Alea 2159467905, 2157811870, 183
asterisk 615 asterisk 12141. The bag contains items of
theirs, Africa and Hollywood, that would let someone know
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theory was that the victim committed suicide because he had stolen drugs
from Johns and feared for the safety of his family and that of his girlfriend.
The defense postulated that the victim killed himself in an effort to protect his
loved ones from retaliation by Johns.
At trial, the defense presented the testimony Richard Callery, M.D., a
forensic pathologist. During his examination of Dr. Callery, defense counsel
attempted to elicit testimony that the writings were suicide notes. The
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that our knowing of each other is no myth. There have
been a lot of Puerto Rican faces on my back. Funny since
I robbed an African and Nigga. You have to change names,
Social Security numbers if possible, jobs, etcetera.
Hopefully what I did bought yall some time.[“]
Is that what D-1 says, Jessica?
A: Yes.
N.T. Trial, 5/7/07, at 188-89.
The second note, Exhibit D-2, was found by the victim’s father in a pair
of the victim’s pants located in the trunk of the car he had driven to the scene
of the incident and stated the following, as read into the record by the victim’s
father at trial:
I did this here because my family and the Fontanos family on 325
Kings Clear are in grave danger. I took and had no idea what the
hell was to come in the long run, but now I know, and I would like
to get across to everybody that I am so sorry. Never do I have
wished for anything like this. There aren’t words that can explain
my guilt or shame. I wish there were more I can say, but it all
boils down to me making bad decisions and affecting those around
me. But to my loved ones, . . . this outcome is the only way I
could protect you from my wrongdoing.
N.T. Trial, 5/9/07, at 143.
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Commonwealth objected, and the court sustained the objection on the basis
that Dr. Callery did not possess any specialized skill, knowledge or training in
the interpretation of putative suicide notes and that the question posed by
defense counsel did not ask Dr. Callery to render an opinion within a
reasonable degree of scientific certainty. In the PCRA court, Johns argued
that trial counsel should have retained a qualified psychiatric expert to testify,
rather than relying on the testimony of Dr. Callery, a forensic pathologist. In
support of his claim, Johns retained Dr. Doyle, who prepared a “draft” report
and subsequently testified at the December 21, 2016 hearing. Dr. Doyle’s
report was based solely on his review of the trial transcripts, the notes written
by the victim, and a “summary report” prepared by trial counsel. See Draft
Opinion of Dr. Doyle, 4/26/13, at 2. In that report, Dr. Doyle concluded:
[B]ased upon the above record review, it is my opinion, within a
reasonable degree of medical certainty, that [the victim] was
experiencing acute, severe, unrelenting psychic pain/anxiety,
intense fear for his personal safety and that of his girlfriend and
relatives, intense feelings of guilt and shame for jeopardizing their
safety and was desperate to protect his loved ones, all precipitated
by an acute, self-imposed personal crisis, and that [sic], as a
result, was at high risk for self-harm/suicide at the time of his
death.
Id. at 10.
The PCRA court denied relief on the basis that Dr. Doyle’s testimony was
inadmissible because its content involved “matters that were within the
common knowledge and experience of the jury members and [was] not of
such a nature that would be beyond the understanding of the average juror.”
Decision, 6/10/16, at 13.
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Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 702 provides for the admission of expert
testimony as follows:
A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill,
experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an
opinion or otherwise if:
(a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized
knowledge is beyond that possessed by the average
layperson;
(b) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized
knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the
evidence or to determine a fact in issue; and
(c) the expert’s methodology is generally accepted in the
relevant field.
Pa.R.E. 702. Thus, to be admissible, the expert testimony must be beyond
the knowledge possessed by a layperson and assist the trier of fact to
understand the evidence or determine a fact in issue. Commonwealth v.
Walker, 92 A.3d 766, 780 (Pa. 2014). Conversely, “[i]nferences drawn from
the ordinary affairs of life” ought not to be drawn for the jury, and “turned
over under oath from the witness stand.” Commonwealth v. Seese, 517
A.2d 920, 921 (Pa. 1986). The decision of whether expert testimony is to be
admitted lies within the sound discretion of the trial court, and this decision
will not be reversed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v.
Bardo, 709 A.2d 871, 878 (Pa. 1998).
To satisfy the “arguable merit” prong for a claim of ineffectiveness
based upon trial counsel’s failure to call an expert witness, the
petitioner must prove that an expert witness was willing and
available to testify on the subject of the testimony at trial, counsel
knew or should have known about the witness and the defendant
was prejudiced by the absence of the testimony.
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Commonwealth v. Chmiel, [] 30 A.3d 1111, 1143 ([Pa.] 2011);
Commonwealth v. Gibson, [] 951 A.2d 1110, 1133 ([Pa.]
2008). Prejudice in this respect requires the petitioner to “show
how the uncalled witnesses’ testimony would have been beneficial
under the circumstances of the case.” Commonwealth v.
Sneed, [] A.3d 1096, 1109 ([Pa.] 2012) (quoting Gibson, 951
A.2d at 1134). Therefore, the petitioner’s burden is to show that
testimony provided by the uncalled witnesses “would have been
helpful to the defense.” Id. (quoting Commonwealth v. Auker,
[] 681 A.2d 1305, 1319 ([Pa.] 1996)).
Commonwealth v. Williams, 141 A.3d 440, 460 (Pa. 2016).
Here, the PCRA court addressed this claim as follows:
In the instant case, the Commonwealth presented evidence of
eyewitness testimony that [Johns] shot the victim and planted the
gun in the victim’s hand, forensic testimony of the pathologist and
laboratory analysts, [Johns’] motive, implied threats made by
[Johns] to the victim[,] and evidence of [Johns’] conduct and
statements establishing his consciousness of guilt. [Johns], in
turn, relied on [his own] statements that the shooting was a
suicide, called his own forensic pathologist[,] and introduced the
writings made by the victim, characterizing them as suicide notes,
to support his defense of victim suicide.
The facts and arguments made by the parties at trial[] clearly
identified for the jury’s consideration[] whether [Johns] shot and
killed the victim or whether the victim shot and killed himself. The
content of Dr. Doyle’s proposed testimony that the victim was at
a high risk of self-harm or suicide based upon certain “facts”
already heard by the jury are matters that were within the
common knowledge and experience of the jury members and is
not of such a nature that [it] would be beyond the understanding
of the average juror. Written words meant to convey a message
are, by their very nature, meant for and understandable by a lay
person. As the trial court stated in its opinion, “Whether [the
victim’s] fear—for himself and his loved ones—would prompt him
to kill himself, to surrender his gun to [Johns] by way of
appeasement or even to seek to kill [Johns] was a matter for the
jury to determine from all the evidence.” . . . Ultimately, the jury
was convinced that [Johns] did murder [the victim].
Decision, 6/10/16, at 67-68 (citation to record omitted).
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We concur with the PCRA court’s assessment, which is supported by the
record and the law, that Dr. Doyle’s testimony was inadmissible. A
determination as to the victim’s state of mind and whether his writings
constituted suicide notes was well within the common knowledge,
understanding, and life experience of the average juror. Walker, supra;
Seese, supra. The jury was presented with the same underlying information
as Dr. Doyle, including the victim’s theft of guns and drugs from Johns, the
various phone calls from Johns, the victim’s distressed state of mind
immediately prior his death, the content of the notes themselves, and the
testimony of the medical examiner.4 Dr. Doyle’s own report conceded that his
assessment “does not address whether an individual will or did suicide.” Draft
Opinion of Dr. Doyle, 4/26/13, at 7. Moreover, Johns’ trial counsel was able
to elicit testimony from the Commonwealth’s own forensic pathologist that the
victim’s writings “look[ed] good for a suicide note,” N.T. Trial, 5/10/07, at
171, and strenuously argued the defense theory of suicide during closing
arguments.
In sum, the jury was familiar with the victim’s circumstances and
mindset in the several days preceding his death and was capable of making a
determination based solely on the evidence presented at trial as viewed
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4 Importantly, Doctor Doyle never met or interviewed the victim personally
prior to his death; nor is there evidence that any mental health records existed
with respect to the victim. Moreover, the intended audience of the notes—the
victim’s father and loved ones—were themselves lay persons with no
specialized knowledge of psychology or suicide risk-assessment.
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through the prism of the jurors’ own life experiences and common sense. As
such, expert testimony was inadmissible under Rule 702. Accordingly, we can
discern no abuse of discretion or error of law on the part of the PCRA court in
concluding that Johns failed to establish that trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to present expert testimony regarding the victim’s state of mind.
Johns next asserts that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to consult
with him when the jury asked to review the autopsy report and preliminary
hearing testimony of witness K.A.P. during its deliberations. Johns asserts
that the preliminary hearing notes would have revealed material
inconsistencies in K.A.P.’s account of the incident and could have been used
to impeach his trial testimony. In addition, in those instances where the
Commonwealth had “exploit[ed] the preliminary hearing transcript[ by]
pointing out areas of consistency with [K.A.P.’s] trial testimony,” the ability to
review the actual transcript would have revealed “that K.A.P. either did not
understand what was being asked of him or that he was vulnerable to
suggestibility or both.” Brief of Appellant, at 32. With respect to the autopsy
report, Johns asserts that, because the Commonwealth’s forensic pathologist
conceded that the victim’s writing “looks good for a suicide note,” and
explained at trial the reasons he classified the victim’s death as
“undetermined,” the jury should have been allowed to view the autopsy
report. We find no merit to Johns’ claim.
First, Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 646 provides that,
“[u]pon retiring, the jury may take with it such exhibits as the trial judge
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deems proper,” with certain exceptions not relevant here. Pa.R.Crim.P.
646(A) (emphasis added). In this case, neither the autopsy report nor the
preliminary hearing transcripts were admitted into evidence as exhibits at
trial. Accordingly, the jury was not entitled to view these items during
deliberations. See Commonwealth v. Nahavandian, 849 A.2d 1221, 1231–
32 (Pa. Super. 2004), vacated on other grounds, 888 A.2d 815 (Pa. 2006)
(cautionary instruction required where preliminary hearing transcript used at
trial but never admitted into evidence given to jury in error).
Second, Johns has provided no support for the proposition that counsel
has a duty to consult with his client regarding what the jury should be allowed
to review during deliberations. Indeed, our Supreme Court has recognized no
such duty. In Commonwealth v. Mason, 130 A.3d 601 (Pa. 2015), the
Court, quoting Florida v. Nixon, 543 U.S. 175, 187 (2004), stated the
following:
An attorney undoubtedly has a duty to consult with the
client regarding “important decisions,” including questions
of overarching defense strategy. Strickland[ v.
Washington], 466 U.S. [668,] 688 [(1984)]. That
obligation, however, does not require counsel to obtain the
defendant’s consent to “every tactical decision.” Taylor v.
Illinois, 484 U.S. 400, 417–418 [] (1988) (an attorney has
authority to manage most aspects of the defense without
obtaining his client’s approval). But certain decisions
regarding the exercise or waiver of basic trial rights are of
such moment that they cannot be made for the defendant
by a surrogate. A defendant, this Court affirmed, has “the
ultimate authority” to determine “whether to plead guilty,
waive a jury, testify in his or her own behalf, or take an
appeal.” Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745, 751 [] (1983);
Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72, 93, n.1 [] (1977)
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(Burger, C. J., concurring). Concerning those decisions, an
attorney must both consult with the defendant and obtain
consent to the recommended course of action.
Nixon, 543 U.S. at 187[]. Though the High Court recognized in
Nixon only a duty to consult with a defendant regarding
“‘important decisions,’ which may include questions of overarching
defense strategy,” our jurisprudence has aligned itself with the
Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct to recognize a duty to
gain the consent of a defendant regarding the overarching
objective or purpose of a defense, and leaves to counsel the
authority to control the many aspects involving strategy and
tactics in achieving those objectives. See [Commonwealth v.]
Sam, [] 635 A.2d [603,] 611–12 [(Pa. 1993)] (relying on Rule 1.2
of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct wherein it
provides that “a lawyer shall abide by a client’s decisions
concerning the objectives of representation”).
Mason, 130 A.3d at 667–68.
Finally, Johns is unable to demonstrate that, but for counsel’s failure to
consult with him, the outcome of trial would have been different. Grove,
supra (petitioner asserting ineffectiveness claim must demonstrate prejudice,
such that there was reasonable probability of different outcome if not for
counsel’s error). First, as noted above, even if counsel had advocated for
allowing the jury to view the documents, there was no legal basis for the court
to grant such a request. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 646(A). Thus, the trial court would
likely have denied counsel’s request.
Second, even if the court had allowed the jury to view the documents,
any suggestion that the outcome of trial would have differed is mere
speculation, at best. Johns identifies nothing specific in the autopsy report
that would have benefitted him. Rather, he simply identifies the report as a
“critical aspect” of the case, without further elaboration. See Brief of
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Appellant, at 33. “[B]oilerplate allegations and bald assertions of no
reasonable basis and/or ensuing prejudice cannot satisfy a petitioner’s burden
to prove that counsel was ineffective.” Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 30 A.3d
1111, 1128 (Pa. 2011).
With regard to the preliminary hearing transcripts, Johns’ brief refers to
contradictions and inconsistencies between witness K.A.P.’s preliminary
hearing testimony and his trial testimony. However, while Johns provides
citations to the relevant portions of the trial transcript, he provides no citations
to the preliminary hearing transcript. “It is not this Court’s responsibility to
comb through the record seeking the factual underpinnings of Appellant’s
claim.” Commonwealth v. Samuel, 102 A.3d 1001, 1005 (Pa. Super. 2014).
See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(c) (“If reference is made to . . . any . . . matter appearing
in the record, the argument must set forth . . . a reference to the place in the
record where the matter referred to appears.”). Nevertheless, we endeavored
to locate support for Johns’ claims, but were unable to discern any
inconsistencies so significant that a review of the preliminary hearing
transcripts by the jury would have altered the outcome of trial. Both the
Commonwealth and the defense utilized portions of the preliminary hearing
transcripts at trial to point out for the jury consistencies and inconsistencies
in testimony. In addition to minor inconsistencies in testimony, the transcript
contained much information that was damaging to the defense. As such, we
fail to see how the verdict would have differed had the jury reviewed the
transcript.
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Johns next argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
challenge the constitutionality of the mandatory minimum sentence statute,
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9712, pursuant to Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99(2013). Specifically, at the time Johns was sentenced in 2007, section 9712
provided for a five-year mandatory minimum sentence where a defendant
visibly possessed a firearm or replica of a firearm that placed the victim in
reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury during the commission of a
violent offense. The applicability of the mandatory minimum was to be
determined by the trial court by a preponderance of the evidence at the time
of sentencing after considering the evidence adduced at trial and such other
evidence as the parties presented at sentencing. In 2013, the United States
Supreme Court issued its decision in Alleyne, which held that facts triggering
the imposition of a mandatory minimum sentence must be found by the trier
of fact beyond a reasonable doubt. Although trial counsel argued at
sentencing against the imposition of the mandatory minimum, he did not
specifically challenge its constitutionality. Johns now asserts that his counsel
should have foreseen this eventual change in the law, given the existence of
Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000),5 at the time of his
____________________________________________
5 In Apprendi, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, other than the fact of a
prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the
prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury and proved
beyond a reasonable doubt.
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sentencing, and challenged the constitutionality of the provision. Johns is
entitled to no relief.
Johns’ judgment of sentence became final in 2010, well before Alleyne
was decided. As Johns concedes, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in
Commonwealth v. Washington, 142 A.3d 801 (Pa. 2016), held that
Alleyne does not apply retroactively to cases, such as his, pending on
collateral review. Accordingly, he is not entitled to the benefit of that decision.
Moreover, Johns’ sentencing—the event forming the basis for his
ineffectiveness claim—occurred in 2007, approximately six years prior to the
decision in Alleyne. “It is well-settled that counsel cannot be deemed
ineffective for failing to predict changes in the law.” Commonwealth v.
Cousar, 154 A.3d 287, 303 (Pa. 2017). In light of the foregoing, Johns is
entitled to no relief on this claim.
Next, Johns asserts that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
challenge the competency of witness K.A.P. and for failing to argue that his
testimony was tainted. Johns claims that, although counsel challenged
K.A.P.’s competency to testify at the preliminary hearing stage,6 he failed to
do so with respect to his testimony at trial. Johns argues that the “numerous
contradictions in K.A.P.’s testimony and the unusual way that the police
____________________________________________
6 Johns’ counsel at the time of the preliminary hearing did not actually
challenge K.A.P.’s competency to testify. Rather, new trial counsel filed a
pretrial motion to remand for another preliminary hearing based on the fact
that K.A.P. was 13 years old at the time he testified and there had been no
inquiry made into his competency. By the time that motion was before the
court, K.A.P. had turned 14 years of age.
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treated him suggested that trial counsel should have again challenged
competency and taint.” Brief of Appellant, at 41. These claims are meritless.
In Pennsylvania, the general rule is that every person is presumed to be
competent to be a witness. Commonwealth v. Moore, 980 A.2d 647, 649
(Pa. Super. 2009). See Pa.R.E. 601(a) (“Every person is competent to be a
witness except as otherwise provided by statute or in these rules”).
Pennsylvania law requires the court to examine child witnesses for
competency. Moore, 980 A.2d at 649–50. The Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania has established that, when a witness is under the age of 14, the
trial court must hold a competency hearing. Id. at 650, citing Rosche v.
McCoy, 156 A.2d 307, 310 (Pa. 1959) (holding that “competency is presumed
where the child is more than 14 years of age. Under 14 there must be a
judicial inquiry as to mental capacity, which must be more searching in
proportion to chronological immaturity.”). In order to determine competency,
the following factors must be applied:
There must be (1) such capacity to communicate, including as it
does both an ability to understand questions and to frame and
express intelligent answers, (2) mental capacity to observe the
occurrence itself and the capacity of remembering what it is that
[the child] is called to testify about[,] and (3) a consciousness of
the duty to speak the truth.
Rosche, 156 A.2d at 310. “A child’s competency to testify is a threshold legal
issue that the trial court must decide, and an appellate court will not disturb
its determination absent an abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth v.
Washington, 722 A.2d 643, 646 (Pa. 1998).
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Here, K.A.P. was 14 years of age at the time he testified at trial.
Accordingly, his competency to testify was presumed. See Rosche, 156 A.2d
at 310 (“When a witness is at least fourteen years old, he or she is entitled to
the same presumption of competence as an adult witness.”). Moreover, in
denying Johns’ motion for remand, the court made the following findings:
My specific recollection of [K.A.P.’s] testimony [at the preliminary
hearing] is that it was quite acute, that he was credible. His
responses were entirely—what’s the word I’m looking for?—they
were responsive to each of the questions asked. He plainly
understood what he was doing, certainly appeared to this [c]ourt
to understand his responsibility to tell the truth, and took some
pains with his answers. And I’m entirely satisfied that he was a
capable witness. So the motion to remand is denied.
N.T. Pre-Trial Motions Hearing, 1/22/07, at 57-58. Thus, in light of K.A.P.’s
age at the time of trial, as well as the trial court’s evaluation of K.A.P.’s
competency to testify when he was only 13 years old at the preliminary
hearing, trial counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failure to challenge
K.A.P.’s competency to testify at trial.7
Johns also asserts that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request
a taint hearing as to K.A.P. Johns claims that such a hearing was appropriate
because the police interviewed K.A.P. without his parents present and the
same police officer who interviewed K.A.P. also drove him to court on the day
____________________________________________
7 Johns’ reliance on Commonwealth v. Mazzaccoli, 380 A.2d 786 (Pa.
1977), is inapposite. In that case, the Court found that the trial court had
abused its discretion in allowing a 15-year-old witness to testify. However, in
that case, unlike here, the record demonstrated that “the witness had neither
the ability to understand questions and communicate intelligent answers nor
a consciousness of the duty to speak the truth.” Id. at 787.
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he testified. Johns also asserts that K.A.P. informed his investigator that “he
told the police that he didn’t see anything and was only reporting to them
what he had heard from another of the juvenile witnesses.” Brief of Appellant,
at 42. Johns is entitled to no relief.
Our Supreme Court has defined taint as “the implantation of false
memories or the distortion of real memories caused by interview techniques
of law enforcement, social service personnel, and other interested adults, that
are so unduly suggestive and coercive as to infect the memory of the child,
rendering that child incompetent to testify.” Commonwealth v. Delbridge,
855 A.2d 27, 35 (Pa. 2003).8 The core belief underlying the theory of taint is
that a child’s memory is peculiarly susceptible to suggestibility so that, when
called to testify, a child may have difficulty distinguishing fact from fantasy.
Id. at 34-35 (citation omitted).
“Pennsylvania courts have clearly and unequivocally stated that taint is
only ‘a legitimate question for examination in cases involving complaints of
sexual abuse made by young children.’” Commonwealth v. Pena, 31 A.3d
704, 707 (Pa. Super. 2011), quoting Delbridge, 855 A.2d at 39. A
competency hearing is the appropriate venue to explore allegations of taint.
Delbridge, 855 A.2d at 40. However, when a witness is at least 14 years old,
he or she is entitled to the same presumption of competence as an adult
____________________________________________
8 In Delbridge, our Supreme Court held, as a matter of first impression, that
taint is a legitimate question for examination in cases involving complaints of
sexual abuse made by young children and that such determinations are to be
made in the context of a competency hearing.
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witness. Id. Accordingly, where a juvenile witness is over the age of 14 at
the time of his or her trial testimony, any issue with his or her ability to
correctly remember the events in question is properly a question of credibility,
not of taint. Commonwealth v. Judd, 897 A.2d 1224 (Pa. Super. 2006).
Here, Johns was not charged with sexual abuse of a child, which is the
only circumstance under which our Supreme Court has held a taint inquiry to
be appropriate. Moreover, K.A.P. was 14 years of age at the time of his
testimony. As such, he was presumptively competent to testify and Johns
was not entitled to a competency hearing or taint inquiry. K.A.P. was
thoroughly cross-examined at trial, and it was the purview of the jury to make
judgments as to his credibility. See id. As counsel cannot be deemed
ineffective for failing to pursue a meritless challenge, Johns is entitled to no
relief.
Finally, Johns claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
properly object to the trial court’s jury charge as to voluntary manslaughter.
Johns asserts that the trial court improperly expressed an opinion that “neither
party in this case has come forward with any specific evidence which would
bring into play either of the two factors which the law recognizes is essentially
taking away malice.” N.T. Trial, 5/18/07, at 15. Johns claims this statement
had the effect of removing voluntary manslaughter from the jury’s
consideration and, accordingly, counsel’s failure to object constituted
ineffectiveness. Johns is entitled to no relief.
Preliminarily, we are mindful that:
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[W]hen evaluating the propriety of jury instructions, this Court will
look to the instructions as a whole, and not simply isolated
portions, to determine if the instructions were improper. We
further note that, it is an unquestionable maxim of law in this
Commonwealth that a trial court has broad discretion in phrasing
its instructions, and may choose its own wording so long as the
law is clearly, adequately, and accurately presented to the jury for
its consideration. Only where there is an abuse of discretion or
an inaccurate statement of the law is there reversible error.
Commonwealth v. Charleston, 94 A.3d 1012, 1021 (Pa. Super. 2014)
(citation omitted).
In its initial jury charge, the court began with the following statement:
The defendant has been charged with taking the life of William
Jones, which constitutes criminal homicide. I have no wish to
intrude upon your role as the sole finders of fact, and so my
discussion is going to require certain reference to the evidence
relied upon by the parties, but obviously you should not interpret
any of my comments as expressing a view that I think certain
things have been proven or [not]. I merely refer to enough of the
evidence and the contention of the parties as is necessary to make
sense out of the legal principles involved.
N.T. Trial, 5/17/07, at 132 (emphasis added). The court proceeded to instruct
the jury on each of the possible criminal homicide offenses, including voluntary
manslaughter. See id. at 132-48.
Thereafter, during its deliberations, the jury requested clarification on
the instructions for “murder three with malice” and “murder four.” N.T. Trial,
5/18/07, at 2. In response to this inquiry, the trial court informed the jury
that “[t]here is no fourth[-]degree murder. Voluntary manslaughter is the
next step down[.]” Id. at 2-3. The jury also inquired as to “at what point
should malice be considered[--]before, during or after the incident[?]” Id. at
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3. In response to these inquiries, the court determined that “the best I’m
going to be able to do with regard to all three of these is just go through the
charge of criminal homicide as a whole.” Id. The court repeated its
admonition that nothing it said was to be taken by the jury as representing
the court’s opinion and that the members of the jury are “the sole finders of
fact.” Id. at 4. The court then proceeded to give the instruction for criminal
homicide, charging on voluntary manslaughter as follows:
Now, voluntary manslaughter—neither party in this case has come
forward with any specific evidence which would bring into play
either of the two factors which the law recognizes is essentially
taking away malice. However, you’re the finders of fact, you have
the evidence in this case, and I’ve instructed you on voluntary
manslaughter both because I think you have a right to know of
that verdict option and because it will help you understand, if
nothing else, by contrast and comparison, just how all of this
whole of criminal homicide fits together.
Id. at 15. The court then explained the two circumstances that would remove
malice from the equation: (1) “a state of sudden and intense passion which
results from a serious provocation” and (2) “the mistaken but sincere belief
that your actions are justified[.]” Id. at 16, 19.
Upon review of the evidence adduced at trial and the jury charge as a
whole, we can discern no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court.
Johns’ defense at trial was not one of provocation or self-defense, imperfect
or otherwise. Rather, Johns argued that he did not shoot the victim at all,
and that the victim committed suicide. Likewise, the Commonwealth
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presented no evidence that would reasonably have supported a verdict of
voluntary manslaughter.
In Commonwealth v. Milton, 421 A.2d 1054 (Pa. 1980), our Supreme
Court addressed a nearly identical claim of ineffectiveness of counsel related
to a jury charge on involuntary manslaughter. The complained-of portion of
the charge in that case provided as follows:
[W]hile I am submitting this count of the indictment to you for
your consideration, it is the conclusion of this [c]ourt that
[v]oluntary [m]anslaughter is really not present here, because
there was no provocation offered insofar as this victim was
concerned. However, it’s only my opinion and, of course, basically
it’s your responsibility to make that determination. Therefore, I
have covered with you the essential elements of [v]oluntary
[m]anslaughter. You have a right, if you find, notwithstanding
what I may have said about this case, if you find that there was
provocation that made this an intentional killing on the part of this
accused, then you may find him guilty of [v]oluntary
[m]anslaughter. But keep in mind that it must be such
provocation as would induce a reasonable man to lose control of
his reasoning faculties and to enter into an uncontrollable frenzy
which leads him to the use of deadly force.
Id. at 1055. The Supreme Court concluded that
[e]xamination of the charge in its entirety, however, reveals that
the elements of such crime were fully explained. Objection to
expression of opinion as to the inappropriateness of a voluntary
manslaughter conviction was likewise without merit since[:] 1)
the jury was fully informed of its power to return a verdict of
voluntary manslaughter, and 2) the jury was instructed that it was
not bound by the court’s opinion of the evidence.
Id.
Likewise, here, the trial court’s instruction clearly, adequately, and
accurately presented the law regarding voluntary manslaughter to the jury.
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Charleston, supra. The court specifically stated that the jury is “the finder[]
of fact, you have the evidence in this case, and I’ve instructed you on
voluntary manslaughter . . . because I think you have a right to know of that
verdict option[.]” N.T. Trial, 5/18/07, at 15. Finally, as in Milton, the court
made it clear to the jury that none of the court’s references to the evidence
during the jury charge should be taken as being representative of the court’s
opinion and, in any event, were not binding on the jury.
Because the jury charge was proper, counsel cannot be deemed
ineffective for failing to object to the court’s purported expression of opinion.
Milton, supra.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/6/19
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