Com. v. Edwards, M. ( 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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37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. :
:
:
MARK S. EDWARDS :
:
Appellant : No. 127 EDA 2018
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence August 18, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-51-CR-0008169-2015
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., OLSON, J., and COLINS, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, P.J.: FILED NOVEMBER 20, 2019
Anthony Ransome1 was a patron at a club known as “Club Cali” located
on Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia on the night of June 5, 2015. Ransome
was eventually approached by a security guard, Mark Edwards, the Appellant
herein, because of what Edwards found to be rude conduct exhibited by
Ransome. Later in the evening, Edwards shot Ransome twice. Ransome was
taken to a local hospital; however, he died from complications from the two
gunshot wounds twenty days later.
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 Ransome’s last name is spelled either “Ransom” or “Ransome” in various
documents in the record. For consistency, we will use “Ransome,” as it is the
spelling more frequently utilized in the record.
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Edwards was subsequently arrested and charged with third degree
murder,2 voluntary manslaughter committed in the unreasonable belief that
the killing was justifiable,3 and possessing instruments of crimes.4 On
December 16, 2016, a jury found Edwards guilty of voluntary manslaughter
and possessing an instrument of crime. On August 18, 2017, the court
sentenced Edwards to serve an aggregate term of imprisonment of ten to
twenty-five years, with credit for time served.
Trial counsel filed a post-sentence motion on August 28, 2017.5 The
motion was denied by operation of Pa.R.Crim.P. 720(b)(3)(c) on December
27, 2017. Appellate counsel filed a timely notice of appeal.
On direct appeal, Edwards contends that (1) the evidence was
insufficient to sustain the jury's verdict, (2) the verdict was against the weight
of the evidence, (3) the trial court erred in instructing the jury on self-defense,
(4) the sentence was unduly harsh and excessive, and (5) that the trial court
committed error in failing to provide a jury instruction on involuntary
manslaughter. The issues challenging the trial court’s jury instructions have
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2 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(c).
3 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2503(b).
4 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 907.
5 The certified record from the trial court indicates that newly retained
appellate counsel also filed a post-sentence motion; however, it was not time-
stamped. In any event, the Order of December 27, 2017, denied and
dismissed all post-sentence motions.
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not been preserved for direct appellate review. We find no merit in the
remaining arguments, and therefore affirm the judgment of sentence.
The underlying facts were aptly summarized by the trial court:
On June 5, 2015, at 12:33 a.m., while on routine
patrol, 39th District Police Sergeant Matthew Palouian
witnessed numerous people pouring out of Cali Club at
3718 Germantown Avenue, one of whom notified him that
someone had just been shot. As the Sergeant continued to
drive towards the club, he observed the victim, Anthony
Ransome slumped over a vehicle and unable to move. The
victim was promptly taken to Temple University Hospital in
a private vehicle.
Ransome had been shot during the course of an
altercation with [Edwards] who was working as a security
officer inside the club. [Edwards] was armed with a loaded
Glock handgun. [Edwards] admonished Ransome and his
friend for their treatment of one of the club’s dancers. This
led to a fistfight between [Edwards] and Ransome. Staff
and other bouncers broke up the fight within a minute.
After the first fight had concluded, Ransome walked
over to [Edwards]. During testimony, [Edwards] identified
himself and Ransome on the video surveillance from the
club that night. The video shows [Edwards’s] legs above
Ransome’s on a staircase, then two seconds later it shows
Ransome with his arms up, having been shot, and also
shows people reacting. A few seconds later, the video
shows Ransome hunched over at the bottom of the steps,
while [Edwards] and another man wrestle, and that man
hits [Edwards] in the face. The other man held [Edwards]
down, holding his gun to the floor, hitting him and trying
to take the gun. Mr. Johnson, the bar manager, helped to
take [the] gun from [Edwards], gave it to the security
supervisor, and told him to handcuff [Edwards]. Police
officers recovered two bullet shell casings inside the club.
Ransome died twenty days later after surgery and other
treatments failed.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on the
remains of the decedent by Dr. Gulino. Dr. Gulino
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determined that the cause of death was complications from
the two gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
Opinion, 8-30-18, at 2-3 (transcript references omitted).
1. Sufficiency of the Evidence
At their essence, Edwards’s first two arguments are based upon his
belief that he shot Ransome in justifiable self-defense. Based upon this belief,
he argues the evidence was insufficient to support either his conviction for
voluntary manslaughter or his conviction for possession of an instrument of
crime. When we review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we:
must view the evidence and all reasonable inferences to be
drawn from the evidence in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth as verdict winner, and we must determine
if the evidence, thus viewed, is sufficient to prove guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt. This Court may not substitute
its judgment for that of the factfinder. If the record
contains support for the verdict, it may not be disturbed.
Moreover, a jury may believe all, some or none of a party's
testimony.
Commonwealth v. Burns, 765 A.2d 1144, 1148 (Pa. Super. 2000) (citations
omitted).
Our Supreme Court has explained:
To prevail on a justification defense, there must be
evidence that the defendant “(a) ... reasonably believed
that he was in imminent danger of death or serious bodily
injury and that it was necessary to use deadly force against
the victim to prevent such harm; (b) that the defendant
was free from fault in provoking the difficulty which
culminated in the slaying; and (c) that the [defendant] did
not violate any duty to retreat.”
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Commonwealth v. Sepulveda, 55 A.3d 1108, 1124 (Pa. 2012) (citations
omitted). “[A] defendant's subjective state of mind does not establish the
objective factor of the reasonableness of his belief.” Id. at 1125.
Where there is a claim of self-defense, the Commonwealth has the
burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was not committed
in self-defense.
In order to disprove self-defense, the Commonwealth must
prove beyond a reasonable doubt one of the following
elements: ... that the defendant did not reasonably believe
it was necessary to kill in order to protect himself against
death or serious bodily harm, or that the defendant used
more force than was necessary to save himself from death,
great bodily harm, or the commission of a felony
.... See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 505(b)(2). If the Commonwealth
establishes any one of these three elements beyond a
reasonable doubt, then the conviction is insulated from a
defense challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence where
self-protection is at issue.
Burns, 765 A.2d at 1149-1150 (some citations omitted).
In rejecting Edwards’s contention that the Commonwealth did not
disprove his self-defense claim, the trial court noted that the jury had more
than sufficient evidence to conclude that his belief was not reasonable. First,
the evidence proved that Edwards knew that Ransome had been searched
before entering the club and was not armed. See N.T., 12/13/16, at 55
(Edwards testifying that he was hired “to do pat down and be I.D.ing people”).
Second, the surveillance video discredited much of Edwards’s testimony. See
N.T., 12/8/16 at 120-12, 194; N.T., 12/14/16, at 28-29. In light of the fact
that two other security guards and the bar manager had broken up the first
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fight between Edwards and Ransome in less than one minute, see N.T.,
12/8/16 at 190-192, Edwards’s statements of his fear of Ransome at the
outset of the second altercation was not credible. Furthermore, the video
contradicted Edwards’s testimony that Ransome tried to grab his firearm;
rather, the video showed the jury that Edwards and Ransome stood for about
two seconds on the staircase, and then almost immediately thereafter
Ransome was shot. See id., at 194.
Accordingly, we are not persuaded that the Commonwealth presented
insufficient evidence to disprove that Edwards acted in reasonable self-
defense. While it is possible Edwards subjectively believed the shooting was
justified in self-defense, the evidence need only support a finding that
Edwards’s belief was unreasonable in order to sustain the conviction. The trial
court accurately relates the reasonable inferences from the evidence that
support the jury’s verdict:
Where [Edwards] knows himself to be armed, and knows
the club searches all patrons to prevent them from bringing
weapons inside, where other guards and employees broke
up a previous fight in less than a minute, and where
[Edwards] fired his weapon within seconds of Ransome’s
approach, [Edwards’s] belief that he needed to use deadly
force to protect himself was not reasonable.
Opinion, 8-30-18, at 5-6. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
the Commonwealth, both direct and circumstantial, we hold there was
sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Edwards was not
acting in reasonable self-defense.
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In a related argument, Edwards asserts the evidence was insufficient to
sustain his conviction for possessing an instrument of crime. To sustain a
conviction for possessing an instrument of crime, the Commonwealth must
prove that the defendant possessed an “instrument of crime with the intent to
employ it criminally.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 907(a). Using the same argument
utilized in his challenge to his conviction for voluntary manslaughter, Edwards
contends the evidence is insufficient to establish he used his gun with the
intent to employ it criminally.
For the same reasons we rejected Edwards’s challenge to his voluntary
manslaughter conviction, we reject his challenge to the sufficiency of the
evidence to establish he intended to use his gun criminally. The evidence was
sufficient to allow the jury to find that Edwards’s subjective belief that he
needed to use deadly force to defend himself was objectively unreasonable.
2. Weight of the Evidence
Edwards next claims that his convictions for voluntary manslaughter and
possessing an instrument of crime were against the weight of the evidence.
A true weight of the evidence challenge ‘concedes that
sufficient evidence exists to sustain the verdict’ but
contends that the verdict was against the weight of the
evidence.” An appellate court may review the trial court's
decision to determine whether there was an abuse of
discretion, but it may not substitute its judgment for that
of the lower court. Credibility issues are decided by the
jury and appellate courts rarely overturn jury factual
findings that are based on credibility
determinations. Indeed, an appellate court should not
entertain challenges to the weight of the evidence since
our examination is confined to the “cold record.” Our Court
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may not reverse a verdict unless it is so contrary to the
evidence as to shock one's sense of justice. Thus, we are
confined to review if the trial court abused its discretion.
Burns, 765 A.2d at 1149-50 (Pa. Super. 2000) (citations omitted). It is well
settled that a jury is free to believe all, part or none of the evidence presented
and to evaluate the credibility of the witnesses. See Commonwealth v.
Ellison, 213 A.3d 312, 319 (Pa. Super. 2019).
Edwards's assertion that the “dispositive video surveillance” supported
his self-defense theory contradicts the jury’s role in assessing the evidence
and the function of the trial court in evaluating the weight issue. His
suggestion that this Court ignore the trial court’s decision and displace the
jury's findings with our own interpretation of the video is misplaced. The jury
was free to conclude that Edwards’s asserted belief, that killing the victim was
justifiable self-defense, was not objectively reasonable. The trial court
specifically found that “the testimony of the witnesses combined with the video
surveillance reliably demonstrated (Edwards’s) guilt.” Opinion, 8-30-18, at 7.
We find no error, and determine that the trial court properly denied Appellant's
weight claim.
3. Claim of Excessive Sentence
Next, Edwards claims the court abused its discretion by imposing an
excessive sentence. “A challenge to the discretionary aspects
of sentence must be considered a petition for permission to appeal, as the
right to pursue such a claim is not absolute.” Commonwealth v. Lamonda,
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52 A.3d 365, 371 (Pa. Super. 2012) (en banc) (citation omitted). Thus, before
we may consider the merits of Edwards’s sentencing issue, he “must invoke
this Court's jurisdiction by satisfying a four-part test.” Commonwealth v.
Moury, 992 A.2d 162 (Pa. Super. 2010). The test is:
(1) the appellant preserved the issue either by raising it at
the time of sentencing or in a post[-]sentence motion; (2)
the appellant filed a timely notice of appeal; (3) the
appellant set forth a concise statement of reasons relied
upon for the allowance of appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.
2119(f); and (4) the appellant raises a substantial question
for our review.
Commonwealth v. Baker, 72 A.3d 652, 662 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation
omitted). “A defendant presents a substantial question when he sets forth a
plausible argument that the sentence violates a provision of
the sentencing code or is contrary to the fundamental norms of
the sentencing process.” Commonwealth v. Dodge, 77 A.3d 1263, 1268
(Pa. Super. 2013) (citations omitted). “Only if the appeal satisfies these
requirements may we proceed to decide the substantive merits of
Appellant's claim.” Commonwealth v. Luketic, 162 A.3d 1149, 1159-60
(Pa.Super. 2017).
Herein, Edwards timely filed an appeal with this Court. Prior to the
appeal, as stated above, there were two post-sentence motions filed. The one
filed by trial counsel did not raise any issue regarding sentencing. That motion
was time-stamped by the Office of Judicial Records on August 28, 2017. The
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other post-sentence motion was filed by appellate counsel but is not time-
stamped. In relation to sentencing issues, it states:
PETITIONER APPEALS THE DISCRETIONARY ASPECT OF
SENTENCING
10. This Honorable Court purported to sentence within the
sentencing guidelines but applied the guidelines
erroneously; sentenced within the sentencing guidelines
but the case involves circumstances where the application
of the guidelines would be clearly unreasonable or
sentenced outside the sentencing guidelines and the
sentencing is unreasonable.
In his Statement of Matters Complained Of On Appeal, filed pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) on February 28, 2018, Edwards states, in paragraph 3: “The
Court abused its discretion in sentencing the appellant to an unduly harsh and
excessive sentence by failing to consider Appellant’s mental health issues.”
There is no concise statement of reasons relied upon for the allowance
of appeal, pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(f), in the Appellant’s Brief. However,
the Commonwealth has not objected to this absence. We therefore will not
find that Edwards has waived this claim. See Commonwealth v. Antidormi,
84 A.3d 736, 759 (Pa. Super. 2014).
The existence of a substantial question must be determined on a case-
by-case basis. See Commonwealth v. Cruz-Centeno, 447 Pa.Super. 98,
668 A.2d 536, 545 (1995). “A substantial question exists only when the
appellant advances a colorable argument that the sentencing judge's actions
were either: (1) inconsistent with a specific provision of the Sentencing Code;
or (2) contrary to the fundamental norms which underlie
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the sentencing process.” Commonwealth v. Glass, 50 A.3d 720, 727
(Pa.Super. 2012) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
In the absence of a Rule 2119(f) Statement, we have reviewed
Edwards’s brief and find on page 31 that he basically argues that the trial
court failed to recognize mitigating factors, such as his mental health issues,
in fashioning an appropriate sentence. We conclude that Edwards has
presented a substantial question, and we will address the merits of his
contention. See Commonwealth v. Caldwell, 117 A.3d 763, 769-70
(Pa.Super. 2015) (en banc) (excessive sentence claim in conjunction with an
assertion that the court failed to consider mitigating factors raises a
substantial question). On the merits, however, applying our deferential
standard of review, we find no abuse of discretion.
Our standard of review concerning challenges to the discretionary
aspects of one's sentence provides that:
Sentencing is a matter vested in the sound discretion of
the sentencing judge, and a sentence will not be disturbed
on appeal absent a manifest abuse of discretion. In this
context, an abuse of discretion is not shown merely by an
error in judgment. Rather, the appellant must establish, by
reference to the record, that the sentencing court ignored
or misapplied the law, exercised its judgment for reasons
of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will, or arrived at a
manifestly unreasonable decision.
Commonwealth v. Hyland, 875 A.2d 1175, 1184 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citation
omitted).
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In this case, prior to imposing its sentence on August 18, 2017, the trial
court made sure that the Appellant and his counsel had reviewed the entire
presentence investigation report (PSI). See N.T., 8/18/17, at 6-8. In
Edwards’s presence, his attorney informed the trial court that he had no
corrections to the PSI. See id. at 8-9. The trial court heard from members of
Edwards’s family including his stepfather, Kevin Carter, his brother, Justin
Dixon, and his mother, Sabrina Carter. See id., at 11-17.
The Commonwealth moved into the record C-1, which included
Edwards’s most recent mental health evaluation. See id., at 18. Edwards
exercised his opportunity for allocution. See id., at 25-26. The trial court then
stated its reasons for imposing it sentence on the record, including provisions
for mental health treatment. See id., at 26-30.
At sentencing and in its Opinion filed on August 30, 2018, the trial court
stated that it had taken into account the guidelines but found an aggravating
factor in a video taken of Edwards at the Homicide Unit, which demonstrated
that he was going to try to fake a more serious mental health condition to
avoid prison. See Trial Court Opinion, 8/30/18 at 8; N.T., 8/18/17 at 26-27,
29.
Despite Edwards’s assertions, we conclude that the trial court reviewed
the PSI and set forth proper reasons for sentencing Edwards in the aggravated
range. Given our deferential standard of review when considering a challenge
to the discretionary aspects of sentencing, it would be inappropriate for us to
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second-guess the trial court's weighing of the appropriate factors, for we
cannot substitute our view of aggravating and mitigating factors with those of
the trial court, nor may we reweigh those mitigating factors which Appellant
thinks the sentencing judge overlooked. See Commonwealth v. Marts, 889
A.2d 608, 612 (Pa.Super. 2005). Accordingly, Edwards has not persuaded us
that an abuse of discretion occurred.
4. Self-Defense and Involuntary Manslaughter Instructions
Edwards contends the trial court gave a confusing instruction on self-
defense by not making sure the jury understood that it applied to third degree
murder and voluntary manslaughter. Specifically, Edwards argues the court
neglected to mention voluntary manslaughter after the self-defense
instruction. Edwards concludes this Court should vacate the judgment of
sentence and order a new trial. Edwards also argues that the trial court
committed reversible error by not instructing the jury on involuntary
manslaughter. We find neither issue has not been preserved for review on
direct appeal.
Our rules of appellate procedure provide that “[i]ssues not raised in the
lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.”
Pa.R.A.P. 302(a). To preserve a challenge to the adequacy or omission of a
particular jury instruction, the defendant must make a specific and timely
objection to the instruction at trial before the jury deliberates. See
Commonwealth v. Smith, 206 A.3d 551, 564 (Pa. Super. 2019); see also
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Pa.R.A.P. 302(b) (“A general exception to the charge to the jury will not
preserve an issue for appeal. Specific exception shall be taken to the language
or omission complained of.”); Pa.R.Crim.P. 647(C) (“No portions of the charge
nor omissions from the charge may be assigned as error, unless specific
objections are made thereto before the jury retires to deliberate.”). A specific
and timely objection must be made to preserve a challenge to a particular jury
instruction; failure to do so results in waiver. See Commonwealth v.
Forbes, 867 A.2d 1268, 1274 (Pa.Super.2005).
Generally, a defendant waives subsequent challenges to the propriety
of the jury charge on appeal if he responds in the negative when the court
asks whether additions or corrections to a jury charge are necessary. See
Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 178 (Pa. Super. 2010); see also
Commonwealth v. Smallhoover, 567 A.2d 1055, 1059 (1989) (holding
claim of erroneous charge waived where appellant responded negatively when
“the court inquired whether counsel had any additions or corrections to the
charge”).
Here, there was no objection or correction made to the jury charge. See
N.T., 12/14/16, at 34. Further, the defense responded in the negative when
the trial court asked if either side wished to address the court after the jury
charge. See id.
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Moreover, this issue regarding the self-defense instruction was not
included in either of the post-sentence motions filed on Edwards’s behalf.6
After review of the foregoing, we conclude that Edwards waived this issue.
Trial counsel had an opportunity to raise his objection before the jury
deliberated but he did not. Accordingly, Edwards’s challenge to the jury
instruction is waived. See Moury, 992 A.2d at 178.
Edwards also argues the trial court erred by not instructing the jury on
involuntary manslaughter. Initially, we note that this was not raised at the
time of trial, and, as mentioned previously, Edwards did not object after the
trial court concluded its instructions. Secondly, this issue was not included in
the Rule 1925(b) Statement.
“In order to preserve an issue for review, a party must make a timely
and specific objection.” Commonwealth v. Duffy, 832 A.2d 1132, 1136
(Pa. Super. 2003). Additionally, “an appellant's failure to include an issue in a
1925(b) statement generally precludes us from reviewing that issue on
appeal.” Commonwealth v. Lord, 719 A.2d 306 (Pa. 1998); see also
Commonwealth v. Butler, 812 A.2d 631 (Pa. 2002).
Therefore, we find these last two issues raised by Edwards to have been
waived for purposes of direct appellate review.
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6 Including an issue in a Statement of Matters Complained of, filed under
Pa.R.A.P. 1925, does not resurrect an issued waived in earlier proceedings.
See Commonwealth v. Williams, 900 A.2d 906, 909 (Pa. Super. 2006).
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Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 11/20/19
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