Com. v. Hannibal, S. ( 2019 )

J-S32012-19
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
SHELDON HANNIBAL :
:
Appellant : No. 1781 EDA 2018
Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered June 1, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at
No(s): CP-51-CR-0006319-2013
BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., NICHOLS, J., and MURRAY, J.
MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.: FILED SEPTEMBER 16, 2019
Appellant, Sheldon Hannibal, appeals from the order denying his petition
for relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S.
§§ 9541–9546. We affirm.
The PCRA court summarized the procedural history1 of this case as
follows:
On April 29, 2014, following a jury trial before this [c]ourt,
[Appellant] was convicted of one count of third-degree murder (18
Pa.C.S. § 2502(c)), one count of conspiracy to commit murder (18
Pa.C.S. §§ 903 & 2502(c)), one count of carrying a firearm without
a license (18 Pa.C.S. § 6106), one count of carrying a firearm on
a public street in Philadelphia (18 Pa.C.S. § 6108), and one count
of possessing an instrument of crime (18 Pa.C.S. § 907).
[Appellant] was jointly tried with his co-defendant, William
Quattlebaum. On July 7, 2014, the [c]ourt imposed an aggregate
____________________________________________
1 The PCRA court set forth a detailed account of the facts in this case in its
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion, which we decline to repeat herein. PCRA Opinion,
8/24/18, at 2-4.
J-S32012-19
sentence of 30 to 60 years incarceration in state prison.
[Appellant] filed post-sentence motions, which the [c]ourt denied
on October 23, 2014. [Appellant] was represented at trial,
sentencing, and on appeal by Samuel Stretton, Esquire.
On November 23, 2015, the Superior Court affirmed
[Appellant’s] judgment of sentence, and on March [16], 2016, the
Supreme Court denied allocator. [Appellant], through retained
counsel, Lonny Fish, Esquire, then filed a petition under the
[PCRA] on June 14, 2017.1[2] On April 13, 2018, the [c]ourt issued
notice pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 (“907 Notice”) of its intention
to dismiss [Appellant’s] petition without a hearing. On June 1,
2018, the [c]ourt dismissed [Appellant’s] PCRA petition. On that
same day, the [c]ourt granted the motion of defense counsel Fish
to withdraw, and appointed Gary Server, Esquire, to represent
[Appellant] on any appeal from the [c]ourt’s dismissal order.
1Defense counsel styled his pleading as a petition for
habeas corpus relief and for relief under the PCRA.
However, the claims in the petition seek relief only
under the PCRA. For that reason, [Appellant’s]
petition is analyzed herein solely as a PCRA petition.
PCRA Court Opinion, 8/24/18, at 1-2. Appellant filed a timely appeal.
Appellant and the PCRA court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
On appeal, Appellant presents the following issue for our review:
The [c]ourt erred when it dismissed the Petition under the
[PCRA] where trial counsel was ineffective for arguing that the
Appellant was not acting in self-defense or with an unreasonable
belief that he was acting in self-defense where there was evidence
____________________________________________
2 Appellant’s PCRA petition was timely filed. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court
denied Appellant’s petition for allowance of appeal on March 16, 2016.
Commonwealth v. Hannibal, 663 EAL 2015, __ A.3d __ (Pa. filed March 16,
2016). From that time, Appellant had ninety days, or until June 14, 2016, to
file an appeal with the United States Supreme Court. 28 U.S.C. § 2101(c);
Commonwealth v. Chambers, 35 A.3d 34, 36 (Pa. Super. 2011). Further,
Appellant had one year from June 14, 2016, or until June 14, 2017, to file his
PCRA petition.
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J-S32012-19
supporting that the Appellant was acting in self-defense or with
an unreasonable belief that he was acting in self-defense.
Appellant’s Brief at 6. More specifically, Appellant argues that there is
evidence of record supporting a claim of self-defense. Id. at 14. Accordingly,
Appellant asserts that counsel’s failure to argue self-defense, and instead take
the position at trial that Appellant “was just present in the area,” id. at 18,
that he “never shot anyone,” id. at 16, and that he “never even possessed a
firearm on the night of the shooting,” id. at 16, resulted in ineffective
assistance of counsel. Id. at 13-20.
When reviewing the propriety of an order denying PCRA relief, we
consider the record “in the light most favorable to the prevailing party at the
PCRA level.” Commonwealth v. Stultz, 114 A.3d 865, 872 (Pa. Super.
2015) (quoting Commonwealth v. Henkel, 90 A.3d 16, 20 (Pa. Super. 2014)
(en banc)). This Court is limited to determining whether the evidence of
record supports the conclusions of the PCRA court and whether the ruling is
free of legal error. Commonwealth v. Robinson, 139 A.3d 178, 185 (Pa.
2016). The PCRA court’s findings will not be disturbed unless there is no
support for them in the certified record. Commonwealth v. Lippert, 85 A.3d
1095, 1100 (Pa. Super. 2014).
Our Supreme Court has explained the following in addressing an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim:
To prevail in a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a
petitioner must overcome the presumption that counsel is
effective by establishing all of the following three elements, as set
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J-S32012-19
forth in Commonwealth v. Pierce, 515 Pa. 153, 527 A.2d 973,
975–76 (1987): (1) the underlying legal claim has arguable
merit; (2) counsel had no reasonable basis for his or her action or
inaction; and (3) the petitioner suffered prejudice because of
counsel’s ineffectiveness.
Commonwealth v. Paddy, 15 A.3d 431, 442 (Pa. 2011).
With regard to the second, reasonable basis-prong, “we do not question
whether there were other more logical courses of action which counsel could
have pursued; rather, we must examine whether counsel’s decisions had any
reasonable basis.” Commonwealth v. Washington, 927 A.2d 586, 594 (Pa.
2007). We will conclude that counsel’s chosen strategy lacked a reasonable
basis only if Appellant proves that “an alternative not chosen offered a
potential for success substantially greater than the course actually pursued.”
Commonwealth v. Williams, 899 A.2d 1060, 1064 (Pa. 2006). “In order to
meet the prejudice prong of the ineffectiveness standard, a defendant must
show that there is a ‘reasonable probability that but for counsel’s
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.’” Commonwealth v. Reed, 42 A.3d 314, 319 (Pa. Super. 2012).
A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel will fail if the petitioner does
not meet any of the three prongs. Commonwealth v. Williams, 863 A.2d
505, 513 (Pa. 2004). “The burden of proving ineffectiveness rests with
Appellant.” Commonwealth v. Rega, 933 A.2d 997, 1018 (Pa. 2007).
Upon review of the issue raised, the certified record, the credibility
determinations made by the PCRA court, the briefs of the parties, and the
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J-S32012-19
applicable legal authority, we conclude that the PCRA court’s thorough and
well-crafted opinion entered on August 24, 2018, comprehensively and
correctly disposes of Appellant’s issue. Accordingly, we affirm the PCRA
court’s order dismissing Appellant’s PCRA petition, and we do so based on the
PCRA court’s opinion. The parties are directed to attach a copy of that opinion
in the event of further proceedings in this matter.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 9/16/19
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COMMONWEALTH OF
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Op,n,;rn. • Ham11>a1, Sheldon
I
SHELDON HANNIBAL
OPINION 111 IIIl8154603431
l Ill/ II IIII Ill I/I
BRONSON,J. August 24, 2018
On April 29, 2014, following a jury trial before this Court, defendant Sheldon Hannibal
was convicted of one count of third-degree murder (18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(c)), one count of
conspiracy to commit murder (18 Pa.C.S. §§ 903 & 2502(c)), one count of carrying a firearm
without a license (18 Pa.C.S. § 6106), one count of carrying a firearm on a public street in
Philadelphia (18 Pa.C.S. § 6108), and one count of possessing an instrument of crime (18 Pa.C.S.
§ 907). Defendant was jointly tried with his co-defendant, William Quattlebaum. On July 7,
2014, the Court imposed an aggregate sentence of 30 to 60 years incarceration in state prison.
Defendant filed post-sentence motions, which the Court denied on October 23, 2014. Defendant
was represented at trial, sentencing, and on appeal by Samuel Stretton, Esquire.
On November 23, 2015, the Superior Court affirmed defendant's judgment of sentence,
and on March 3, 2016, the Supreme Court denied allocator. Defendant, through retained
counsel, Lonny Fish, Esquire, then filed a petition under the Post Conviction Relief Act
("PCRA") on June 14, 2017.1 On April 13_ 2018, the Court issued notice pursuant to
1 Defense counsel styled his pleading as a petition for habeas corpus relief and for relief under the PCRA. However,
the claims in the petition seek relief only under the PCRA. For that reason, defendant's petition is analyzed herein
solely as a PCRA petition.
1
Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 ("907 Notice") of its intention to dismiss defendant's petition without a
hearing. On June 1, 2018, the Court dismissed defendant's PCRA petition. On that same day,
the Court granted the motion of defense counsel Fish to withdraw, and appointed Gary Server,
Esquire, to represent defendant on any appeal from the Court's dismissal order.
Defendant has now appealed the Court's dismissal of his PCRA petition, alleging that
trial counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that defendant acted in self-defense, or with an
unreasonable belief that he was acting in self-defense. See Defendant's 1925(8) Statement
("Statement of Errors"). Defendant also claims that counsel was ineffective for failing to raise
this issue in post-sentence motions or on appeal. Id For the reasons set forth below, defendant's
claims are without merit, and the Court's order dismissing his PCRA petition should be affirmed.
I. FACTUALBACKGROUND
The factual background of this matter is set forth in the Court's Rule 1925(a) opinion
filed in defendant's direct appeal as follows:
At trial, the Commonwealth presented the testimony of Philadelphia Police
Detectives James Bums and Francis Graf, Philadelphia Police Officers Thomas
Dempsey, Anthony Ferriola, Terrance Lewis, and Ronald Weitman, Deputy Chief
Medical Examiner Dr. Gary Collings, Sharon Frazier, Ya-Ron Frazier, Ashlaterra
Frazier, Shante Quattlebaum, Hector Alicea, and Mohamad Doumbia. Defendant
presented the testimony of Michele Wall, Darren Ward, and Saundra Hannibal.
Co-defendant Quattlebaum did not present any evidence. Viewed in the light
most favorable to the Commonwealth as the verdict winner, the evidence
established the following.
In the evening of February l, 2013, Ya-Ron Frazier was with William
Quattlebaum, running various errands until the very early morning hours of
February 2, 2013. N.T. 4/23/14 at 101-103.2 Eventually, Ya-Ron and
Quattlebaum parked outside Ya-Ron's sister's home on the 5900 block of North
20th Street in Philadelphia. N.T. 4/23/14 at 105. Quattlebaum had a firearm on
his hip when he and Ya-Ron were together that day. N.T. 4/23/14 at 153.
Meanwhile, Ya-Ron's sister, Sharon Frazier, was at home while a third sister,
2 Ya-Ron was also known as "Mooda." N.T. 4/22/14 at 153.
2
Ashlaterra Frazier, was visiting.3 N.T. 4/22/14 at 151; 4/24/14 at 109. Ya-Ron
and Quattlebaum were talking while sitting in Quattlebawn's car outside Sharon's
home. N.T. 4/22/14 at 155-56; 4/23/14 at 100. While talking with Quattlebaum,
Ya-Ron received a phone call from Mark Bowie, which instigated an argument
between Ya-Ron and Quattlebaum about whether or not Ya-Ron was dating
Bowie.4 N.T. 4/23/14 at 104. While Ya-Ron and Quattlebawn were arguing,
Bowie and John Maxwell walked up the street to Sharon's home and entered.5
N.T. 4/22/14 at 154; 4/23/14 at 105; 4/24/14 at 110-111. A few minutes after
Bowie and Maxwell entered the home, Ya-Ron also entered, with Quattlebaum
following shortly thereafter in order to continue his argument with Ya-Ron. N.T.
4/22/14 at 158-159, 209-210, 212; 4/23/14 at 105-106; 4/24/14 at 112.
Quattlebaum eventually left the house, remaining across the street next to his
parked car. N.T. 4/23/14 at 106.
Approximately an hour later, Bowie and Maxwell left the Frazier home,
heading south on 20th Street towards Nedro Street. N.T. 4/24/14 at 114-115.
Defendant and Quattlebaum were both present on the street when Bowie and
Maxwell left.6 N.T. 4/23/14 at 107; 4/24/14 at 114, 116. Ashlaterra, noticing a
jeep with its lights off following Bowie and Maxwell, called Bowie and Maxwell
back into the house. N.T. 4/22/14 at 160; 4/23/14 at 107, 112; 4/24/14 at 113-
118. Bowie and Maxwell then made arrangements for Anthony Powell to pick
them up in Powell's car. N.T. 4/23/14 at 107, 205-207; 4/24/14 at 118. At
approximately 1: 15 a.rn. on February 2, 2013, Bowie and Maxwell again left the
home, heading north on 201h Street towards Champlost Street and cutting through
aparking lot to where their ride was presumably waiting. N.T. 4/22/14 at 161;
4/23/14 at 107-108, 113; 4/24/14 at 118-119. Defendant and Quattlebaum were
again both present on the street when Bowie and Maxwell left the second time.
N.T. 4/23/14 at 107, 115; 4/24/14 at 119-120. Defendant's sister, Lorraine
Cummings, was also present on the street.7 N.T. 4/22/14 at 192-193; 4/25/14 at
217. As Bowie and Maxwell left, defendant followed on the far side of the street
with a firearm in his waistband. N.T. 4/23/14 at 107, 115, 154; 4/24/14 at 119-
120.
After Bowie and Maxwell entered the parking lot, Quattlebaum fired a
shot in their direction. N.T. 4/22/14 at 202-206, 208-209; 4/23/14 at 94-96, 116,
150-151; 4/24/14 at 120-122. Defendant then ran back towards Quattlebaum and
began shooting his firearm as well. N.T. 4/23/14 at 117; 4/24/14 at 120.
Quattlebaum and defendant then exchanged gunfire with Marquis Gordon, who
was located at the east end of the parking lot and in possession of a 9 millimeter
pistol. N.T. 4/22/14 at 98, 134, 202, 205-206; 4/23/14 at 94-96; 116-117; 4/24/14
3
Ashlaterra Frazier was also known as "China." N.T. 4/22/14 at 153. Because the Frazier sisters all share the same
last name, they will be referred to throughout this opinion by their first names.
4
Mark Bowie was also known as Dope. N.T. 4/23/14 at 104.
5 John Maxwell was also known as "Siph.'' N.T. 4/25/14 at 128; Commonwealth Exhibit C-42.
6 Defendant was also known as "Pud." N.T. 4/22/14 at 165; 4/25/14 at 20-21.
1
Lorraine Cummings was also known as Ieisha Cummings. N.T. 4/22/14 at 188. 192
3
at 123, 206. Gordon had shot and struck Quattlebaum's car three times, while
Gordon was struck once in the chest. N.T. 4/23/14 at 23, 265; 4/24/14 at 93-96.
After the exchange of gunfire, defendant's sister, Cummings, told both men to
"pick up the shells" and Quattlebaum and defendant left the area in Quattlebaum's
vehicle. N.T. 4/22/14 at 166, 217; 4/23/14 at 118; 4/24/14 at 125.
Police Officer Thomas Dempsey was approximately half a block east from
the shooting scene, taking a report on an automobile accident, when he heard a
series of three to four gunshots from the direction of Opal Street. N.T. 4/22/14 at
97. After hearing the shots, Officer Dempsey heard a male voice say "Come on,
let's get out of here." N.T. 4/22/14 at 97. Officer Dempsey immediately called
for police support and drove to Opal Street. N.T. 4/22/.14 at 97-98. Officer
Anthony Ferriola was approximately three blocks south of the shooting scene
when he too heard the gunfire. N.T. 4/22/14 at 132. Upon arriving at the middle
of the 5900 block of Opal Street, Officers Dempsey and Ferriola observed Gordon
laying face down on the sidewalk with a small black handgun lying next to him.
N.T. 4/22/14 at 98, 109-110, 134. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene
shortly thereafter and Gordon was rushed to the hospital where he was later
pronounced dead as a result of a single gunshot wound to the chest. N.T. 4/22/14
at 99, 126; 4/23/14 at 31. Police recovered four 9 mm fired bullet casings and a 9
mm gun at the scene where Gordon was found. N.T. 4/22/14 at 111; 4/24/14 at
63.
Trial Court Opinion, filed February IO, 2015, at pp. 2-5.
II. DISCUSSION
· An appellate court's review of a PCRA court's grant or denial of relief "is limited to
determining whether the court's findings are supported by the record and the court's order is
otherwise free oflegal error." Commonwealth v. Green, 14 A.3d 114, 116 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2011)
(internal quotations omitted). The reviewing court "will not disturb findings that are supported
by the record." Id.
Here, defendant's claims pertain to the alleged ineffective assistance of counsel. Under
Pennsylvania law, counsel is presumed to be effective and the burden to prove otherwise lies
with the petitioner. Commonwealth v. Reid, 99 A.3d 427, 435 (Pa. 2014). To obtain collateral
relief based on the ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must show that counsel's
representation fell below accepted standards of advocacy and that as a result thereof, the
4
petitioner was prejudiced. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694 (1984). In
Pennsylvania, the Strickland standard is interpreted as requiring proof that: (1) the claim
underlying the ineffectiveness claim had arguable merit; (2) counsel's actions lacked any
reasonable basis; and (3) the ineffectiveness of counsel caused the petitioner prejudice.
Commonwealth v. Miller, 987 A.2d 638, 648 (Pa. 2009) (citing Commonwealth v. Pierce, 527
A.2d 973, 975 (Pa. 1987)). To satisfy the third prong of the test, the petitioner must prove that,
but for counsel's error, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceeding
would have been different. Commonwealth v. Sneed, 899 A.2d 1067, 1084 (Pa. 2006) (citing
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). If the PCRA court determines that any one of the three prongs
cannot be met, then the court need not hold an evidentiary hearing as such a hearing would serve
no purpose. Commonwealth v. Jones, 942 A.2d 903, 906 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2008), appeal denied,
956 A.2d 433 (Pa. 2008).
Defendant claims that trial counsel was ineffective because counsel argued that defendant
did not commit the shooting rather than argue that defendant committed the shooting in self-
defense or under an unreasonable belief that he was acting in self-defense. To succeed on this
claim, defendant has the burden to demonstrate that counsel's decision lacked any reasonable
basis. Accordingly, defendant "must prove that the strategy employed by trial counsel 'was so
unreasonable that no competent lawyer would have chosen that course of conduct,"'
Commonwealth v. Rega, 933 A.2d 997, 1019 (Pa. 2007) (quoting Commonwealth v. Williams,
640 A.2d 1251, 1265 (Pa. 1994)), or that a self-defense argument "offered a potential for success
substantially greater than" the argument counsel used. Commonwealth v. Clark, 626 A.2d 154,
157 (Pa. 1993).
5
Here, the record establishes that trial counsel had compelling reasons to argue that
defendant never shot anyone, and never even possessed a firearm on the night of the shooting,
and therefore, was not guilty of all charges. In particular, the defense was able to produce three
witnesses in support of this defense. First, Michele WalJ testified that defendant knocked on her
door for a cigarette right before the shootings here at issue. N.T. 4/25/14 at 161. She stated that
when she opened the door and went to give defendant a cigarette, numerous shots rang out as she
and defendant stood there together. N.T. 4/25/14 at 161. Ms. Wall further testified that she did
not see defendant with any weapons at the time. N.T. 4/25/14 at 168. Similarly, Darren Ward
testified that he ate dinner with defendant and dropped him off near some of Ward's friends
shortly before the shootings. N.T. 4/25/14 at 180-185. According to Ward, defendant did not
appear to have any weapons on him. N.T. 4/25/14 at 184-185. Finally, Saundra Hannibal,
defendant's mother, testified that defendant came into her house right after she heard the
shootings, and he was not in possession of any weapons. N.T. 4/25/14 at 201.
It is true that defendant gave a statement to police that was inconsistent with the
testimony of the three defense witnesses, in that he admitted that he was in possession of a gun
and fired it on the night in question. However, his statement did not support a self-defense
theory. Self-defense is an affirmative defense to a charge of first-degree murder and a charge of
third-degree murder. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Rivera, 983 A.2d 1211, 1221 (Pa. 2009) (first·
degree murder); Commonwealth v. Truong, 36 AJd 592, 599 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2012), app. denied,
57 A.3d 70 (Pa. 2012) (third-degree murder). The elements of the defense have been
summarized by our Supreme Court as follows:
[A] claim of self-defense (or justification, to use the term employed in the Crimes
· Code) requires evidence establishing three elements: (a) [that the defendant}
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
6
such harm; (b) that the defendant was free from fault in provoking the difficulty
. which culmiriated in the slaying; and (c) that the [defendant] did not violate any
duty to retreat. Although the defendant has no burden to prove self-defense
... before the defense is properly in issue, there must be some evidence, from
whatever source, to justify such a finding. Once the question is properly raised, the
burden is upon the Commonwealth to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant was not acting in self-defense.
Commonwealth v. Mouzon, 53 A.3d 738, 740 (Pa. 2012) (internal citations omitted).8
Deadly force is defined as "[t]orce which, under the circumstances in which it is used, is readily
capable of causing death or serious bodily injury." 18 Pa.C.S. § 501.
Here, defendant told police in his statement that he was out on the block when he heard
gunshots and then ran to his house. N.T. 4/25/14 at 22. He further stated that as he was trying to
get in the door to his house, he fired off a shot in the direction from which he heard the gunfire.
N.T. 4/25/14 at 22. There is nothing in defendant's statement to suggest that anyone was firing
at him, or that he was in any way protecting himself from imminent danger by firing off a shot
down the block at no one in particular as he entered the safety of his house. For this reason, the
statement did· not give defense counsel a basis to argue self-defense. As a result, defense counsel
was required to challenge the alleged statement regardless of the defense that he offered.9
Similarly, the statement did not support the theory that defendant was acting with an
unreasonable belief that he was acting in self-defense. Murder may be reduced to voluntary
manslaughter if "[defendant] knowingly and intentionally kills an individual under the
unreasonable belief that the killing was justified." Commonwealth v. Rivera, 983 A.2d 1211,
1218 ri. 6 (Pa. 2009) (internal citations and quotations omitted). This form of voluntary
8
The Crimes Code was amended to modify the elements of self-defense; effective August 27, 2011, prior to the date
of the killing here at issue. Although Mouzon addressed a killing that was prior to the effective date of the
amendments, none of the amended provisions apply to the case at bar.
9 Counsel
argued in his closing that the statement was not to be believed based on the circumstances under which it
was taken, the absence of a video, and that defendant stated that his gun was .40 caliber, when no .40 caliber fired
cartridge casings were recovered. N.T. 4/28/14 at 87-88, 97-98.
7
manslaughter "has been colloquially referred to as 'imperfect self-defense.:" Id. at 1218 n.6
(citing Commonwealth v. Tilley, 595 A.2d 575, 582 (Pa. 1991 )). For imperfect self-defense to
apply, all of the elements of self-defense must be present except for one: that the defendant's
belief that it was necessary to use deadly force was reasonable. See Commonwealth v.
Sepulveda, 55 A.3d 1108, 1124-25 (Pa. 2012).
Here, there was nothing in defendant's statement to support a claim that he believed that
in order to protect himself, he needed to fire off a shot at no one in particular just as he entered
his home. Therefore, the statement did not support an imperfect self-defense argument.
Accordingly, defendant's statement to police, which was offered into evidence by the
Commonwealth, did not support a defense to the homicide charges. Moreover, there was no
other evidence in the case that supported a self-defense or imperfect self-defense claim. Under
these circumstances, counsel's decision to call three witnesses to prove that defendant was
unarmed and not a shooter was entirely reasonable, and a self-defense or imperfect self-defense
argument did not offer a potential for success substantially greater than the argument counsel
used.
As for counsel's failure to raise defendant's current claim in post-sentence motions or on
his direct appeal, it is well-settled that absent extraordinary circumstances not present here,
claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel may not be raised on post-sentence motions or on
direct appeal, and must await review under the PCRA. See Commonwealth v. Holmes, 79 A.3d
562, 563-64 (Pa. 2013). Accordingly, counsel could not have been ineffective for failing to raise
such a claim in a post-sentence motion or on direct appeal. No relief is due.
8
III. CONCLUSION
For all of the foregoing reasons, the Court's order dismissing defendant's PCRA petition
should be affirmed.
BY THE COURT:
GLENN B. BRONSON, J.
9