Com. v. Daly, L. ( 2020 )


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  • J-S20022-20
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA                      IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
    OF PENNSYLVANIA
    Appellee
    v.
    LAUREN PATRICIA DALY
    Appellant                   No. 1510 EDA 2019
    Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered April 17, 2019
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County
    Criminal Division at No: CP-23-CR-0003801-2013
    BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., STABILE, J., and McLAUGHLIN, J.
    MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.:                             FILED JULY 29, 2020
    Appellant, Lauren Patricia Daly, appeals from an order denying her
    petition for relief under the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A.
    §§ 9541-9546. Upon review, we affirm.
    The following evidence was adduced during trial:
    Prior to her arrest, [Appellant] was a pediatrician who worked for
    the A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. In
    1999, she met and became romantically involved with Margaret
    Grover, a nurse. They moved in together and decided to raise a
    family. [Grover] became pregnant by artificial insemination and
    gave birth to [E.D.] [Appellant] then adopted [E.D.] [Appellant]
    became pregnant by artificial insemination and gave birth to
    [M.D.] Grover then adopted [M.D.]
    The relationship between [Appellant] and Grover was marred by
    violence. Each accused the other of physical assaults. After an
    incident in April 2011, they separated, and each child departed
    with his /her respective natural mother.
    Each parent sought and was granted custodial time with the
    other’s natural child, and the arrangement was embodied in an
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    order of the Court dated May 27, 2013. [Appellant] was also
    ordered to pay child support for [E.D.], who, in 2013, attended
    the Haverford School.
    Despite the presence of an order, disputes nevertheless
    materialized, animosities flared and confrontations—verbal and
    physical—came to pass. Each introduced evidence of the other’s
    violent acts. Of note is Grover’s allegation that during a drop-off
    of [M.D.] on the evening of Mother’s Day, 2013, [Appellant] first
    stood in front of Grover’s car in a menacing posture and refused
    to move. [Appellant] then walked toward Grover and attempted
    to open the car door. Sensing danger, Grover drove away and,
    the next day, contacted her attorney. [Appellant], on the other
    hand, asserted that she was the victim and that Grover attempted
    to use the car as a lethal weapon.
    The parties and their lawyers hammered out an agreement that
    was memorialized in a series of letters. The substance of that
    agreement was that all drop-offs and pickups of either child would
    be “curbside.” During any exchange, [Appellant], Grover and the
    “significant other” of each would have no contact and would
    remain at least 100 feet away from each other.
    At trial, Grover testified that on May 27, 2013, at the end of
    Memorial Day weekend, she transported [M.D.] to [Appellant]’s
    house. As she approached, she spotted Donna Helgenberg,
    [Appellant]’s then current “significant other,” outside in the
    garden. Sensing trouble, Grover drove away, removed a phone
    and a can of mace from the back of the car, and drove to the front
    of [Appellant]’s house with [E.D.] in the front passenger’s seat
    and [M.D.] in the back seat. While exiting the car, [M.D.] dropped
    her backpack and swim suit onto the ground. Grover turned
    around and looked to the rear to assess the situation, but when
    she turned forward, she saw that [Appellant] had suddenly
    emerged and was standing at the front of her car. [Appellant]
    struck the grill of Grover’s car. She then pulled out a gun, pointed
    it at the windshield and shot three bullets, which struck Grover’s
    face, chest and abdomen. After firing the third bullet from the 9
    mm automatic, the gun jammed and could fire no more without
    clearing the jammed bullet casing. Grover telephoned 911,
    reported the incident and then drove to Riddle Hospital.
    The State Police responded to the scene and spoke with Donna
    Helgenberg. Trooper Wiley transported Donna Helgenberg and
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    [M.D.] to the barracks and attempted to interview both. At the
    scene, other troopers spoke with [Appellant], who advised them
    of the location of the gun. While attempting to secure it, one
    Trooper noted that it was jammed, or “stove-piped,” as a ballistics
    expert later explained.
    Troopers Kirby and O’Donnell took [Appellant] to the barracks.
    After being advised of her rights, [Appellant] gave a recorded
    statement in which she asserted that she purchased a gun to
    protect herself from Grover’s repeated attempts at her life. She
    admitted that she shot three bullets at Grover’s car, but she
    asserted that she did so because she was afraid that Grover was
    “going to try to run [her] over” and to “try to kill [her] again.”
    [Appellant] predicted that Grover would announce that she “won
    the lottery” and would look “like a victim.” [Appellant] will go to
    jail, and Grover will get the kids.
    The State Police transported Grover’s car, a 2011 Volvo, to the
    barracks, where Corporal Elias and others conducted a bullet
    trajectory analysis. They found three bullet holes and impact sites
    in the car. They set up trajectory rods showing the paths of the
    bullets from the outside to the inside of the car. Elias then went
    to the scene of the incident and, after further inspection,
    concluded that the evidence was consistent with a five foot three
    inch shooter standing directly in front of the car and firing the first
    shot and with the same person placing her arms on the hood,
    leaning forward, extending her arms, and firing the next two
    shots. The evidence was more consistent with a static car and
    shooter rather than a scenario involving a moving car and/or
    shooter.
    The police then obtained search warrants, first of [Appellant]’s
    person and then of her house. A strip search revealed no injuries
    on her person. While searching her house, they found in her
    belongings a document entitled “Here’s the Plan” dated March 7,
    2013 that set forth an elaborate plot to alter the custody
    arrangements of the children.
    The author, presumably [Appellant], sought to have Peg Grover
    “lose[] her mind” by proposing that each vacate her respective
    parental rights over the natural child of the other. If Grover were
    to refuse, then [Appellant] would commence a custody battle
    punctuated by “fucking” with [E.D.], encouraging that he be
    expelled from the Haverford School, proving that he was
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    dangerous, trashing Grover’s character and proving that [M.D.]
    did not want to spend time with Grover. The plan contemplated
    a scorched earth policy in which she would hit a “mouse with [a]
    sledgehammer!”
    ...
    The case proceeded to trial, during which the prosecution argued
    that [Appellant] intended to kill both Grover and [E.D.] In support
    of that, the ADA presented evidence showing that [Appellant]
    advised many, including school staff, that he was the “next Jeffrey
    Dahmer” and a future serial killer. [Appellant] rarely saw or even
    contacted him. [Appellant] referred to him as “Satan’s spawn”
    and a “nasty little boy.”
    [Appellant] frequently proposed to Grover that they mutually
    vacate their parental rights. The prosecution argued that the
    attempted murder was a scheme designed to rid herself of the
    obligation of paying expensive private school tuition, child support
    and the like. Rather than follow through on the “plan” outlined in
    the March 7, 2013 memorandum—which would have necessitated
    paying large sums of money for lawyers, psychologists, teachers,
    and custody evaluators—[Appellant] decided to take matters into
    her own hands and kill Grover and [E.D.] Her self-defense
    argument would prevail, and she would be rid of the complications
    and expenses of shared custody of [M.D.], the surviving child.
    In response to the prosecution’s portrayal of her as a mean-
    spirited manipulative woman who had no interest in [E.D.],
    [Appellant]’s counsel attempted to show that she was, in fact, a
    caring mother who was herself the victim of Grover’s efforts to
    distance herself from her son. Her attorney played in open court
    voicemail messages from [Appellant], who expressed the desire
    to speak with [E.D.]        Grover agreed that [Appellant] had
    difficulties with [E.D.]’s misbehavior, including physical attacks
    upon his sister, [M.D.] Grover admitted that [Appellant] sought
    to have [E.D.] placed at the Westtown School or at the Hill School,
    both expensive private schools, and did not seek to be relieved of
    the duty of paying private school tuition. In his cross-examination
    of James Greytok, the Haverford middle school principal, [counsel]
    elicited testimony that [Appellant] expressed concern for [E.D.]’s
    welfare. He suggested that she did not believe that Haverford was
    equipped to handle [E.D.]
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    Later in the trial, the prosecution called Corporal Elias, a ballistics
    expert, who, as previously noted, testified that the physical
    evidence was more consistent with a static car and shooter rather
    than a scenario involving a moving car and/or shooter. The
    Commonwealth also called Corporal Shawn Haines, an accident
    reconstruction expert. He interviewed Grover and listened to
    [Appellant]’s recorded statement.         He and several troopers
    returned to the incident scene and attempted to reconstruct the
    incident. His findings were consistent with Grover’s account of the
    incident; the only way he could reproduce tire marks similar to
    those found at the scene was to accelerate and steer to the left.
    They were also consistent with ballistics evidence given by
    Trooper Elias.
    The defense did not call a ballistic expert. Rather, it called Roger
    Rozsas, an accident reconstruction expert with no expertise in
    ballistics. He took measurements at the scene, watched the State
    Police reenactments and took exception with the findings of
    Corporals Haines and Elias. Although he acknowledged the
    physical evidence, he disputed their conclusions. The essence of
    his testimony was that the physical evidence was consistent with
    [Appellant]’s statement to the police that the vehicle was moving
    toward her when she fired the gun.
    [Appellant] did not testify at trial. She called various character
    witnesses: a Detective from the Haverford Township police
    department, who authenticated some incident reports; a State
    Trooper, who also testified as to some records; and a second state
    Trooper, Philip Rhyn, who testified that after being taken into
    custody, [Appellant] insisted that she fired the gun because
    Grover had attempted to run her over with a car. [Appellant] also
    discussed various family issues with him.
    Trial Court Opinion, 10/8/15, at 1-8 (internal citations omitted).
    During trial, the court granted Appellant’s motion for judgment of
    acquittal on the charge that she attempted to murder E.D. At the conclusion
    of the two-week trial, the jury found Appellant guilty of all charges involving
    Grover, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of an
    instrument of crime, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of
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    a child.1 The jury found Appellant not guilty of aggravated assault against
    E.D.     On September 9, 2014, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an
    aggregate of 273—624 months’ imprisonment.
    Appellant filed timely post-sentence motions, which the trial court
    denied, and a timely notice of direct appeal. On November 3, 2016, this Court
    affirmed Appellant’s judgment of sentence. Appellant filed a timely application
    for reargument, which this Court denied, and a timely petition for allowance
    of appeal in the Supreme Court. On June 20, 2017, the Supreme Court denied
    the petition for allowance of appeal. Appellant did not appeal to the United
    States Supreme Court, so her judgment of sentence became final for PCRA
    purposes on September 18, 2017.
    On September 4, 2018, Appellant filed a timely PCRA petition.           On
    February 7, 2018, the PCRA court filed a notice of intent to dismiss Appellant’s
    petition without a hearing. On April 17, 2018, the PCRA court entered an
    order dismissing the PCRA petition. On May 15, 2019, Appellant filed a timely
    appeal to this Court from the order of dismissal. Both Appellant and the PCRA
    court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
    Appellant raises the following issues in this appeal:
    I. The trial court, in the jury’s presence, made an important factual
    determination that was crucial to [Appellant]’s self-defense claim.
    Trial counsel objected to the ultimate determination itself rather
    than the judicial finding of fact during a jury trial. Did the PCRA
    court err by dismissing, without a hearing, a claim that trial
    ____________________________________________
    1   18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 901, 2702, 4304, 907, and 2705, respectively.
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    counsel was ineffective for not asserting the legally correct and
    meritorious objection, and for finding such a claim was previously
    litigated?
    II. A witness testified about arguably improper actions taken by
    [Appellant]’s father and paramour after she was arrested. Did the
    PCRA court err by dismissing, without a hearing, a claim that trial
    counsel was ineffective for not objecting to this irrelevant and
    prejudicial evidence?
    III. Numerous witnesses testified that [Appellant] held animosity
    towards her son, but the trial court granted a judgment of
    acquittal on a charge that she tried to kill him due to lack of intent.
    Did the PCRA court err by dismissing, without a hearing,
    [Appellant]’s claim that trial counsel was ineffective for not
    moving to strike the testimony concerning the animosity towards
    her son because it was not relevant and prejudicial?
    IV. Where [Appellant] pleaded numerous claims presenting
    material issues of fact, did the proffered cumulative prejudice
    warrant an evidentiary hearing?
    Appellant’s Brief at 5.
    In her first argument, Appellant contends that defense counsel provided
    ineffective assistance by failing to object to the jury instruction that she and
    Grover had an “agreement” concerning curb-side drop-offs of their children.
    Appellant argues that she had a valid self-defense argument because she was
    “lawfully on her property,” Appellant’s Brief at 18, and believed that Grover
    was trying to run her over with her car. Id. at 7, 18. The trial court negated
    this argument by instructing the jury that she had an agreement with Grover
    not to be present during custody exchanges. Appellant’s Brief at 13. Defense
    counsel, Appellant concludes, crippled her self-defense argument by failing to
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    object to this instruction.   No relief is due, although we deny relief for a
    different reason than the Commonwealth suggests.
    The attorneys for Appellant and Grover exchanged three letters two
    weeks before the shooting, during child custody proceedings. In the first letter
    dated May 15, 2013, Appellant’s attorney stated, “[T]here is to be no physical
    contact between Peg [the victim] . . . and [Appellant] . . . pick-up and drop-
    off is to be curbside and the noncustodial parent may attend events and
    activities provided she remains at least 100 feet away from the custodial
    parent at all times.” N.T., 6/23/14, at 96-97. On May 16, 2013, Grover’s
    attorney authored a letter stating that “[a]ny exchanges of the child not at
    camp or school shall be curbside with one parent and significant other
    remaining in the car and the other parent and significant other remaining in
    the house . . . [M.D.] is old enough to walk from the car to the house
    unassisted.”   Id. at 97.     On May 17, 2013, Appellant’s attorney wrote,
    “[Appellant] is in agreement that there be no physical contact between
    [Appellant] and Peg and that non-school related pick-up and drop-offs be
    curbside.” Id. The trial court read these letters to the jury and instructed,
    “This exchange of letters signifying the agreement of the clients in my opinion
    is an agreement that pick-up and drop-off will be curbside with respect to the
    child [M.D.] and that there will be no contact between [Appellant] and
    [Grover] during that exchange.”         Id.    Subsequently, during closing
    instructions, the court stated that Appellant could not claim self-defense
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    if . . . she knew that she could avoid the necessity of using deadly
    force with complete safety by complying with a demand that she
    abstain from any action that she had no duty to make and failing
    to do so. This pertains to the agreement that was reached
    between the parties and the lawyers that the transfer of the child,
    [M.D.], would take place curbside. In other words, the agreement
    that [Appellant] would stay inside the home . . . I’m going to read
    that to you again, just so there’s no mistaking what the provisions
    are. [Appellant] knew that she could avoid the necessity of using
    deadly force with complete safety by complying with a demand
    that she abstain from any action she had no duty to make and
    failing to do so by coming out of the house and coming to the
    proximity of this automobile during the transfer of the child. If
    the Commonwealth proves [this] beyond a reasonable doubt, the
    actions of [Appellant] are not justified.
    N.T., 7/7/14, at 144-45.
    On direct appeal, Appellant argued that “the trial court erred in
    accepting the Commonwealth’s argument that an exchange of letters between
    the respective domestic relations counsel for the appellant and her spouse
    constituted a Court Order, or enforceable agreement.” Commonwealth v.
    Daly, No. 2029 EDA 2015 (Pa. Super.), Appellant’s Brief at 55. The court’s
    decision to instruct the jury that Appellant and Grover entered an agreement,
    Appellant continues, prejudiced Appellant by “eviscerat[ing] [her] self-defense
    claim.” Id. at 60. In its opinion on direct appeal, however, the trial court
    concluded that a letter by Appellant’s attorney “did, in fact, memorialize an
    agreement by [Appellant] that she and Grover would have no contact during
    the non-school drop-offs and pickups, all of which were to be conducted
    ‘curbside.’” Trial Court Opinion, 10/8/15, at 21. This Court concurred, stating,
    “We agree with the sound reasoning of the trial court, as set forth in its
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    Opinion, and affirm on this basis.” Daly, 
    2016 WL 6519019
    , at *5 (Pa. Super.
    2016) (memorandum).
    Appellant argues strenuously that defense counsel was ineffective for
    failing to object to the jury instructions that Appellant had a no-contact
    agreement with Grover.       According to Appellant, the jury, in its role as
    factfinder, had sole authority to decide whether an agreement existed, but the
    court usurped the jury’s authority by making this finding itself. Absent this
    improper act, Appellant claims, she “could have argued to the jury that her
    presence on her own property, in conjunction with her belief that she was
    being attacked with a deadly weapon, obviated any requirement that she
    retreat from the situation before taking action to protect herself.” Appellant’s
    Brief at 20. Significantly, she states no fewer than ten times that she was on
    her own property. Id. at 15-21.
    To obtain relief on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Appellant
    must prove that: (1) the underlying claim has arguable merit; (2) counsel
    lacked a reasonable basis for his actions or failure to act; and (3) the petitioner
    was prejudiced by counsel’s deficient performance such that there is a
    reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been
    different absent counsel’s error or omission. Commonwealth v. Pierce, 
    527 A.2d 973
    , 975 (Pa. 1987). Counsel is presumed to have rendered effective
    assistance, and a PCRA petitioner asserting otherwise bears the burden of
    proof. Commonwealth v. Isaac, 
    205 A.3d 358
    , 362 (Pa. Super. 2019).
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    When reviewing a PCRA order, we examine whether the record supports
    the PCRA court’s factual findings and whether its legal conclusions are free
    from error. Commonwealth v. Hannibal, 
    156 A.3d 197
    , 206 (Pa. 2016).
    We view the PCRA court’s findings and evidence of record in the light most
    favorable to the prevailing party. Commonwealth v. Koehler, 
    36 A.3d 121
    ,
    131 (Pa. 2012). The petitioner has the burden of persuading us that the PCRA
    court erred and that such error requires relief.          Commonwealth v.
    Wholaver, 
    177 A.3d 136
    , 144-45 (Pa. 2018).
    The Commonwealth argues that Appellant cannot obtain relief because
    her objection to the jury instruction was previously litigated2 on direct appeal
    and has simply been repackaged as a claim of ineffective assistance.        We
    disagree. Our Supreme Court has stated that
    ineffectiveness claims are distinct from those claims that are
    raised on direct appeal. The former claims challenge the adequacy
    of representation rather than the conviction of the defendant.
    Accordingly, [] a Sixth Amendment claim of ineffectiveness raises
    a distinct legal ground for purposes of state PCRA review under
    [Section] 9544(a)(2). Ultimately, the claim may fail on the
    arguable merit or prejudice prong for the reasons discussed on
    direct appeal, but a Sixth Amendment claim raises a distinct issue
    for purposes of the PCRA and must be treated as such.
    [Accordingly, a] PCRA court should recognize ineffectiveness
    claims as distinct issues and review them under the three-prong
    ineffectiveness standard [].
    ____________________________________________
    2 An issue has been “previously litigated” when either “the highest appellate
    court in which the petitioner could have had review as a matter of right has
    ruled on the merits of the issue,” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9544(a)(2), or “it has been
    raised and decided in a proceeding collaterally attacking the conviction or
    sentence.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9544(a)(3).
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    Commonwealth v. Collins, 
    888 A.2d 564
    , 573 (Pa. 2005) (internal citations
    and quotations omitted). Collins prohibits us from holding that Appellant’s
    argument is barred as previously litigated.
    Nevertheless, Appellant’s claim of ineffective assistance falls short due
    to lack of arguable merit. As both the trial court and this Court reasoned on
    direct appeal, the plain language of the letters between Appellant’s counsel
    and Grover’s counsel establishes that Appellant entered an agreement with
    Grover not to be present during certain pickups and drop-offs, including the
    incident in which Appellant shot Grover.
    Even assuming that the jury should have decided whether an agreement
    existed instead of the trial court, Appellant’s argument fails for a different
    reason. Appellant contends she had no duty to retreat because she was on
    her own property. The evidence demonstrates, however, that Appellant was
    on the street at the time of the shooting. Grover was in her own car parked
    curbside on a public street.    N.T. 6⁄23⁄14, at 109, 125-26, 152, 291-93
    (testimony of Grover).     An eyewitness, Helgenberg, observed Appellant
    “standing in the middle of the street.” N.T. 6⁄25⁄14, at 176. Trooper Tsung,
    who responded to the shooting, found shell casing in the road. N.T. 6/24/14,
    at 58, 61; see also id. at 121 (Trooper Rose’s testimony that shell casings
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    were found in the street).3 Appellant fails to point to any evidence that the
    street was part of her property. Nor does she argue that she had the right to
    stand her ground outside her property boundaries. Absent evidence that she
    was on her own property, her self-defense argument collapses.
    For these reasons, the PCRA court properly rejected this claim of
    ineffective assistance.
    Next, Appellant argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing
    to object to the testimony of child advocate Lisa Kane Brown, guardian ad
    litem for E.D. and M.D., during domestic proceedings between Appellant and
    Grover.    N.T., 6/30/14, at 100-23.           Brown’s testimony, Appellant wrote,
    mostly concerned the conduct of Helgenberg and Charles Brian Daly,
    Appellant’s father, after Appellant’s arrest.       The conduct of these persons,
    Appellant continues, was inadmissible and prejudicial because it “had nothing
    to do with tending to prove [Appellant’s] guilt or innocence of the charged
    crimes,” and the Commonwealth introduced this testimony only to establish
    ____________________________________________
    3 Appellant cites to testimony by Trooper Rose page 109 for the proposition
    that the shooting occurred in a “shared driveway.” Appellant’s Brief at 20
    (citing N.T., 6/24/14, at 109). Trooper Rose responded to the crime scene
    following the 911 call; he was not a witness to this crime. More importantly,
    at no point in his testimony did he claim that the shooting occurred in a shared
    driveway. He uttered the words “shared driveway” to describing his position
    and the positioning of the other troopers when they first arrived on the scene
    after the shooting. Id. at 107-12. The police were in the shared driveway
    while they devised a plan as to how to apprehend Appellant, whom they
    presumed was armed. Trooper Rose did not testify that Appellant shot Grover
    in the shared driveway.
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    that Appellant associated with unsavory individuals such as her father and
    Helgenberg. Appellant’s Brief at 24. No relief is due.
    Some of Brown’s testimony concerned subjects other than Helgenberg
    or Appellant’s father, such as Brown’s role as child advocate, statements that
    M.D. made to her, and statements Appellant made to M.D. N.T., 6/30/14, at
    100-05. Appellant does not accuse defense counsel of ineffectiveness during
    this portion of Brown’s testimony.
    The remainder of Brown’s direct testimony concerns Helgenberg’s and
    Appellant’s father’s conduct following Appellant’s arrest.     Id. at 105-16.
    Brown testified that (1) after Appellant’s arrest, the court ordered her to
    refrain from any contact with M.D., (2) Helgenberg at first was permitted to
    have contact with M.D. but later was ordered to stay away from M.D., (3)
    Helgenberg and Appellant’s father attempted to circumvent these directives
    by plotting to have M.D. give Appellant’s father letters to give to Appellant in
    jail, and (4) Helgenberg also attempted to stay in touch with M.D. by becoming
    the coach of her softball team. Id. Defense counsel did not provide ineffective
    assistance during this testimony; to the contrary, he raised multiple hearsay
    and relevance objections.      Id. at 108, 109, 111, 113, 115 (hearsay
    objections); 110 (relevance objection). Furthermore, this testimony did not
    prejudice Appellant. The overwhelming bulk of the evidence presented by the
    Commonwealth related to Appellant’s motive for shooting Grover, her
    formulation of the plan to shoot Grover and the execution of this plan. The
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    Commonwealth’s closing argument focused on the evidence relating to
    Appellant, not evidence relating to Helgenberg or Appellant’s father.            N.T.,
    9/9/14, at 64-100 (closing). Brown’s brief testimony concerning Helgenberg
    and Appellant’s father does not undermine our confidence in the outcome of
    this case.
    Next, Appellant claims that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to
    move to strike all references to her relationship with E.D. after the trial court
    granted her motion for judgment of acquittal on the charge of attempting to
    murder    E.D.    Appellant   argues    that    “during   its   case-in-chief,    the
    Commonwealth painted [Appellant] as an uncaring mother who sufficiently
    hated [E.D.] so much that she tried to kill him.”         Appellant’s Brief at 27.
    Appellant continues that because “the prejudice of such evidence is readily
    apparent,” defense counsel should have moved to strike this evidence after
    the judgment of acquittal on the charge of attempting to murder E.D. Id. We
    agree with the Commonwealth that this argument lacks merit.                       The
    Commonwealth correctly points out that despite the judgment of acquittal on
    the murder charge, the charge of aggravated assault against E.D. remained
    intact.   Commonwealth’s Brief at 23.          Furthermore, under the relevant
    subsection of the aggravated assault statute, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1),
    because E.D. was not injured, “the Commonwealth needed to prove that
    Appellant intentionally or knowingly attempted to cause serious bodily injury
    to E.D.” Id. Thus, as the Commonwealth observes, “evidence of [Appellant’s]
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    vitriol toward [E.D.] was relevant to prove that she was intentionally
    attempting to cause him serious bodily injury.” Id.
    Finally, Appellant argues that she is entitled to relief based on the
    cumulative prejudice caused by defense counsel’s errors. There is no basis
    for a cumulative error argument, because none of Appellant’s claims have
    merit. Commonwealth v. Spotz, 
    18 A.3d 244
    , 321 (Pa. 2011) (“no number
    of failed claims may collectively warrant relief if they fail to do so
    individually”).
    For these reasons, the PCRA court properly denied Appellant’s PCRA
    petition.
    Order affirmed.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 7/29/2020
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Document Info

Docket Number: 1510 EDA 2019

Filed Date: 7/29/2020

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 7/29/2020