Com. v. Everett, E.

J-S66017-15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee

v.

ERIN NICOLE EVERETT

Appellant No. 2046 WDA 2014

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered November 14, 2014

In the Court of Common Pleas of Somerset County

Criminal Division at No: CP-56-CR-0000249-2011

BEFORE: OLSON, STABILE, and STRASSBURGER,* JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED APRIL 21, 2016

Appellant Erin Nicole Everett appeals from the November 14, 2014

judgment of sentence entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Somerset

County (“trial court”) following Appellant’s bench conviction for, inter alia,

first-degree murder under Section 2502(a) of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 2502(a). Upon review, we affirm.

The facts and procedural history underlying this case are undisputed,

and recounted in detail on pages 1 through 17 of the trial court’s March 7,

2016 Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion. Briefly, Appellant was charged with, inter

alia, first-degree murder for the shooting death of her girlfriend, Tory

Elizabeth Minnick (“victim”). Prior to trial, the Commonwealth filed a motion

____________________________________________

*

Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

J-S66017-15

in limine, seeking to exclude the testimony of Antoinette Petrazzi Woods,

Ph.D, LPC, whom Appellant sought to present as an expert on Battered

Woman Syndrome (“BWS”) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”).

The Commonwealth argued that Petrazzi Woods did not have specialized

knowledge to qualify as an expert witness on these issues. The

Commonwealth argued that even if Petrazzi Woods did qualify as an expert,

her evaluation of Appellant indicated that Appellant did not meet the full

criteria for either PTSD or BWS. Moreover, the Commonwealth argued that

BWS was relevant only in cases where a defendant alleges self-defense. The

Commonwealth pointed out that Appellant could not make out a theory for

self-defense because the victim was asleep when Appellant murdered her.

Over Appellant’s objection, the trial court granted the Commonwealth’s

motion.

The case eventually proceeded to a bench trial, at which various

witnesses, including Appellant and William Nair, testified. Mr. Nair testified

that he exchanged text messages with Appellant, who is the cousin of his

then-fiancée, prior to the killing and advised Appellant on how to use her

father’s gun, and where to purchase ammunition for the gun. Mr. Nair also

testified that he did not think Appellant was serious about killing the victim.

On cross-examination, when asked about whether he texted a picture of his

penis to Appellant, Mr. Nair indicated that he did not. Mr. Nair testified that

the picture was sent by his roommate, whom he tried to set up with

Appellant. Also, when asked whether he had told anyone prior to trial that

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someone else had used his phone, Mr. Nair indicated that he had. He

specifically stated that he had told the Commonwealth about it during his

last conversation with the district attorney. Upon hearing this, Appellant

moved for a mistrial, arguing that the Commonwealth committed a Brady1

violation by failing to disclose to Appellant the identity of the other individual

prior to trial. The court disagreed, denying Appellant’s motion for a mistrial.

In so doing, the trial court concluded that Appellant failed to establish that

the picture of the penis would have led to exculpatory or impeaching

evidence or that Appellant was prejudiced by its nondisclosure.2 Sometime

thereafter, Appellant took the stand and admitted to murdering the victim

while the victim slept. The trial court ultimately convicted Appellant of, inter

alia, first-degree murder and sentenced her to life imprisonment without the

possibility of parole. At the trial court’s direction, Appellant filed a Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b) statement of errors complained of on appeal, raising the following

assertions of error:

[1.] Whether the trial court erred in granting the

[Commonwealth’s] Motion in Limine precluding the testimony of

[Appellant’s] Expert, Dr. Antoinette Petrazzi-Woods as to

Battered Woman Syndrome, Spousal Abuse Syndrome, Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other disorders, thereby

prejudicing [Appellant] to an extent that it constitutes reversible

error?

____________________________________________

1

Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194 (1963).

2

The Commonwealth opined that Mr. Nair pinned the penis picture on the

other individual because “he was covering his ass with his fiancée.” N.T.

Trial, 11/12/14, at 1.127.

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[2.] Whether the trial court erred by prohibiting [Appellant] from

presenting any evidence or experts regarding [Appellant’s]

mental health, state of mind or mental conditions and disorders,

by erroneously relying upon improper evidence including the

affidavit of probable cause and police reports severely

prejudicing [Appellant]?

[3.] Whether the District Attorney committed prosecutorial

misconduct by having ex parte communications with the court

during the bench trial proceedings by informing the judge in

Chambers immediately prior to [Appellant’s] mother’s testimony,

that she had attempted to smuggle handcuff keys into jail in

[Appellant’s] court clothing thereby prejudicing the [c]ourt as to

the witness?

[4.] Whether the trial court erred in failing to grant a mistrial

when during testimony it was discovered that there was an

alleged third witness who may have provided exculpatory

evidence and whose name and identity were known by the

District Attorney who never disclosed the information to the

Defense, yet admitted to having knowledge of the witness during

the bench trial?

[5.] Whether the trial court erred in failing to mitigate

[Appellant’s] level of guilt by failing to take into consideration

the level and magnitude of aid provided by William Nair, who

encouraged, advised, counseled, and otherwise enticed

[Appellant] to carry out the crime in her distraught state of mind

instead of calling for assistance or help?

[6.] Whether the verdict was against the weight of the evidence?

Appellant’s Pa.R.A.P 1925(b) Statement. In response, the trial court

prepared a detailed 1925(a) opinion, addressing Appellant’s assertions of

error seriatim. Addressing Appellant’s first issue, the trial court concluded

that the Commonwealth’s motion in limine excluding Petrazzi Woods’

testimony was timely and that it did not abuse its discretion in granting the

motion. In support of its grant of the Commonwealth’s motion in limine,

trial court reasoned that, because Appellant could not establish a claim for

self-defense as the victim was asleep when Appellant killed her, Petrazzi

Woods’ testimony on BWS and PTSD was irrelevant. Additionally, the trial

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J-S66017-15

court noted that Petrazzi Woods was not qualified to be an expert on BWS or

PTSD because “there is no indication whatsoever that she possesses any

knowledge, skill, experience, training or education to afford her ‘specialized

knowledge’ in the field of BWS and/or PTSD.” Trial Court Opinion, 3/7/16, at

24. Alternatively, the trial court concluded that even if Petrazzi Woods were

qualified, her testimony would not have helped the trier of fact on these

issues, because Petrazzi Woods “ultimately found that [Appellant] suffers

from neither BWS nor PTSD.” Id. at 25. The trial court next addressed

Appellant’s second assertion of error, namely that the court had erred in

relying on the affidavit of probable cause and police reports in concluding

that Appellant could not establish a claim for self-defense. The trial court

reasoned that under Pa.R.E. 104, it was not bound by the rigors of the

evidentiary rules to determine preliminary questions on the admissibility of

evidence or the qualifications of an expert.3 With respect to Appellant’s third

assertion of error, relating to prosecutorial misconduct, the trial court

concluded that Appellant waived the issue by failing to make a timely

____________________________________________

3

Even if the trial court had improperly relied on the affidavit of probable

cause or the police reports to conclude that Appellant could not establish

self-defense because the victim was asleep at the time of the killing, the

error was harmless. As noted earlier, Appellant admitted at trial to the fact

that the victim was asleep. In Commonwealth v. Grove, 526 A.2d 369

(Pa. Super. 1987), we noted that “[a]s a matter of law, any imminence to

[the] appellant’s perceived risk of death or serious bodily injury ended, as

did the conflict on the ‘present occasion,’ when the victim went to bed and

fell asleep.” Grove, 526 A.2d at 375.

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objection. Additionally, the trial court found that “no ex parte

communications occurred between the District Attorney and the court.” Trial

Court Opinion, 3/7/16, at 27. The trial court next addressed Appellant’s

fourth issue relating to a Brady violation.4 The trial court rejected

Appellant’s argument that a Brady violation occurred because the

Commonwealth failed to disclose to Appellant Mr. Nair’s roommate’s use of

Mr. Nair’s cellphone and the roommate’s texting of sexually explicit images

to Appellant. The trial court concluded that “Appellant had failed to

demonstrate that the undisclosed evidence was favorable to her and that

she had been prejudiced by its nondisclosure.” Id. at 29. With respect to

Appellant’s fifth assertion of error, the trial court noted that it fully

____________________________________________

4

Under Brady, “a prosecutor has an obligation to disclose all exculpatory

information material to the guilt or punishment of an accused, including

evidence of an impeachment nature.” Commonwealth v. Spotz, 18 A.3d

244, 275–276 (Pa. 2011) (citation omitted). To prove a Brady violation, the

defendant bears the burden of demonstrating that: “(1) the prosecutor has

suppressed evidence; (2) the evidence, whether exculpatory or impeaching,

is helpful to the defendant, and (3) the suppression prejudiced the

defendant.” Commonwealth v. Koehler, 36 A.3d 121, 133 (Pa. 2012)

(citation omitted). To establish prejudice, the defendant must prove that

“there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to

the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”

Commonwealth v. Appel, 689 A.2d 891, 905 (Pa. 1997) (citation

omitted), abrogated on other grounds, Commonwealth v. Fears, 86

A.3d 795 (Pa. 2014); see also Commonwealth v. Bomar, 104 A.3d 1179,

1189 (Pa. 2014) (“Stated differently, the undisclosed evidence must be

‘material to guilt or punishment.’”) (citation omitted). “A reasonable

probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the

outcome.” Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 30 A.3d 1111, 1130 (Pa. 2011)

(citation omitted).

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J-S66017-15

considered Mr. Nair’s involvement and concluded, based on the evidence

presented, that it did not rise to the level of conspiracy. The trial court

found that Mr. Nair did not plant in Appellant’s mind the idea to kill the

victim. Id. at 32. On the contrary, the idea to kill was Appellant’s, and it

was Appellant who, after much deliberation, killed the victim as the victim

slept. Finally, addressing Appellant’s sixth assertion of error, the trial court

concluded that it did not abuse its discretion in denying Appellant’s weight of

the evidence challenge.

On appeal, Appellant repeats the same assertions of error.5,6 After

careful review of the parties’ briefs, the record on appeal, and the relevant

____________________________________________

5

Appellant withdraws the issue of prosecutorial misconduct, acknowledging

that she “did not formally place [an] objection on the record in open court,”

and therefore rendering the issue “moot and waived.” Appellant’s Brief at

28.

6

We note that Appellant’s weight of the evidence challenge is waived,

because she failed to properly preserve this issue for our review. A

challenge to the weight of the evidence must be raised with the trial judge or

it will be waived. Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 607 requires that

a “claim that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence shall be raised

with the trial judge in a motion for a new trial: (1) orally, on the record, at

any time before sentencing; (2) by written motion at any time before

sentencing; or (3) in a post-sentence motion.” Pa.R.Crim.P. 607. This claim

must be presented to the trial court while it exercises jurisdiction over a

matter since “appellate review of a weight claim is a review of the exercise

of discretion, not of the underlying question of whether the verdict is against

the weight of the evidence.” Commonwealth v. Burkett, 830 A.2d 1034,

1037 (2003) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 927 A.2d 648 (Pa. 2007).

Instantly, Appellant failed to raise the weight of the evidence claim orally or

in writing prior to or after sentencing. In fact, Appellant raised it for the first

time in her Rule 1925(b) statement. Even if Appellant had preserved this

(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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J-S66017-15

case law, we conclude that the trial court’s Rule 1925(a) opinion, authored

by President Judge D. Gregory Geary, cogently disposes of Appellant’s issues

on appeal. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/7/16, at 17-37. We, therefore, affirm

the trial court’s November 14, 2014 judgment of sentence. We direct that a

copy of the trial court’s March 7, 2016 Rule 1925(a) opinion be attached to

any future filings in this case.

Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 4/21/2016

_______________________

(Footnote Continued)

issue, we still would have concluded that she is not due any relief based on

the reasons outlined in the trial court Rule 1925(a) opinion.

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COMMONWEAL TH ) lN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

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ERIN NICOLE EVERETT, )

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Defendant. ) NO. 249 CRIMINAL 2011

OPINION PURSUANT TO Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a}

This opinion is issued pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(a)

and in compliance with the Superior Court's December 10, 2015 order.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY.

On March 25, 2011, a warrant for the arrest of Defendant, Erin Nicole Everett, was

issued for the shooting, and bludgeoning death of Tory Elizabeth Minnick (hereinafter

referred to as "Tory" or "the victim"). The criminal complaint charged Defendant with

criminal homicide, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2501 (a); first-degree murder, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(a);

third-degree murder, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(c); voluntary manslaughter, 18 Pa.C.S.A. §

2503(a)(J); aggravated assault, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(4); and possessing instruments of

crime, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 907(b ). Defendant obtained representation by William R. Carroll, Esq.

of the Office of Public Defender. On March 28, 2011, upon Defendant's Application for

Assignment of Counsel pursuant to Pa. R. Crim. P. 122, we appointed Steven Miller, Esq. as

legal co-counsel to represent Defendant. On April 8, 201 1, Defendant waived her right to a

preliminary hearing as to all charges.

On May 27, 2011, the Commonwealth withdrew the charge of possession of

instruments of crime. On June 14, 2011, we heard the Commonwealth's motion to amend the

information to add a charge of conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, 18 Pa.C.S.A. §

903(a)(l). We granted the motion.

On June 16, 2011, the Commonwealth petitioned for a grant of use immunity for

Defendant, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5947, so the Commonwealth could call Defendant to

testify against her alleged co-conspirator, William Stanley Nair, Jr. We granted the

Commonwealth's petition on June 16, 2011.

On July 12, 2011, Defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Thereafter, we

granted several continuances to both Commonwealth and Defendant.' On June 18, 2012,

Brent Eric Peck, Esq. entered his appearance on behalf of Defendant. On June 21, 2012, we

permitted Attorneys Carroll and Miller to withdraw their appearance on behalf of Defendant,

having noted that "it appears that [D]efendant is not without financial resources and is

otherwise able to employ counsel.. .. "

As indicated in supra note 1, we granted a final continuance to Defendant on February

12, 2013. During the hearing conducted on that date, we also directed that "any remaining

pretrial issues or motions be filed on or before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1, 2013, or be

precluded." Defendant filed a pre-trial motion in limine on March 1, 2013, seeking to

preclude "any and all references to text messages as [h]earsay at the trial in this matter. ... "

We conducted a hearing on Defendant's motion in limine on April 2, 2013, after which, we

1

We granted the following continuances: to Commonwealth on July 28, 2011, because evidence was undergoing

testing at the crime laboratory; to Defendant on September 19, 2011 for "[a]dditional time to prepare for trial"; to

Defendant on December 13, 2011 for "[a]dditional time to prepare for trial"; to Defendant on February 14, 2012

because she "[n]eed[s) more time to prepare"; to Defendant on April 17, 2012 for the "[p]urpose of obtaining

Mental Health Evaluation"; to Defendant on July I 0, 20 I 0, over the objection of the Commonwealth, because

Attorney Brent Eric Peck "was recently retained on entered [hisJ appearance on June 18, 2012"; to Defendant on

September 18, 2012, because "counsel requires additional time for trial preparation"; to Defendant on December

18, 2012, over the Commonwealth's objection, because "counsel need[s] additional time for trial preparation"; to

Defendant on February 12, 2013, again over the Commonwealth's objection, because "counsel requires

additional time to prepare for trial"-however, we directed that there were to be no further continuances of this

case granted at Defendant's request.

2

took the matter under advisement. We denied Defendant's motion on May 9, 2013.

On April 1, 2013, the Commonwealth submitted its Brief in Support of Motion in

Limine to Preclude Expert Testimony Regarding Battered Woman Syndrome and/or Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, as Defendant noted in her reply brief dated May 31,

2013, the Commonwealth had up to that point failed to file the actual motion in limine. The

Commonwealth remedied this oversight by filing the motion in limine on June 11, 2013. On

April 1, 2013, the Commonwealth also submitted a motion for a court-ordered mental health

examination of Defendant pursuant to Pa. R. Crim. P. 569. The Commonwealth requested the

mental health examination in the event that we were to deny the motion in limine to preclude

testimony by Defendant's expert on the issue of Battered Woman Syndrome and Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder. After hearing argument on June 27, 2013, we took the matter

under advisement. On July 23, 2013, we issued a memorandum and order granting the

Commonwealth's motion in limine.

Defendant filed a notice of appeal on August 21, 2013, challenging our July 23 order

precluding testimony by her expert. We heard argument on September 5, 2013 on the

question of whether Defendant should be granted permission to proceed with an interlocutory

appeal of this issue. On September 9, 2013, we granted Defendant permission to proceed. On

September 25, 2013, pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(b), we ordered Defendant to file a concise

statement of matters complained of on appeal. We issued a 1925(a) opinion on October 18,

2013 wherein we advised that the reasons for our order were contained in the July 23, 2013

memorandum of law.

On November 22, 2013, Defendant filed with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court a

3

Petition for Allowance of Appeal.' On May 28, 2014, our Supreme Court denied Defendant's

Petition.

On October 31, 2014, Defendant waived her right to jury trial. A bench trial was held

on November 12 through 14, 2014. On November 14, we found Defendant: not guilty of

conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, guilty of criminal homicide, guilty of first-degree

murder, guilty of third-degree murder, guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and guilty of

aggravated assault. At Defendant's request, we immediately proceeded to sentencing on the

offense of first-degree murder. We sentenced Defendant to pay the costs of prosecution and

the D.N.A. Detection Fund fee of $250, and incarceration in a State Correctional Institution

for life without the possibility of parole. The sentences on the remaining offenses merged

into the sentence for first-degree murder.

On December 11, 2014, Defendant filed a Notice of Appeal. On December 16, 2014,

we ordered Defendant to file a concise statement of matters complained of on appeal, which

Defendant filed on January 6, 2015. We submitted our first 1925(a) opinion in this appeal on

March 5, 2015. On December 10, 2015, we received an Order from the Superior Court to

"prepare and file within ninety days of the date of this Order a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)

opinion ... detailing the factual and procedural history and addressing all assertions of error

raised in Appellant's Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement."

II. FACTUAL HISTORY.

At approximately 1 :00 p.m. on March 25, 2011, Conemaugh Township Police

Department contacted the Pennsylvania State Police regarding a homicide at 141 5th Street,

Jerome, Pennsylvania. Trial Tr. 1.19, Nov. 12, 2014. The home at 141 5th Street belonged to

2

We believe that the Superior Court must have declined hearing Defendant's appeal; we, however, have nothing

in our records to confirm this belief.

4

Jeffrey Everett, Defendant's father, who resided there with his wife, Patricia Everett, and

Defendant. Id. at 1.30. Trooper Joseph Drzal of the Pennsylvania State Police, along with

Corporal Link and Corporal Thomas, arrived on the scene at 1 :29 p.m. Patricia Everett had

called 911. Id. at 1.19-1.20. The information Trooper Drzal possessed as he responded to the

scene was that "there was an intruder at the residence of 141 Fifth Street ... Two people were

assaulted, both female, and one of them was deceased." Id. at 1.20.

Trooper Drzal described his first impressions of the scene: "It was a two-story gray

house. Initially, right off the bat, you could see the front door was smashed down ... [the]

majority of the glass was on the porch and the sidewalk. So the preliminary things that came

in about an intruder breaking into the house didn't seem right because you can tell ... the glass

is broken from the inside out." Id. at 1.20-1.21; see also, Com.'s Ex. C. Trooper Drzal did

not immediately enter the residence after observing the porch and door; rather, the officers set

up a perimeter to prohibit people from entering or leaving the residence until a search warrant

could be obtained. Trial Tr. 1.22. At the time Trooper Drzal arrived on the scene, Defendant

was not present, as she was being transported to Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown,

Pennsylvania, based on her report that she had been assaulted (i.e., struck in the back) by the

intruder. Id. at l.23.

Trooper Drzal eventually obtained a warrant from Magistrate District Judge Susan

Mankamyer at 5:00 p.m. to search for "[a]ny weapons, cell phones, computers, any and all

media devices, body fluids, hair, cigarettes, tobacco, vehicles, outbuildings, storage units, and

all physical evidence in support of the commission of a crime." Id. at 1.24; Com.'s Ex. D.

Trooper Drzal testified that Trooper Kendiga, of the Pennsylvania State Police Greensburg

Forensic Services Unit, was in charge of processing the scene and collecting the evidence.

5

Trial Tr. 1.24.

Even prior to the officers entering the home, Trooper Drzal could see through an open

door at the rear of the house that the victim's body was lying at the foot of the steps leading

up from the basement. Id. at 1.28. Officers also discovered the victim's GMC Envoy SUV,

license plate number HNW5410, parked near the back door. Id. at 1.28-29; Com.' s Ex. G.

Trooper Drzal testified that Commonwealth's Exhibit H accurately depicts what he observed

as he peered down the basement steps from outside the house: there are "[ c]ement steps

leading down into the basement. There's a large pool of blood, looks like on the first two

steps, and Tory Minnick is ... covered up with a white sheet. There's also some blood on

the ... brick walls leading down into the basement." Id. at 1.31. The sheet had not been placed

over the body when Trooper Drzal arrived; his understanding was that the first responding

medical personnel placed it there. Id.

Somerset County Coroner Wallace Miller completed the victim's death certificate; he

listed her time of death as 9: 15 p.m. on March 25, 2011 and concluded that the cause of death

was "traumatic shock" and "gunshot wound to the head." Com.'s Ex. I. Medical Examiner

Karl E. Williams, M.D., M.P.H., and Ashley Zezulak, M.D., conducted an autopsy on the

victim and concluded, "Tory Minnick, a 21 year old white female, died as a result of a

gunshot wound to the head. A second gunshot wound injury to the head cannot be determined

due to absence of facial bones and tissue secondary to postmortem animal activity." Com. 's

Ex. J, pg. 3. The "animal activity" in the Medical Examiner's report refers to the fact that one

of the two dogs which had been confined to cages in the basement had gotten out of the cage

and had begun to eat at the victim's neck and face. Trial Tr. 1.35-1.36.

Tory's father, Robert Minnick, testified that in March, 2011, he, his wife, his sister-in-

6

law, and his mother-in-law lived at the 405 Cherry Street residence in Meyersdale,

Pennsylvania. Id. at 1.42. During that period, while Tory was welcome home at any time,

and still had her bedroom furnished for her, and she "would stay [at 405 Cherry Street on]

weekends from time to time and go back and forth ... at that point in time, she was living with

Erin." Id. at 1.43.

Prior to Tory's relationship with Defendant, Tory had dated a man, Kody Donaldson,

during high school and also for a time while they attended Allegheny Community College.

Id. at 1.45. Mr. Donaldson left Allegheny Community College after his first year, and Tory

left in the middle of her second year. Id. at 1.45-1.46. Tory's relationship with Mr.

Donaldson had been serious enough that the Minnicks allowed Mr. Donaldson to live in their

home for a year, and they considered him a part of the household. Mr. Donaldson had even

asked for the Minnicks' consent to marry Tory, which they gave. Id. at 1.46. Mr. Donaldson

had also bought Tory a dog, a German Shepard mix, which lived with the Minnicks (and

which was not one of the dogs at the Everett residence on the night of the homicide). Id. at

1.47. However, Tory's relationship with Mr. Donaldson was also a tumultuous one; they

would argue frequently, Tory would break into tears, and eventually Mr. Minnick told Tory

that Mr. Donaldson was no longer welcome at their home. Id. at 1.48-1.49.

Defendant, twenty-five years old at the time of the homicide, met Tory in 2009 while

the two were working as Certified Nursing Assistants at a nursing home. Trial Tr. 2.304-

2.306, Nov. 13, 2014. In June or July of that year, Defendant asked Tory via text if she would

be interested in pursuing a same-sex relationship. Tory agreed, and the two began a

relationship that included getting together and eating, going for drives, texting each other, and

physical intimacy. Id. at 2.306-2.307.

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Because Defendant's mother was disapproving of Defendant's same-sex relationship,

when Defendant and Tory decided to move in together, they began living not at the Everett

residence, but with Defendant's cousin, Beth Ferguson, and her then-fiance Billy Nair. Id. at

2.308. Defendant and Tory eventually acquired two dogs, which were not allowed at Beth's

and Billy's house, so Defendant and Tory moved from that house into the Everett residence.

Id. at 2.309. Defendant testified that she proposed to Tory and Tory accepted; and that there

was an engagement ring. Id. at 2.310; Def.'s Ex. 2. As late as fall of 2010, Tory had written a

note to Defendant stating, "Will you be Erin Minnick forever? I love you alot and get that

smile off your face! Love, Tory." Def.'s Ex. 5.

Defendant testified that she and Tory worked opposing weekends at the nursing home.

Trial Tr. 2.315, Nov. 13, 2014. Because Defendant's parents disapproved of the relationship,

the atmosphere was tense at the Everett residence, and Tory indicated she did not feel

comfortable staying there without Defendant present. Id. at 2.317. So on the weekends, when

Defendant was working, Tory would purportedly spend that time at the Minnick residence;

Defendant later found out, however, that this was untrue. Id. After Christmas of 2010, Tory

began returning to Meyersdale more frequently, even on days when she had to work. Id. at

2.319.

On March 25, 2011, while Tory slept at the Everett residence, Defendant waited for

her parents to leave the residence, and in Defendant's words, "I went up and I got the gun out

of my dad's gun cabinet .. .I loaded it, took it back downstairs and I shot her in the head .. .I

went back up the stairs and removed the bullets and put the bullets in another room and put

the gun back in the cabinet. . .I went back downstairs and she was still making noises, so I

went and I got the hammer and I hit her in the head." Id. at 2.337. Defendant stated that she

8

used a hammer because it was the first thing she saw, and she "panicked." Id. Defendant

then "went upstairs and I pulled her vehicle around to the ... back basement door. I opened the

door and went in and I drug her off the bed over to the basement steps .. .I left her lay there

and I went upstairs and I broke the window out of the front door." Id. at 2.338. She then

called her mother and concocted a story about an intruder. Id. at 2.339-2.40.

After reporting her fabricated home invasion story, Defendant was transported to the

hospital. Thereafter, Trooper Joel Penatzer, from the Ebensburg Barracks of the Pennsylvania

State Police, arrived at the scene. Id. at 2.215. Trooper Penatzer testified that the officers had

received some information from the hospital which led them "to believe that [they] needed to

speak more in depth with Erin ... and [he] was summoned to the barracks to interview her."

Id. at 2.218. As Trooper Penatzer stated, "We already had some preliminary facts and

information from the scene coming back and forth and we decided to go in and attempt to get

an interview from Miss Everett and allow her to give her version of the events that day." Id.

at2.219.

Shortly thereafter, Defendant provided a written statement, authored at 5:22 p.m. on

March 25, 2011. That first written statement, which contains the false home invasion

narrative, states in relevant part:

I got back in bed with Tory and fell back asleep. Then all of a

sudden I heard someone coming down the basement steps .. .It

was a black figure dressed all in black. I said, "You need to get

out of my house." And he just looked at me. Then he said, "I

came for her." As soon as he said that Tory woke up. He said,

"If you don't come with me, you will face the consequences."

Tory said I don't want to be with you. Then he said it again. I

said "you need to get out of here." He ... started grabbing her

wrists ... he threw me back down on the bed ... and hit me with

something. Tory said, "Lave her alone," and he hit her in the

face with something ... He kept on beating her. .. I got back up

again and he ... tried to tie black zip ties around my ankles. I

9

kicked him away and he rolled me off the bed on the floor ... and

I heard two shots. Then he wrapped her in the blanket and

started pulling her off the bed ... and started dragging her

towards the cellar steps.

Com.'s Ex. X, pg. 2. This written statement was made after Defendant had been properly

given Miranda warnings. Com. 's Ex. Y, pgs. 4-6. After Troopers Penatzer and Bernard read

the statement, they decided "Trooper Bernard, being a female officer, would initiate the

interview; and then we went in and asked Erin ... to again tell us her recollection of the events

that day as they happened and then [we] noted various discrepancies between her written

statement and verbal statement." Trial Tr. 2.229, Nov. 13, 2014.

In the interview, Defendant again related to the police her story about the home

invasion. Trial Tr. 2.224. Toward the end of Defendant's account, the troopers confronted

her with the inconsistencies between her story and the evidence that had been gathered thus

far. Com. 's Ex. Y, pgs. 56-63. We reproduce infra some of the salient parts of Defendant's

confession from the interview:

Trooper Penatzer: [ ... ] [N]ow is your chance to put this in your light, in

the best light. Like I said, neither one of us think

you meant to kill her ... I think now that you need to

tell us how this happened. Where did you get the

gun from?

Erin Everett: It was upstairs.

[ ... ]

Trooper Penatzer: At what point did it get so bad that you had to shoot

her?

Erin Everett: Um, that I found out that, that she was talking to

Cody ... And that she was still sleeping with Cody.

[ ... ]

Trooper Bernard: How did ... the whole thing start? Was she awake

10

when you shot her or was she .. .laying in bed

sleeping?

Erin Everett: She was laying in bed.

Trooper Bernard: And she was sleeping right?

Erin Everett: Yeah.

[ ... J

Trooper Bernard: And, and what made you make the decision to go

upstairs and get the gun?

Erin Everett: When he texted her the other day and asked if she

was coming to Meyersdale this weekend and staying

with him.

[ ... J

Trooper Bernard: Okay. At what point today did you decide to go

upstairs and get the gun?

Erin Everett: After my parents left.

Trooper Bernard: Okay. Was she sleeping at that point?

Erin Everett: Mm-hmm.

Trooper Bernard: How soon after your parents left did you go and get

the gun?

Erin Everett: Um, maybe, I don't know, 20 minutes maybe; 15, 20

minutes.

Trooper Bernard: What did you do between the time your parents left

and you went to get the gun?

Erin Everett: I was just sitting downstairs. Thinking.

Trooper Bernard: Where were you sitting?

Erin Everett: On the bed.

Trooper Bernard: Beside her - [ ... ] - while she was sleeping?

11

Erin Everett: Mm-hmm ... Yeah, she slept the whole time.

Trooper Bernard: And what were you thinking about?

Erin Everett: Thinking about how much I wanted to be with her

and all that.

[ ...]

Trooper Bernard: And where did you shoot her the first time?

Erin Everett: Um, in the head.

Trooper Bernard: [ ... ] And then what did you do?

Erin Everett: And then she was moaning and everything, and, and

I felt bad ... And, and I panicked. I should have just

called 911 right there. But obviously I

panicked ... Then, then I shot her again... Then I drug

her off [sic] the bed and tried to drag her up the

steps. Then that's when I called my mom.

[ ... ]

Trooper Bernard: You hit her in the head with something?

Erin Everett: Yeah, a hammer.

[ ... ]

Trooper Penatzer: I have to ask. If you've already shot her twice ... is

she still moaning or is she gone?

Erin Everett: No, she was gurgling.

Trooper Penatzer: She was gurgling.

Erin Everett: Right.

Trooper Penatzer: So while she's gurgling ...

Erin Everett: I hit her and that, and then she stopped.

[ ... ]

Trooper Penatzer: How many times did you hit her with a hammer?

12

Erin Everett: I, I think twice.

Trooper Penatzer: And where did you hit her at?

Erin Everett: Mm, like in the face area.

Trooper Bernard: Why'd you hit her with the hammer?

Erin Everett: Because, because she was gurgling. And honestly,

she was suffering.

Com.'s Ex. Y, pgs. 64-71, 109-11. Defendant afterward produced a second written statement

in which she again confessed. Trial Tr. 2.237, Nov. 13, 2014; Com.'s Ex. Z.

Based on Defendant's initial fabricated report, Trooper Drzal applied for an additional

warrant for the search and seizure of "[a]ny and all flesh, body fluids including blood and

saliva along with clothing, fingernail scrapings, hair, fibers, on the person of Erin Nicole

EVERETT, w/n/f, d.o.b. 12/22/1985." Trial Tr. 1.26, Nov. 12, 2014; Com.'s Ex. F. DNA

analysis, conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Forensic Services, Forensic

DNA Division, revealed, inter alia, that blood on the "left knee area of the gray sweatpants

from Erin Everett," and on "the claw end of the hammer" matched victim; and that "the DNA

profile obtained from the swab of the trigger, cylinder release, hammer, and front and back of

the grip of the Ruger revolver" is consistent with a mixture matching Defendant's DNA

profile. Com.'s Ex. Q, pg. 2.

Defendant admitted during her police interview that she had been thinking of

committing this crime for "like a week or two," and that it was not a constant thought but,

rather, it came and went. Com.'s Ex. Y, pg. 85-86. When Trooper Penatzer asked if there

was "a catalyst. .. that finally brought it to a head," Defendant replied, "Just whenever he

[Kody] said [to Tory] about sleeping with her and stuff. And then, and then Billy told me just

to go do it." Id. at 87. Defendant stated she had text-messaged Billy Nair for "advice" and,

13

per Defendant, "He said just kill her and, and then he told me to send him a picture of the

body whenever I did it." Id. Defendant also told police that Mr. Nair said he would aid

Defendant in getting rid of the victim's body and that he was thinking about putting the

victim's body in an "inferno." Id. Defendant expressed her belief that Mr. Nair believed

Defendant was serious about committing the murder. Id. at 89. We reproduce below, in part,

excerpts from the text exchange between Defendant and Mr. Nair which occurred on the night

preceding the murder:

Defendant to Mr. Nair: Can I buy shells for a gun? Even though I don't own one

Mr. Nair to Defendant: Yea Y

Defendant to Mr. Nair: JW

Mr. Nair to Defendant: 0 did U kill Tory yet-

Defendant to Mr. Nair: That's what the shells R for

[ ... ]

Defendant to Mr. Nair: I just gotta figure out how to use my dads gun.

[ ... ]

Mr. Nair to Defendant: Well send me a pie of it and I'll explain how 2 when RU

shooting her

Defendant to Mr. Nair: In the morn

[ ... ]

Mr. Nair to Defendant: Where at in the basement

Defendant to Mr. Nair: Yep

[ ... ]

Defendant to Mr. Nair: She is sleeping there tom morning. That's Y I gotta figure

this gun out

14

[ ... ]

Defendant to Mr. Nair: Should I go to Wal-Mart or Gander Mt to get shells

[ ... ]

Mr. Nair to Defendant: And go to Gander

[ ... ]

Defendant to Mr. Nair: There should be no reason YI can't buy shells right

Mr. Nair to Defendant: Shouldn't Band a pie of the bdoy and I'd like to see one of

U fully nude 2 nite

[ .... ]

[sic]. Com.'s Ex. M.

Mr. Nair admitted that he had engaged in this text exchange with Defendant. Trial Tr.

1.111, Nov. 12, 2014. "A couple [of] weeks" prior to the text exchange, Defendant had

indicated to Mr. Nair that she knew that Kody wanted to re-establish a relationship with Tory.

Id. at 1.112. According to Mr. Nair, "[Defendant] said that she ... wanted Tory and no one else

could have her, and she was going to take care of that. And ... [ n]othing was said after that up

until the 241h whenever she asked me ab.out buying shells and how to load a gun." Id. at

1.112-13. Mr. Nair denied that he thought, at the time of the text exchange, that Defendant

was serious about shooting Tory. Id. at 1.113.

Mr. Nair denied that he had made sexual advances toward Defendant. Id. at 1.121.

However, during the text exchange at issue, a photograph of a penis was sent from Mr. Nair's

phone to Defendant's phone. Id. at l.122-23. Mr. Nair denied that the penis was his. Id. at

l.122. He testified that someone else was also using his phone at this time. Id. Mr. Nair

testified that he had told the District Attorney the "[l]ast time her and I spoke" that someone

else had been using his phone. Id. at l.123-24. According to Mr. Nair, the identity of the

15

person who sent the photo and message was Mr. Nair's co-worker and roommate, Matt Hays.

Id. at 1.128. Mr. Nair allowed this to occur, purportedly because he knew Defendant was

homosexual, but believed homosexuality is morally wrong, and wanted to facilitate

Defendant's transition to heterosexuality by promoting a relationship between Defendant and

Mr. Hays. Id. at 1.133.

Defense counsel stated, "This particular piece of testimony is news to me. If this was

information provided to the District Attorney ... this ... tends to be a grave violation ... under the

circumstances." Id. at 1.124. Defendant thus moved for a mistrial "for lack of disclosure of

evidence," which we denied. Id. at 1.128. The motion was renewed and again denied. Id. at

1.142-43.

Mr. Nair indicated that when Defendant had asked whether she would have a problem

buying the ammunition, he responded with the message "Shouldn't B and a picture of the

[body]. According to Mr. Nair, he then, mid-text, handed the phone to Mr. Hays, who texted,

"and I'd like to see one of U fully nude 2 nite[.]" Id. at 1.146-47. At one point, Defendant

asked Mr. Nair if he was sleeping, and Mr. Nair responded, "No, ma'am, I ain't. I have a

migraine like crazy," to which Defendant replied, "When you see my naked body, you won't

have a migraine." Id. at 1.150. When asked how Defendant would know who was using the

phone on the other end, Mr. Nair responded, "Beats me." Id. at 1.152.

After the text exchange, Defendant went to Gander Mountain; bought ammunition for

the gun; went home; sent Mr. Nair a picture of a gun to find out how to load and use it; went

to work, and ended her shift at 7:00 a.m., the same time as the victim. Trial Tr. 2.335, Nov.

13, 2014. Defendant and the victim ate breakfast together at Eat 'n Park; the victim went to

Defendant's family's house, set her alarm for 11 :00 a.m., and went to sleep. Id. at 2.336. The

16

victim's phone alarm went off at 11 :00 a.m., and she set the alarm to "snooze". Id. at 2.337.

Defendant waited for her parents to leave the house; she then retrieved the gun; and, while the

victim slept, committed this murder in the manner described supra.

III. ANALYSIS.

A. OurPreclusion of Defense Expert'sTestimony.

Defendant's first allegation of error is that we improperly granted the

Commonwealth's motion in limine to exclude the testimony of defense expert, Dr. Antoinette

Petrazzi Woods. Concise Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal, 1 (hereinafter

"Def. 's Statement"). We stated the reasons for granting the Commonwealth's motion in a

Memorandum dated July 23, 2013 (Cascio, P.J.).

As noted, supra, on February 12, 2013 we directed that "any remaining pretrial issues

or motions be filed on or before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1, 2013, or be precluded." On

April 1, 2013, the Commonwealth filed a brief in support of its motion in limine, but as of

that date, it had overlooked filing the motion in limine itself. We held that the

Commonwealth was not precluded from filing a motion in limine after our March 1 deadline

because, while a motion in limine may be filed pre-trial, it is also a motion which may be filed

during the occurrence of a trial. Therefore, because our order did not specify that motions in

limine were specifically included, but rather only addressed by its own wording pre-trial

motions, we found that the Commonwealth's motion in limine was not untimely.

Further, Battered Women's Syndrome ("BWS") and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

("PTSD") are relevant, and evidence of such is admissible, only when a claim of self-defense

has been raised. In this case, because the facts did not support a claim of self-defense, no

testimony regarding BWS or PTSD was permissible under Pennsylvania law. Consequently,

17

Defendant's expert testimony was not permitted to testify. We also found, alternatively, that

even if BWS or PTSD testimony were permissible here, Defendant's expert was not qualified

to testify to such; and moreover, Defendant's expert had not even found that Defendant met

all of the criteria for BWS or PTSD.

We reproduce our Memorandum, inclusive of footnotes and nearly in its entirety,

below:

This case comes before us on the Commonwealth's

Motion In Limine to preclude expert testimony regarding

Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) and/or Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder (PTSD). For the reasons that follow, the

Commonwealth's Motion is granted. [ ... ]

Timeliness of the Commonwealth's Motion

At the outset, we will address Defendant's averment in

his Reply to the Commonwealth's Motion In Limine that this

Court cannot properly consider the Commonwealth's Motion as

it is time barred. Reply ~~ 6-8. By Order dated February 12,

2013, this Court directed that "all pretrial issues or motions be

filed by 4:00 P.M. on Friday, March 1, 2013 or be precluded."

The Commonwealth filed its Brief in Support of Motion In

Limine to Preclude Expert Testimony Regarding BWS and/or

PTSD on April 1, 2013 and, though attached to the Brief, the

Motion In Limine itself was not filed separately until June 11,

2013.

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has held that a

"motion in limine is a procedure for obtaining a ruling on the

admissibility of evidence prior to or during trial, but before the

evidence has been offered." Commonwealth v. Johnson, 582

A.2d 336, 337 (Pa. Super. 1990), affd, 626 A.2d 514 (1993)

(emphasis added). Because a motion in limine may be filed

prior to or during trial, it is not solely a "pretrial motion."

Accordingly, motions in limine including the

Commonwealth's Motion in Limine to Preclude Expert

Testimony Regarding BWS and/or PTSD - were not

encompassed by this Court's February 12, 2013 Order3.

3

Rule 578 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, relating to Omnibus Pretrial Motions for Relief,

states:

18

Therefore, the Commonwealth's June 11, 2013 Motion In

Limine is not time-barred and may properly be considered by

this Court.

Commonwealth's Motion in Limine

The Commonwealth's Motion in Limine presents two

(2) separate issues: (1) whether testimony relating to Battered

Woman Syndrome (BWS) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress

Disorder (PTSD) should be prohibited, and (2) whether

Defendant's proposed expert is unqualified as an expert in

BWS ....

A. Testimony concerning BWS and/orPTDS

In Pennsylvania, the seminal case concerning the

admissibility of evidence of Battered Woman's Syndrome

(BWS) and the use of expert testimony regarding BWS is

Commonwealth v. Miller, 634 A.2d 614 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1993).

In Miller, the Superior Court recognized that BWS had not been

adopted as a separate defense to homicide in Pennsylvania and

that the use and acceptability of BWS evidence was unclear. Id.

at 620. Ultimately, after reviewing two appellate court cases,

the Superior Court held the following:

[BWS) does not represent a defense to homicide

in and of itself, but rather, is a type of evidence

which may be introduced on the question of the

reasonable belief requirement of self-defense in

cases which involve a history of abuse between

the victim and the defendant. . . . [E]xpert

testimony regarding a "battered person

syndrome" [is] relevant to the [defendant's] state

of mind and [is] not introduced to bolster the

credibility of the defendant, but rather, to aid the

jury in evaluating the defendant's state of mind

given the abusive environment which existed.

Commonwealth v. Miller, 634 A.2d 614, 621-22 (Pa. Super. Ct.

1993) (citing Commonwealth v. Stonehouse, 555 A.2d 772 (Pa.

The omnibus pretrial motion rule is not intended to limit other types of

motions, oral or written, made pretrial or during trial, including those

traditionally called motions in limine, which may affect the admissibility of

evidence or the resolution of other matters. The earliest feasible submissions

and rulings on such motions are encouraged.

Pa. R. Crim. P. 578.

19

1989) and Commonwealth v. Dillon, 598 A.2d 963 (Pa. 1991 )).

In other words, where a defendant has properly raised a self-

defense claim, the defendant may introduce evidence of BWS to

prove the reasonable belief requirement of a self-defense claim.

However. .. before a claim of self-defense" is "properly

in issue at trial, there must be some evidence, from whatever

source, to justify such a finding." Commonwealth v. Black, 376

A.2d 627, 631 (Pa. 1977). It is true that the Commonwealth

bears the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the

defendant was not in fact acting in self-defense, but the defense

itself must first be properly raised. Commonwealth v. Mouzon,

53 A.3d 738, 742 (Pa. 2012) (stating that a claim of self-defense

requires evidence establishing three elements: "(a) [that the

defendant] reasonably believed that he was in an 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.").

[In] Commonwealth v. Grove, 526 A.2d 369 (Pa. Super.

Ct. 1987)... [the Superior] Court determined that "self-defense

was not properly at issue because there was no evidence

presented to establish that [defendant] reasonably believed that

she or any other person was in imminent danger of death or

serious bodily injury on the present occasion when the deadly

force was used." Id. at 372 (emphasis added). Accordingly,

although a history of spousal/partner abuse may be present and

is "certainly a factor to be considered in determining whether an

accused's alleged fear of imminent death or serious bodily

injury is genuine and reasonable, it does not alter the

requirement that the threat of death or serious bodily injury be

imminent on the present occasion." Id. at 373.

4

The use of force upon or toward another person is justifiable when the actor believes that such force

is immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other

person on the present occasion. Additionally a claim of self-defense is further proscribed by the following

conditions:

(1) The slayer must have been free from fault in provoking or continuing

the difficulty which resulted in the killing;

(2) The slayer must have reasonably believed that he was in imminent

danger of death or great bodily harm, and that there was a necessity to

kill in order to save himself therefrom;

(3) The slayer must not have violated any duty to retreat or avoid the

danger.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 505(a).

20

Most importantly, the facts and analysis in Grove are

similar to the present case. In Grove, the defendant and victim

had been married as husband and wife for twenty-two years. Id.

at 371. The facts were undisputed that the victim-husband was

asleep and drunk at the time the defendant-wife shot and set fire

to the victim-husband. Id. The defendant-wife contended that

she acted in self-defense, based upon the "allegation that

throughout her twenty-two year marriage, she and her children

were physically abused by the [victim-husband]" and that "her

perception of danger on the day of [the] incident was directly

affected by the cumulative years of abuse." Id. On appeal,

defendant-wife argued that the trial court improperly prohibited

her from presenting a self-defense claim, and the Superior Court

of Pennsylvania disagreed. Id.

Because there was no evidence, from whatever source,

to justify a finding of self-defense, the Superior Court agreed

with the trial court's ruling that a self-defense claim was not

properly in issue. Id. at 372 (citing Commonwealth v. Brown,

421 A.2d 660, 662 (Pa. 1980)). In fact, the court stated:

[T]he [defendant] in the instant case offered no

evidence whatsoever to establish that she or any

other person was in imminent danger of death or

serious bodily injury on the present occasion

when the deadly force was used. The victim was

not threatening in any manner; rather, it is

undisputed that he was drunk and asleep. While a

history of spousal abuse is certainly a factor to be

considered in determining whether an accused's

alleged fear of imminent death or serious bodily

injury is genuine and reasonable, it does not alter

the requirement that the threat of death or serious

bodily injury be imminent on the present

occasion. Assuming that [ defendantJ was

genuinely and reasonably afraid of her husband,

the fact remains that whatever danger he

presented was not imminent on the present

occasion as he lay sleeping.

Commonwealth v. Grove, 526 A.2d 369, 373 (Pa. Super. 1987)

(emphasis original).

Although the facts of the present case are not as clear

regarding whether the victim was asleep at the time of the

incident, we have found no evidence in the record - from

whatever source - to justify allowing a claim of self-defense to

reach the jury. We note our review of Defendant's purported

expert report. While this report does list approximately five (5)

21

episodes of alleged "battering" by the victim on the Defendant,

the report is devoid of any indication that, even assuming

arguendo that the Defendant was "genuinely and reasonably

afraid" of the victim5, the danger presented by the victim was

imminent on the present occasion. See, Grove, supra.

Moreover, our review of the Affidavit of Probable Cause

provides no evidence and/or indication that the victim presented

any imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the

Defendant or anyone else when the Defendant used deadly force

on the present occasion. As such, because the victim presented

"neither an immediate nor an imminent threat of death or

serious bodily injury on the present occasion when the deadly

force was used", a self-defense claim is not properly in issue in

the instant case. Id. at 375 (emphasis original).

Accordingly, despite the alleged incidents of partner

violence between the victim and the Defendant contained in

Defendant's purported expert report, it is bereft of any

suggestion that the defendant was in fear of imminent death or

bodily harm on the day in question. Because there is no

evidence from any source supporting the contention that the

Defendant was in fear of imminent death or serious bodily

injury on the particular occasion in question, a claim a self-

defense would be improperly placed before the jury and,

therefore, any evidence of BWS relating to Defendants state of

mind would be improperly admitted as well. Therefore, we

must grant the Commonwealth's Motion In Limine to preclude

any testimony - expert or otherwise - regarding Battered

Woman Syndrome (BWS) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress

Disorder (PTSD).6

B. Qualification of Defendant's Expert

Even if this Court were to allow testimony concerning

Battered Woman's Syndrome (BWS) and/or Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder (PTSD), the Commonwealth's Motion In

Limine seeks to prohibit Defendant's purported expert, Dr.

Antoinette Petrazzi-Woods, from being qualified as an expert in

the areas of BWS and/or PTSD.

5

However, we note this assumption is illogical given Defendant's admission during her evaluation with

Defendant's purported expert that she "wasn't scared [of the victim] because [they] didn't fight all the time .... "

6

Our analysis regarding the admissibility of expert testimony as to PTSD is essentially the same. Evidence

pertaining to PTSD may be introduced on the question of the reasonable belief requirement of self-defense

claim. Commonwealth v. Pitts, 740 A.2d 726, 733-34 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999). Like BWS, Pennsylvania courts do

not recognize PTSD as a separate defense to homicide. Id. Accordingly, in order for evidence of PTSD to be

admitted, the threat of danger or death must be imminent on the present occasion when Defendant responds with

deadly force. Id.

22

"The decision to admit or refuse expert testimony lies

within the sound discretion of the trial court," whose decision

will not be reversed absent a clear abuse of that discretion.

Commonwealth v. Johnson, 582 A.2d 336, 337-38 (Pa. Super.

1990) afj'd, 626 A.2d 514 (Pa. 1993). Pennsylvania Rule of

Evidence 702, pertaining to testimony by expert witnesses,

states the following:

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.

According to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Rule

702 involves "two distinct inquiries that must be raised and

developed separately by the parties, and rule upon separately by

the trial courts." Grady v. Frito-Lay, Inc., 839 A.2d 1038, 1046

(Pa. 2003) (citing Commonwealth v. Arroyo, 723 A.2d 162, 170

(Pa. 1999)). The two distinct inquiries are: (1) whether a

witness is qualified to render opinions; and (2) whether his or

her testimony passes the Frye test. Id. The proponent of the

evidence bears the burden of proving all requirements under

Rule 702, including both of the aforementioned inquires. Id.

Regarding the first inquiry, the Pennsylvania Supreme

Court has developed the following rule for qualifying a witness

to testify as an expert: "[W]hether the witness has any

reasonable pretension to specialized knowledge on the subject

under investigation. If he does, he may testify and the weight to

be given to such testimony is for the trier of fact to determine."

Miller v. Brass Rail Tavern, 664 A.2d 525, 528 (Pa. 1995).

Rule 702 further directs that a witness be qualified as an expert

based upon "knowledge, skill, experience, training, or

education." Pa.R.E. 702. Thus, we must determine whether Dr.

23

Antoinette Petrazzi - Woods is qualified as an expert in the field

ofBWS and/or PTSD.

Upon thorough review of Dr. Petrazzi-Woods'

curriculum vitae (CV), it is clear she has Ph.D. in Philosophy,

having majored in Executive Counselor Education and

Supervision in her graduate program after majoring in

Psychology as an undergraduate and states a specialty in Crisis

Intervention and Management. Further, she has served as a

Forensic Evaluator in both civil and criminal proceedings and

has provided testimony as an "expert in the field of psychology

and/or counseling."

However, there is no indication whatsoever that she

possesses any knowledge, skill, experience, training or

education to afford her "specialized knowledge" in the field of

BWS and/or PTSD. See, Miller, supra. Despite her extensive

counseling background, we were unable to locate any training,

education or experience that would allow use to conclude that

Dr. Petrazzi-Woods has "specialized knowledge on the subject

under investigation," i.e., BWS and/or PTSD.

In addition, aside from allegations in Defendant's Brief

that Dr. Petrazzi-Woods has been qualified and permitted to

testify as an expert in these matters in other courts in the

Commonwealth, no detail has been provided in the record or her

CV to support these statements. As such, this Court finds that

she is prohibited from being q,ualified as an expert witness in

the field of BWS and/or PTSD.

As to the second inquiry, the Pennsylvania Supreme

Court has held that "in applying the Frye rule, ... the proponent

of the evidence [ must] prove that the methodology an expert

used is generally accepted by scientists in the relevant field as a

method for arriving at the conclusion the expert will testify to at

trial." Grady, supra at 1046. Although the Commonwealth and

Defendant allocated much time in their briefs as to the

methodology employed by Dr. Petrazzi-Woods, we find this

analysis is a moot point for two reasons: (1) as discussed supra,

Dr. Petrazzi-Woods is unable to be qualified as an expert in

either the field of BWS or PTSD, and (2) she concluded that

Defendant could not be diagnosed with either BWS or PTSD.

Even assuming arguendo that this Court found Dr.

Petrazzi- Woods was qualified as an expert in the field of BWS

and/or PTSD, she concluded that Defendant "does not appear to

7

We note that Defendant argued both in her brief and during argument before this Court that Dr. Petrazzi-Woods

had been qualified in the field of BWS and/PTSD "by other Honorable Courts in the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania." See, Reply j 15. Despite this allegation, Defendant has not provided this Court with any cases

before the Court of this Commonwealth in which Dr. Petrazzi-Woods was qualified as an expert in the

aforementioned fields.

24

meet the full criteria for either [PTSD] or [BWS]." Allowing

her to testify regarding these opinions and conclusions would

violate Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 702(b), which requires

that "the expert's scientific, technical, or other specialized

knowledge will help the trier offact to understand the evidence

or to determine a fact in issue." Pa.R.E. 702(b) (emphasis

added). We find that allowing Dr. Petrazzi-Woods to testify

concerning BWS and/or PTSD as it relates to Defendant would

not help that trier of fact understand the evidence or determine a

fact in issue, because she ultimately found that Defendant

suffers from neither BWS nor PTSD.

Moreover, it is within this Court's discretion to exclude

otherwise relevant evidence "if its probative value is

substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice or

confusion." Sprague v. Walter, 656 A.2d 890, 909 (Pa. Super.

1995). Allowing testimony regarding BWS and/or PTSD in the

present case would unfairly confuse or mislead the jury to

believe that Defendant suffers from either diagnosis when, in

fact, Defendant's own expert found that Defendant did not meet

the criteria to be diagnosed with either.

Accordingly, we find that Dr. Petrazzi-Woods is

prohibited from being qualified as an expert in the field of either

BWS or PTSD, because she lacks any specialized knowledge,

training, education or experience in the subjects under

investigation. Further, as to the methodology she employed in

evaluating Defendant, we find the analysis unnecessary given

that (1) Dr. Petrazzi-Woods is not qualified as an expert in

BWS and/or PTSD, and (2) she concluded that Defendant did

not suffer from BWS and/or PTSD. In conclusion, we must

grant the Commonwealth's Motion In Limine to prohibit Dr.

Petrazzi-Woods from being qualified as an expert in the field of

BWS and/or PTSD.

Memorandum and Order, July 23, 2013 (Cascio, P.J.).

B. Our Reliance Upon "Improper Evidence" in Precluding Defendant's

Evidence and/or Experts Relating to Her Mental Health, State of Mind, Etc.

This allegation of error appears to be an extension of Defendant's first allegation of

error. As explained above, we found that evidence of BWS/PTSD was inadmissible on

account of there being no viable claim of self-defense in this case. Defendant asserts that this

25

conclusion was based on an erroneous reliance on improper evidence including the affidavit

of probable cause and police reports. Def. 's Statement, 2.

Pa.R.E. 104(a) states, "The court must decide any preliminary question about whether

a witness is qualified, a privilege exists, or evidence is admissible. In so deciding, the court is

not bound by evidence rules, except those on privilege." As the comment to the rule stresses,

[t]he second sentence [permitting the court to step outside of the

rules of evidence to preliminarily determine admissibility of

evidence] ... is based on the premise that, by and large, the law

of evidence is a "child of the jury system" and that the rules of

evidence need not be applied when the judge is the fact finder.

The theory is that the judge should be empowered to hear any

relevant evidence to resolve questions of admissibility.

Cmt. to Pa.R.E. 104; see also, Harris v. Toys "R" Us-Penn, Inc., 880 A.2d 1270, 1278 (Pa.

Super. Ct. 2005).

Defendant had intended to offer Dr. Petrazzi-Woods as an expert to testify as to

BWS/PTSD, and we were authorized under Rule 104(a) to preliminarily determine whether

Dr. Petrazzi-Woods' testimony was admissible (and also whether she was qualified to give an

expert opinion on these issues). And in answering these preliminary questions, we were also

8

entitled to use the relevant "evidence" at our disposal, notwithstanding the rules of evidence.

For the reasons discussed in our Memorandum and Order, July 23, 2013 (Cascio, P.J.),

and in part A supra, we concluded that self-defense was unavailable to Defendant as a matter

of law, thereby precluding admission of Defendant's evidence as to BWS and PTSD. Our

conclusion that self-defense was unavailable to Defendant was based on the facts of this case,

which were at our disposal via affidavits of probable cause, which we were authorized to use

8

We note that the affidavits of probable cause we relied upon were subsequently admitted at trial without

objection. Trial Tr. 1.32, Nov. 12, 2014. Further, the facts we relied on, in finding that self-defense was

unavailable as a matter of law, were undisputed at every point in these proceedings (i.e., the fact that the victim

had been sleeping at the time Defendant shot and bludgeoned her).

26

in answering preliminary questions of admissibility of evidence, pursuant to Pa.RE. 104(a)

and Pennsylvania case law.

C. ProsecutorialMisconduct.

Defendant next claims the District Attorney "committed prosecutorial misconduct by

having ex parte communications with the court during bench trial proceedings by informing

the Judge in Chambers immediately prior to Defendant's mother's testimony, that she had

attempted to smuggle handcuff keys into the jail in the Defendant's court clothing thereby

prejudicing the Court as to the witness[.]" Def.'s Statement, 2.

We believe this issue has been waived because no objection was made at the time of

trial; it is also our understanding that Defendant has withdrawn this allegation of error. Still:

we addressed this issue in our prior 1925(a) Opinion, dated March 5, 2015, which we

reproduce below:

I suggest that this issue has been waived because no objection

was made at the time of trial. See, Commonwealth v. Smith, 606

A.2d 939, 942 (Pa. Super. 1992) ("To preserve an issue for

review, a party must make a timely and specific objection at

trial. .. "). Further, I wish to clarify that it was a sheriffs deputy,

and later the warden of the county jail, who informed me of the

key being found in the shoe. After informing me of the

incident, the warden inquired whether I would continue to

permit the Defendant to appear in court in dress clothes. I

answered in the affirmative. The District Attorney was not

involved in the process in any manner. In any event, the

incident did not at all prejudice me against the Defendant's

mother.

Statement Pursuant to Rule 1925 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure, March 5,

2015 (Geary, J.). We also clarify that no ex parte communications occurred between the

District Attorney and the court, because as soon as the District Attorney sought to discuss any

aspect of this issue with us afterward, we sent for defense counsel.

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D. Denial of a Mistrial Based on an Alleged "Third Witness".

Defendant next contends that it was error for us to not grant a mistrial "when during

testimony it was discovered that there was an alleged third witness who may have provided

exculpatory evidence [and who wasJ known [toJ the District Attorney who never disclosed the

information to the [d]efense, yet admitted to [said] knowledge during the bench trial[.]"

Def. 's Statement, 2. Defendant here refers to Matt Hays who was supposedly present during

the time when Mr. Nair was exchanging text messages with Defendant relating to the

impending murder. We addressed this contention in our prior 1925(a) Opinion, dated March

5, 2015, which we quote verbatim below:

I denied the Defendant's motion for mistrial because no

manifest reason existed to grant the motion. Pa.R.Crim.P. 605.

During the testimony of William Nair, it came to light that

another person may have been with Nair at the time that he was

texting the Defendant on the night before the murder. See Trial

Transcript pp. 1.123-1.128. According to Nair, he was texting

the Defendant concerning her plan to kill Tory Minnick.

Present with Nair at that time was his roommate, Matt Hays,

who allegedly was sexually interested in the Defendant. Again,

according to Nair, Hays used Nair's cell phone to take a photo

of his penis and text the photo to the Defendant. Nair stated

that he first told the District Attorney about the existence of

Hays during his last conversation with her before the trial.

Defense counsel requested a sidebar at which he complained

that the Commonwealth had not disclosed to the defense that

another person may have been with Nair at the time of the text

conversation. The District Attorney stated that she first learned

of Nair's claim about two weeks before trial. She went on to

explain that she did not believe Nair's story, figuring it to be

nothing more than Nair attempting to explain-for the benefit

of his fiancee=.how a picture of a penis was sent from his

phone to the Defendant. The District Attorney said that she did

not follow up on the matter because she did not believe Hays

even existed. When defense counsel was asked to explain how

the failure to disclose the information prejudiced the Defendant,

counsel argued that the Defendant was denied an opportunity to

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investigate the Hays matter herself. Defense counsel was

understandably at a loss to articulate how being able to identify

the true owner of the penis would have been favorable to the

Defendant. Defense counsel then moved for a mistrial "for lack

of disclosure of evidence," which we interpreted as a claimed

due process violation under Brady v. Maryland, 83 S.Ct. 1194

(1963).

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has stated that "there are three

necessary components that demonstrate a violation of the Brady

strictures: the evidence was favorable to the accused, either

because it is exculpatory or it impeaches; the evidence was

suppressed by the prosecution, either willfully or inadvertently;

and prejudice ensued." Commonwealth v. Lambert, 884 A.2d

848, 854 (Pa. 2005). "Brady does not require the disclosure of

information 'that is not exculpatory but might merely form the

groundwork for possible arguments or defenses."'

Commonwealth v. Paddy, 15 A.3d 431, 450 (Pa. 20ll)(quoting

Lambert, supra at 856). "Similarly, Brady does not require the

prosecution to disclose 'every fruitless lead' considered during

the investigation of a crime." Paddy, at 450 (quoting Lambert,

supra at 875).

In this case, I concluded the Defendant had failed to

demonstrate that the undisclosed evidence was favorable to her

and that she had been prejudiced by its nondisclosure.

Therefore, I denied her motion for a mistrial.

Statement Pursuant to Rule 1925 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure, March 5,

2015 (Geary, J.).

While we have suggested, both at trial and in our prior 1925(a) Opinion, that there is

nothing exculpatory about the identity of the owner of the penis pictured in the text message

sent to Defendant-nor about the fact that Matt Hays had also been present while Mr. Nair

text messaged Defendant-we also question its relevance. As we noted supra, pages 15-16,

when Defendant received these messages, she clearly believed she was speaking to one

person. This is made evident by the fact that she clearly attributed to Mr. Nair remarks

allegedly attributable to Mr. Hays (e.g., when Mr. Hays asked for a picture of her naked body,

29

and Mr. Nair subsequently indicated he had a migraine, Defendant remarked that the picture

of her body would resolve Mr. Nair's migraine).

There is no issue as to whether the text messages were sent from Mr. Nair's phone;

nor as to whether Defendant received them and used the information in those text messages to

assist her in committing the murder. Therefore, we fail to see how the alleged presence of

another person on Mr. Nair's end of the communications could exculpate Defendant. The

facts of this case, including the steps Defendant took prior to the murder, as well as the text

messages she received, and how those informed her actions, are unchanged regardless of

whom she was communicating with-and, further, the alleged communications from Mr.

Hays related not to the crime, but to Mr. Hays' alleged sexual interest in Defendant.

E. Our"Fail[ure] to Mitigate ... Defendant'sLevel of Guilt .... ".

Defendant also asserts that we committed error in "failing to mitigate ... [her] level of

guilt by failing to take into consideration the level and magnitude of aide [sic] provided by

William Nair, who encouraged, advised, counseled, and otherwise enticed Defendant to carry

out the crime in her distraught state of mind .... " Def.'s Statement, 2-3.

We understand Defendant to be arguing that not only did we fail to take into

consideration "the level and magnitude of aide provided by William Nair," but that if we had

taken such aid into account, we would have found Mr. Nair to be a conspirator to Defendant's

crimes, and we therefore would have convicted Defendant of conspiracy. Because we

declined to convict Defendant of conspiracy, the argument apparently goes, we must have

failed to adequately consider Mr. Nair's involvement in the crime. We address the conspiracy

argument first.

Conspiracy occurs when a person:

30

(1) agrees with such other person or persons that they or one or

more of them will engage in conduct which constitutes such

crime or an attempt or solicitation to commit such crime; or

(2) agrees to aid such other person or persons in the planning or

commission of such crime or of an attempt or solicitation to

commit such crime.

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 903(a). Conspiracy thus requires an agreement between persons to

commit a crime. However, "[i]n proving conspiracy, direct and positive testimony is not

necessary .. .Indeed, the very nature of the crime of conspiracy makes it susceptible to proof

usually by circumstantial evidence." Commonwealth v. Davenport, 452 A.2d 1058, 1060 (Pa.

Super. Ct. 1982). To ascertain whether an agreement has occurred, "courts have traditionally

looked to the relation, conduct, and circumstances of the parties and the overt acts of the co-

conspirators in order to find a corrupt confederation." Id. Still, the "necessary ingredient of

evidence sufficient to support a conspiracy conviction is proof beyond a reasonable doubt of a

conspiratorial agreement." Commonwealth v. Dolfi, 396 A.2d 635, 637 (Pa. 1979).

Here, we did not find that the evidence established beyond a reasonable doubt that

there was an agreement between Mr. Nair and Defendant to commit murder. There is no

question that Mr. Nair provided information to Defendant via text message which she used to

commit the murder. However, Mr. Nair testified at trial that while he provided said

information to Defendant, he did not think that she was seriously going to go through with the

act. If, looking back on it, he were able to do something different on March 24, 2011, he

stated he would "use my head a little bit better. Not told her how to load that firearm; and ... if

I thought she was serious about it, I'd have called the State Police and maybe that girl's life

would have been saved right now." Trial Tr. 1.119., Nov. 12, 2014. Mr. Nair also testified

that he "told her that spending her life in prison was not worth doing that." Id. at 1.129. He

31

explained that he sent this message to Defendant discouraging her from going through with

committing the murder because "half of me was hopin' that she wouldn't do it; and the other

half thought: Well, maybe she's just crazy enough to do it." Id. at 1.158. Mr. Nair stated, "If

I could go back and redo it all, I would have called the state cops regardless if I was in

Somerset or 70-something miles away in Bentleyville [which is where he was located at the

time]." Id. at 1.159.

We note that "[i]n criminal proceedings, the credibility of witnesses and weight of

evidence are determinations that lie solely with the trier of fact, [which] is free to believe all,

part, or none of the evidence." Commonwealth v. Lewis, 911 A.2d 558, 566 (Pa. Super. Ct.

2006). We found credible Mr. Nair's testimony that he was at least partially in doubt as to

whether Defendant was going to follow through with commission of the murder. And

between Mr. Nair's testimony, and the ambiguity inherent in text messages (wherein one must

judge another person's true meaning without the aid of vocal tones, facial gestures, body

language, etc.), we found that there was not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable

doubt that there was an agreement between Mr. Nair and Defendant (particularly on Mr.

Nair's end) to murder Tory Minnick. However, the fact that we did not find a conspiracy

between Defendant and Mr. Nair does not logically preclude us from considering mitigating

circumstances.

We did not find convincing Defendant's argument that Mr. Nair enticed her to commit

the murder or that he planted in her mind the idea to commit the murder. To begin with, the

evidence shows that Defendant sought Mr. Nair out for information concerning whether she

could buy shells, how to use the gun, and where to buy ammunition. The evidence further

shows that Defendant formed the idea to murder the victim in the morning while she lay

32

sleeping; even after all of her communications with Mr. Nair, it was Defendant who sat on the

bed next to the victim as she slept, deliberating whether to go through with the murder.

Defense counsel, in presenting mitigating circumstances to the court during argument

near the conclusion of the trial, stated, "We are asking [the court] to recognize that this young

girl should be shown mercy." Trial Tr. 2.356, Nov. 13, 2014. See also, id. at 2.354-55.

Before announcing the verdict, we stated that the emotions Defendant was feeling prior to the

murder "as powerful as they may have been, cannot serve as the basis for mercy now." Id. at

3.370. We continued,

Mercy, after all, is what should have been granted Miss

Minnick as she lay sleeping those last 20 minutes of her life.

Yet, the defendant's mercy was not then forthcoming. Mercy

holds a proper place in our system of justice to be sure; but

sadly, the time for granting mercy in this case has long [passed].

Id. at 3.370.

We further found Defendant's attempts to avoid responsibility incredible; for example:

Defendant initially fabricated a story about an intruder. In her second written confession,

Defendant stated, "I was not in my right state of mind cause I was taking Unisom sleeping

pills and they were making me think weird thoughts or disturbing thoughts," yet when asked

when the last time she took a sleeping pill was and how long the effect usually lasted, she

stated the dosage as "one or two at a time ... once a day," with the last dose being "a couple

days ago," or "last week[;] I didn't take any for awhile," and the effect lasting for "usually a

couple hours." Com.'s Ex. Y, pgs. 115-16. Defendant also stated that Mr. Nair "actually

talked me into going and getting the shells," id. at 80, when the text exchange shows that

Defendant approached Mr. Nair asking if she could buy the ammunition, rather than Mr. Nair

convincing her to go get the ammunition. Com.'s Ex. M.

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Based on the evidence, and our credibility determinations, we could not find beyond a

reasonable doubt that Mr. Nair and Defendant reached an agreement that the murder should

occur; nor are we convinced that, even considering the aid Mr. Nair provided Defendant in a

poor exercise of judgment, that Defendant is any less culpable for having received useful

information. Defendant formed the specific intent to kill at many points along the way to this

murder, most saliently in the fifteen to twenty minutes prior to completing the act. We found

that any aid and encouragement she received does not mitigate her formation of that specific

intent to kill.

F. Verdict Against the Weight of the Evidence.

Lastly, Defendant claims our verdict was against the weight of the evidence. Def.'s

Statement, 3.

When there is a claim that a verdict is against the weight of the evidence, our role "is

to determine that notwithstanding all the facts, certain facts are so clearly of greater weight

that to ignore them or to give them equal weight with all the facts is to deny justice."

Commonwealth v. Clay, 64 A.3d 1049, 1055 (Pa. 2013) (internal quotations and citation

omitted). In other words, we must determine "whether the preponderance of the evidence

opposes the verdict.. .. " Id. at 1056 (internal quotations and citation omitted). We addressed

this matter in our prior 1925(a) Opinion, which we reproduce below:

The Defendant asserts that the verdict was against the weight of

the evidence. However, she does not specify how or why the

verdict is against the weight of the evidence and I am at a loss

to identify the evidence that she believes is a counterweight to a

verdict of first degree murder. The Commonwealth produced

evidence of the Defendant's confession; a death certificate; an

autopsy report to include the manner and cause of death; a

ballistics report; and the handgun used to commit the murder.

Moreover, the Defendant herself testified that she loaded the

handgun and shot the victim in the head while she slept. Trial

34

transcript p. 2.337.

"A verdict is against the weight of the evidence only when the

jury's verdict is so contrary to the evidence as to shock one's

sense of justice." Commonwealth v. Vandivner, 962 A.2d 1170,

1177 (Pa. 2009). I suggest the verdict here was consistent with

the weight of the evidence.

Statement Pursuant to Rule 1925 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure, March 5,

2015 (Geary, J.).

The offense of first-degree murder is defined as follows: "A criminal homicide

constitutes murder of the first degree when it is committed by an intentional killing." 18

Pa.C.S.A.§ 2502(a). Criminal homicide is defined as intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or

negligently causing the death of another human being. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2501. An intentional

killing is "[k]illing by means of poison, or by lying in wait, or by any other kind of willful,

deliberate and premeditated killing." 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502. As we stated when announcing

the verdict:

After having fully considered the testimony of the witnesses and

the exhibits placed into evidence by the Commonwealth and the

defendant, I find that the Commonwealth has proven the

following pertinent facts beyond a reasonable doubt:

No. 1: On March 251h, 2011, at Jerome, Somerset County,

Pennsylvania, the defendant intentionally caused the death of

Tory Minnick by twice shooting her in the head with a .357

caliber handgun. The defendant shot Miss Minnick while Miss

Minnick slept.

No. 2: The defendant first contemplated killing Miss Minnick

about one week before March 251h, 2011.

No. 3: During the evening of March 24th, 201 I , the defendant

informed Billy Nair by way of text message that she intended to

kill Miss Minnick the following morning.

No. 4: During the evening of March 24th, 2011, the defendant

drove to Gander Mountain Sporting Goods Store and purchased

35

with cash a box of 50 cartridges for a .357 handgun.

No. 5: During the evening of March 241h, 2011, the defendant

texted a photo of the .357 caliber handgun to Mr. Nair and

requested that Mr. Nair explain to her how to load and fire the

handgun. Mr. Nair supplied the defendant with the information

that she had requested.

No. 6: Immediately prior to shooting Miss Minnick, the

defendant sat on the bed beside Miss Minnick while she slept;

and for about 15 to 20 minutes, contemplated whether she

should kill Miss Minnick. Ultimately, the defendant made the

conscious decision to go to another floor of the house, retrieve

the handgun, load it, return to the basement where Miss

Minnick slept and shoot Miss Minnick twice.

No. 7: When Miss Minnick did not immediately expire as a

result of the gunshots, the defendant struck Miss Minnick in the

head twice with a hammer causing her to finally expire.

The elements of the offense of murder of the first degree are as

follows:

First: A person is dead;

Second: The defendant killed that person;

[T]hird: The defendant did so with the specific intent to

kill and with malice.

Here, I find that the defendant's text message to Billy Nair

indicating that she intended to kill Miss Minnick and the

preliminary steps taken by the defendant to bring about the

killing and the manner in which the defendant killed Miss

Minnick, taken together, clearly demonstrate that the defendant

possessed the specific intent to kill with malice.

Trial Tr. 3.369-70, Nov. 14, 2014. While Defendant's specific intent to kill can properly be

said to have arisen at multiple times (e.g., when she text messaged Mr. Nair; when she

purchased the cartridges; when she retrieved the gun, etc.), we believe without a doubt that

Defendant formed the specific intent to kill in the fifteen to twenty minutes she spent sitting

on the bed beside the sleeping victim, when Defendant, by her own admission, deliberated

36

over whether to murder the victim while she slept.

No evidence was adduced which, if believed, would counterbalance these facts.

Therefore, we submit that the verdict here was consistent with the weight of the evidence.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Dated: March 7, 2016

37