Com. v. Helfrich, J.

• Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: September 30, 2014
• Docket: 2201 MDA 2013
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

J-S51039-14

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA Appellee : : v. : : JOANN NMN HELFRICH, : : Appellant : No. 2201 MDA 2013

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence entered on November 26, 2012 in the Court of Common Pleas of York County, Criminal Division, No. CP-67-CR-0006875-2010

BEFORE: BOWES, OTT and MUSMANNO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

sentence imposed following her conviction of murder of the first degree.

See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(a). We affirm.

On October 12, 2010, Helfrich shot her boyfriend, the victim, eight

times, in their shared apartment. The victim died as a result of the gunshot

wounds. Helfrich was arrested and charged with murder of the first degree.

Order denying his Motion to Withdraw in this Court. This Court quashed the

appeal as interlocutory. Helfrich filed a Motion for Reconsideration, which

was denied. Helfrich filed a Petition for allowance of appeal with the J-S51039-14

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which was denied on July 10, 2012. See

Commonwealth v. Helfrich, 48 A.3d 1247 (Pa. 2012).

Helfrich attempted to enter a negotiated guilty plea to murder of the

third degree, in exchange for a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison, plus

costs and restitution. However, the trial court did not accept the plea. The

case proceeded to a jury trial, after which Helfrich was convicted of murder

of the first degree. The trial court sentenced Helfrich to the mandatory term

would not continue to work on her case if they did not receive payment.

post-sentence rights were reinstated on July 3, 2013. Helfrich filed a post-

sentence Motion. The trial court denied the Motion on November 8, 2013.

Helfrich subsequently filed a timely Notice of Appeal. Helfrich then filed a

court-ordered Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b) Concise

Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal.

On appeal, Helfrich raises the following questions for our review:

I. Was t

the criminal act of [m]urder [of] the [f]irst [d]egree?

presented by the Commonwealth?

III. Did the trial court commit reversible legal error when it allowed the Commonwealth to introduce evidence at trial regarding a set of keys that had not been properly preserved?

-2- J-S51039-14

IV. Did the trial court commit reversible legal error when it denied [Helfrich] the right to plead guilty?

V. Did the trial court commit reversible legal error when it did not allow trial counsel to withdraw prior to trial, despite

Brief for Appellant at 5 (issues renumbered for ease of disposition).

In her first claim, Helfrich asserts that the evidence was insufficient to

Id. at 18-

20. Specifically, Helfrich claims that the evidence relating to specific intent

and malice was insufficient, as she merely fired shots at a person whom she

thought was an intruder. Id. at 19-20.1

evidence, and all reasonable inferences deducible from that, viewed in the

light most favorable to the Commonwealth as verdict winner, are sufficient

Commonwealth v. Kinney, 863 A.2d 581, 584 (Pa. Super. 2004).

In order for a jury to find a defendant guilty of murder of the first

human being was unlawfully killed, that the accused was responsible for the

killing, and that the accused acted with a specific intent to kill

Commonwealth v. Pagan, 950 A.2d 270, 279 (Pa. 2008); see also 18

Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(a).

1 Helfrich concedes that there was sufficient evidence pertaining to the first two elements of murder of the first degree, as the victim died, and she admitted that she had shot the victim. Brief for Appellant at 19.

-3- J-S51039-14

Moreover, a specific intent to kill may be inferred from the use of a deadly weapon to inflict injury on a vital part of the body. A [a]ny firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or any device designed as a weapon and capable of producing death or serious bodily injury, or any other device or instrumentality which, in the manner in which it is used or is intended to be used, is calculated or likely to produce death or

Pagan, 950 A.2d at 279 (internal citations omitted); see also 18 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 2301.

Here, the Commonwealth presented evidence that Helfrich shot the

victim a total of eight times. N.T., 9/8/12, at 307. The gunshot wounds

lung, aorta, and several veins. Id. at 308-18. One of the officers at the

scene testified that Helfrich told him that she was sleeping in her upstairs

bedroom when she thought she heard an intruder downstairs, and fired the

gun until it was empty. Id. at 128-29. However, the forensic pathology

expert testified that the trajectory of at least some of the bullets suggested

that Helfrich could not have been standing at the top of the stairs shooting

down at the victim. Id. at 309, 311, 317. This evidence, viewed in a light

most favorable to the Commonwealth, was sufficient to establish that

Helfrich intentionally used a deadly weapon on several vital parts of the

the weight of the evidence. Brief for Appellant at 20. Specifically, Helfrich

-4- J-S51039-14

claims that the Commonwealth did not introduce evidence that proved her

intent. Id. at 21. Helfrich argues that while the evidence may support a

verdict of murder of the third degree, the verdict of murder of the first

degree was against the weight of the evidence. Id.2

Our standard of review for a challenge to the weight of the evidence

claims is as follows:

The weight of the evidence is exclusively for the finder of fact who is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence and to determine the credibility of the witness. An appellant court cannot substitute its judgment for that of the finder of fact.

justice. Moreover, where the trial court has ruled on the weight claim

question of whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence. Rather, appellate review is limited to whether the trial court palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the weight claim.

Commonwealth v. Collins, 70 A.3d 1245, 1251 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation

omitted).

Here, the verdict is not so contrary to the evidence as to shock the

conscience. Indeed, evidence was presented demonstrating that Helfrich

shot the victim eight times, on several vital parts of his body. N.T., 9/8/12,

at 308-18. The jury, as finder of fact, had the duty to determine the

credibility of the testimony and evidence presented at trial. See Collins, 70

2 Helfrich properly preserved this claim by raising it in her post-sentence Motion. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 607(A)(3).

-5- J-S51039-14

evidence credible. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

In her third claim, Helfrich argues that the trial court erred in allowing

that the testimony about the keys was material to the finding of guilt

because the Commonwealth used the testimony to show that the sound of

the keys was distinctive to the victim, and, therefore, she could not have

mistaken the victim for an intruder. Id. at 13. Helfrich claims that the keys

should have been available to her at trial under Brady v. Maryland, 373

U.S. 83, 87 (1963). Brief for Appellant at 12-14.

The admission of evidence is a matter vested within the sound discretion of the trial court, and such a decision shall be reversed only upon a showing that the trial court abused its discretion. In determining whether evidence should be admitted, the trial court must weigh the relevance and probative value of the evidence against the prejudicial impact of that evidence. Evidence is relevant if it logically tends to establish a material fact in the case or tends to support a reasonable inference regarding a material fact.

Commonwealth v. Reid, 811 A.2d 530, 550 (Pa. 2002) (citations omitted).

to the defense does not offend federal due process standards unless the

Commonwealth

v. Coon, 26 A.3d 1159, 1162 (Pa. Super. 2011).

-6- J-S51039-14

With regard to claims under Brady

prosecution of evidence favorable to the accused upon request violates due

process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment,

Brady, 373

U.S. at 87 (emphasis added). Here, Helfrich failed to prove that she had

requested that the Commonwealth produce the keys at any time before or

during the trial. Further, Helfrich failed to prove that the keys were, in any

way, favorable to her defense.

In its Opinion, the trial court addressed this claim as follows:

In this case, the keys the [v]ictim carried [were] not evidence which would have been exculpatory for [Helfrich] or

that when you have multiple keys dangling from a key ring on a belt loop, they make a noise (or jingle) when you walk. Moreover, the other evidence presented at trial utterly belies

Trial Court Opinion, 11/8/13, at 5-

determination that the keys did not constitute a piece of evidence material

See id. Additionally, as noted above, the Commonwealth

by showing intent

succeed on this claim.

In her fourth claim, Helfrich avers that the trial court erred in refusing

to accept her guilty plea. Brief for Appellant at 14. Helfrich claims that the

-7- J-S51039-14

members wrote a letter implying she did not support the plea agreement.

Id. Helfrich also argues that the trial court refused the plea agreement

because it would not accept a plea from someone who believes that they are

not guilty. Id. at 15. Helfrich argues that her own thoughts regarding her

defense should not be a basis for refusing a negotiated guilty plea. Id.

that the judge may refuse to accept a plea of guilty[.] The Pennsylvania

Rules of Criminal Procedure grant the trial court broad discretion in the

acceptan Commonwealth v.

Hudson, 820 A.2d 720, 727-28 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citations and quotation

marks omitted).

Upon our review of the record, we conclude that the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in refusing to accept the plea agreement. Although the

strongly opposed to a plea agreement, the trial court did not use a family

See N.T., 9/12/12, at 14. In

the plea agreement. See id. at 12, 16-18.

Additionally, the trial court did not reject the plea agreement merely

because Helfrich thought she was not guilty. The trial court specifically

asked Helfrich whether she believed she was guilty, to which Helfrich

-8- J-S51039-14

responded in the affirmative. Id. at 21. The trial court then explained that

murder of the third degree requires the accused to intentionally, knowingly,

recklessly or negligently cause the death of another human being. Id. at

22. Helfrich indicated that she killed the victim in a reckless manner. See

id. at 22, 25. Helfrich told the court that she thought the victim was an

intruder, and that she shot until the gun was empty. See id. at 22.

However, upon further questioning, the trial court reached the conclusion

as she was rationalizing the situation. See id. at 25-26. At that time, the

trial court rejected the plea agreement. See id. at 27-28. Based upon the

foregoing, Helfrich has failed to demonstrate that the trial court abused its

broad discretion in rejecting her guilty plea based on her equivocal

statements regarding her guilt. See Commonwealth v. Yeomans, 24

A.3d 1044, 1048 (Pa. Super. 2011) (stating that defendant must clearly and

unequivocally acknowledge the facts leading to a guilty plea). Thus, Helfrich

is not entitled to relief on this claim.

In her fifth claim, Helfrich argues that the trial court erred in denying

that she submitted an application to the Public Defender

application was denied because prior counsel had not withdrawn

representation. Id. at 17. Helfrich argues that her application with the

-9- J-S51039-14

by trial counsel. Id. at 16.

the sound discretion of the trial court, and as such, should not be overturned

Commonwealth v. Tuck, 469 A.2d

644, 650 (Pa. Super. 1

Commonwealth v. Robinson, 364 A.2d 665, 674 (Pa. 1976).

No brightline rules exist to determine whether a trial court has abused its discretion in denying a Petition to Withdraw as counsel. A balancing test must be utilized to weigh the interests of the client in a fair adjudication and the Commonwealth in the efficient administration of justice. Thus, a resolution of the problem turns upon a case by case analysis with particular attention to the reasons given by the trial court at the time the request for withdrawal is denied.

Commonwealth v. Sweeney, 533 A.2d 473, 481 (Pa. Super. 1987)

(citation omitted).

counsel did not require withdrawal. See N.T., 4/18/11, at 2. However, the

trial court specifically stated that it would grant the Motion to Withdraw

See id. at 3. Helfrich failed to provide evidence that she pursued new

counsel, and the recor

office never entered an appearance on her behalf. Further, Helfrich did not

- 10 - J-S51039-14

provide evidence to indicate a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship.

Moreover, Helfrich failed to provide evidence that trial counsel did not fully

litigate her defense at trial.

Upon our review of the record, we conclude that the trial court did not

Helfrich cannot succeed on this claim.

Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 9/30/2014

- 11 -