Opinion
J-S92021-16 No. 604 WDA 2016
09-07-2017
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, Appellee v. RAYMOND DALE PAYNE, Appellant
Appeal from the PCRA Order April 13, 2016 in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
Criminal Division at No(s): No. 2562 of 1976 BEFORE: SHOGAN, MOULTON, and STRASSBURGER, JJ. OPINION BY STRASSBURGER, J.:
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
Raymond Dale Payne (Appellant) appeals from the April 13, 2016 order which denied his petition for relief filed pursuant to the Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546. Appellant argues that he is entitled to a new degree-of-guilt hearing or other lower court proceedings based upon results of DNA testing that excluded him as a contributor to the semen found in the victim's body. We affirm.
Due to the procedural posture and facts of this case, we set forth the non-jury verdict of the trial court in its entirety from the 1977 degree-of-guilt hearing.
[Appellant] was arrested on September 23, 1976 and charged with the slaying of Debra Lynn [Gama].
The sixteen[-]year[-]old victim, a student at Strong Vincent High School in Erie, had left her West 10th Street home the morning of August 7th, 1975 apparently headed for the beach. She never returned, and on August 12th her body was
found floating in Cuss[e]wago Creek off Route 98 about 12 miles north of Meadville, in Crawford County.
When found the victim's hands and feet were bound by copper wire. Wire also encircled and was imbedded in her neck. Crawford County Coroner Wilbur C. Thomas ruled that the young girl had been strangled listing the cause of death as "acute asphyxiation due to ligature."
The original charge against [Appellant], a teacher at the school attended by Miss [Gama,] was originally instituted in Crawford County, the body having been found there. However, on Friday, October 8th, 1976, [Appellant,] with the consent of his attorney and in the attorney's presence, gave a statement to Assistant District Attorney Donald E. Lewis. In the statement in which [Appellant] categorized Miss [Gama's] death as accidental, he revealed that her death had occurred in Erie County. As the result thereof the murder charge was then filed in Erie County on December 8, 1976.
Following several continuances requested by [Appellant] and his counsel, trial was scheduled for Monday, April 11, 1977. On that date [Appellant] entered a plea of guilty to murder generally and a degree of guilt hearing was held before the [trial court en banc] on June 7th, 1977. The merits have been argued and the matter is now ripe for decision.
It is the contention of the Commonwealth that the facts require a finding of murder in the first degree. The defense argues that the crime should rise no higher than third degree murder.
Under the plea, voluntary manslaughter could be a possible determination. However, we are of the opinion that there are no facts before the court that would justify that result or require its further consideration.
Section 2501 of the Crimes Code describes criminal homicide as "where a person intentionally, recklessly or negligently causes the death of another person."
Under the amendment to section 2502 of the Crimes Code, effective March 26, 1974, murder is divided into three degrees.
"A criminal homicide constitutes murder in the first degree when it is committed by an intentional killing. Murder in the second degree is where the death of the victim occurred while the defendant was engaged as a principal or accomplice in the preparation [sic] of a felony. All other kinds of murder shall be murder in the third degree.["]
Under sub-section (d) intentional killing "is a killing by means of poison, or by lying in wait, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate and premeditated killing.["]
The evidence before the court consists principally of the physical evidence, the condition of the victim's body, the testimony of the pathologist, the defendant's statement of October 8, 1976, and his admissions to his former cellmate, Anthony Lee Evans.
While the defense called two former inmates of the Erie County prison to attack the credibility of Evan[s's] testimony, they relied principally on [Appellant's] version of the victim's death as contained in his statement to the authorities in Crawford County in October of 1976.
In that statement [Appellant] told of meeting Miss [Gama] as she was standing on the corner of Tenth and Raspberry Streets and taking her for a ride. He stated he had been smoking marijuana and had taken two "downs" (meprobamate) prior to meeting the victim; that after voluntarily consuming a number of the pills Miss [Gama] agreed to pose for [Appellant], when he asked her if he could take some "bondage pictures" of her.
He stated that he continued to smoke marijuana as they headed for the Everett C. Hall Community Park, a secluded wooded area in Waterford Township in Erie County.
After arriving there he said that she allowed him to tie her hands and ankles together with some clothesline which he had purchased at the K-Mart. He had the victim get down on her knees. He then tied one end of the rope to a tree, then wound it around her neck and tied the other end to another tree.
At that time he discovered that he had left his camera in his truck; that despite the fact that the girl appeared to be affected by the pills she had consumed, he left her in the trussed up position and returned to this truck.
While there he smoked some more marijuana and loaded his camera. When he returned he discovered that the victim had fallen forward and had expired.
He said he panicked, that he cut the bonds, placed her in his truck and drove her back to his farm; that he then attached cement blocks to her body with some copper wire and placed her in a pond located at the property. Two days later he discovered that the body had surfaced. He then transported the body to the Cussewago Creek where it was found on August 12th.
[Appellant] denied that he had had sexual relations with the victim or that he had in any way molested her.
Counsel for [Appellant] rely on this statement for their defense, contending that Miss [Gama's] death was accidental; that [Appellant] was at most negligent and that his degree of guilt should rise no higher than 3rd degree.
We, however, are not impressed with either the accuracy or credibility of [Appellant's] statement. Yet it does have an important bearing on our determination. Not only does it place [Appellant] alone with the victim when she died, admittedly under circumstances caused by him, but it does in many respects corroborate other evidence introduced by the Commonwealth.
The most damaging Commonwealth testimony was given by Anthony Lee Evans who was incarcerated along with [Appellant] in the Erie County prison in January and February of 1977. Mr. Evans testified that [Appellant] confided in him and eventually described in detail what had occurred. He said that [Appellant] told him that while he and Miss [Gama] were riding in his truck he had put some "downs" (pills) in the victim's beer; that while she was under the influence of the drug he took her to the woods where he tied her up in the manner above described and began having sexual intercourse with her; that she begged him to stop, crying and screaming; that she "made him mad"
and he grasped the rope "on each side of her and pulled it tight until she was dead."
At this point Mr. Evans'[s] testimony varies from [Appellant's] statement in that he testified that rather than taking the body back to the farm and placing it in the pond, that [Appellant] said he covered the body with leaves and left it there for several days until he decided where to dispose of it.
Evans further testified that [Appellant] told him Miss Gamma's death was a culmination of a sexual fantasy that he had been living with for a long time; that "he likes to tie women up and do crazy things to 'em."
Evans'[s] testimony corroborates in many respects the statement given by [Appellant] to the Assistant District Attorney of Crawford County.
In both statements he admits that the victim was under the influence of pills ingested either voluntarily or administered by subterfuge.
The reference to a "sexual fantasy" and [Appellant's] penchant for bondage is important, for in [Appellant's] own statement he admits that it was he who suggested the taking of "bondage pictures."
The manner in which Miss [Gama] was tied is exactly the same in both statements.
The only real variation is in the manner in which death was caused. Even here there is verification for Evans'[s] testimony that she died protesting a sexual attack upon her. Paul R. Daube, a chemist employed by the Pennsylvania State Police testified that he conducted tests on Hemorrhogic fluids extracted from the victim's vaginal and anal areas. He stated that he found the presence of seminal acid phosphatase in both areas and that seminal acid phosphatase is found only in semen.
It is the opinion of the court the accidental theory advanced by the defense lacks credibility. It is our belief that the testimony of Evans is more consistent with the established facts than the self serving statement of [Appellant].
The specific intent to kill which is necessary to constitute murder in the first degree may be found from the circumstances surrounding the slaying together with all reasonable inferences therefrom....Trial Court Opinion, 7/18/1977, at 1-6.
In this case not only do the circumstances point to the conclusion that the slaying of Debbie [Gama] was willful, deliberate and premeditated, but [Appellant's] admission to his cellmate verifies that conclusion and removes all doubt.
The testimony before the court is also consistent with a slaying in the perpetration of a forceful rape which would constitute murder in the second degree. However, having concluded that [Appellant] is guilty of an intentional killing, we need not further pursue the theory of felony murder.
Based on the foregoing, Appellant was convicted of first-degree murder, and on August 5, 1977, Appellant was sentenced to life in prison.
Appellant filed a notice of appeal to our Supreme Court, and on January 24, 1979, his judgment of sentence was affirmed. Commonwealth v. Payne , 396 A.2d 630 (Pa. 1979). After several unsuccessful attempts at post-conviction relief, on January 8, 1997, Appellant filed a PCRA petition, which, inter alia, requested DNA testing on the seminal fluid recovered from the victim's body. The PCRA court denied Appellant's petition, a panel of this Court affirmed that order, and our Supreme Court denied Appellant's petition for allowance of appeal. Commonwealth v. Payne , 704 A.2d 1120, (Pa. Super. 1997), appeal denied, 717 A.2d 533 (Pa. 1998). In affirming that PCRA order, this Court stated the following in response to Appellant's contention that he was entitled to DNA testing:
Prior to 1980, all first-degree murder sentences, not just death penalty sentences, were appealed to our Supreme Court.
[Appellant's] assertion that the court relied upon the fact that the victim was raped in its decision to convict him of first-degree murder is not supported by the facts. The court had several pieces of evidence connecting [Appellant] to the crime, not only his confession. Police traced the wire found on the victim's body to wire found on [Appellant's] property. The court also considered the testimony of [Appellant's] cell mate, Anthony Lee Evans. Evans corroborated much of the story given in [Appellant's] confession, differing only in connection with the manner in which the victim died. Evans testified that [Appellant] had told him about having intercourse with the victim while she was bound to the tree, and that when she begged him to stop he tightened the rope around her neck, strangling her. [Appellant] told his cell mate that this had been a fantasy of his for some time.Payne , 704 A.2d 1120 (unpublished memorandum at 4-5).
The court stated in its Opinion, dated July 18, 1977, that it found [Appellant's] claim that the victim's death was accidental lacked credibility. Rather, the court believed the account of the incident given by Evans. Thus, the presence of semen and the identity of the person from whom the semen originated, was not a major consideration in the determination of first-degree murder. [Trial Court Opinion, 7/18/1977, at 7]. Accordingly, we will not find that a miscarriage of justice has occurred in this case.
On February 6, 2003, Appellant filed a motion for DNA testing pursuant to newly-passed 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543.1, the PCRA provision permitting DNA testing under certain circumstances. The PCRA court denied that motion, and Appellant filed a notice of appeal to this Court. On November 18, 2003, a panel of this Court affirmed the order of the PCRA court, and on May 11, 2004, our Supreme Court denied Appellant's petition for allowance of appeal. Specifically, this Court pointed out that
[e]ven if one credits [Appellant's] contention that DNA evidence would call into question the sexual assault, which [Appellant] contends was used as an aggravating factor leading to his conviction for first degree murder,2 there is no question in this case concerning the "identity of the perpetrator." Hence, there is no basis for [Appellant] to obtain relief under this section.
Commonwealth v. Payne , 841 A.2d 577 (Pa. Super. 2003) (unpublished memorandum at 3).2 It bears mention that [Appellant] did not plead guilty, nor was he convicted of any sexual offense.
On September 9, 2011, Appellant filed a second motion for DNA testing pursuant to section 9543.1. On October 4, 2011, the PCRA court denied relief. Appellant filed a notice of appeal to this Court, and on July 31, 2012, this Court affirmed the order denying Appellant relief. On July 12, 2013, our Supreme Court denied Appellant's petition for allowance of appeal. Commonwealth v. Payne , 55 A.3d 152 (Pa. Super. 2012), appeal denied, 69 A.3d 601 (Pa. 2013).
Meanwhile, on May 16, 2011, Appellant had filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against the Erie County District Attorney's Office alleging violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for its refusal to permit DNA testing. On December 16, 2014, the trial court signed a stipulated order permitting post-conviction DNA testing. The DNA test results established conclusively that Appellant was excluded as a contributor to the seminal fluid found in the victim's body.
On August 21, 2015, Appellant, through counsel, filed a PCRA petition asserting that he is entitled to a new trial or degree-of-guilt hearing based upon this after-discovered evidence. Appellant's eligibility for relief is premised on the provision that these new test results satisfy the requirement that Appellant's conviction resulted from "[t]he unavailability at the time of trial of exculpatory evidence that has subsequently become available and would have changed the outcome of the trial if it had been introduced." 42 Pa.C.S. 9543(a)(2)(vi). See PCRA Petition, 8/21/2015, at 2. The Commonwealth filed a response to the petition, and on April 13, 2016, the PCRA court entered a final order and opinion denying Appellant relief, which provided the following, relevant conclusions.
Here, [Appellant] has failed to show the DNA evidence was exculpatory and would have changed the outcome of the proceedings. As discussed supra, our appellate courts have previously determined that presence of semen and the identity of the donor of the semen were not determining factors in finding [Appellant] guilty of first-degree murder. Furthermore, [Appellant] was not convicted of any sexual offense....PCRA Court Opinion, 4/13/2016, at 8-9.
The evidence, including [Appellant's] statement to Crawford County District Attorney Donald Lewis and his concealment of Gama's body, clearly established [Appellant's] guilt of first-degree murder; accordingly, the DNA evidence would not have changed the outcome.
Appellant timely filed a notice of appeal, and both Appellant and the PCRA court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
On appeal, Appellant presents three questions for our review.
[1.] Did the PCRA court err in finding that the [after-]discovered DNA evidence was not likely to change the outcome of the trial notwithstanding that it disproved a key inference that the prosecution relied on to prove intent?Appellant's Brief at 4 (answers omitted).
[2.] Did the PCRA court err to the extent that it held the newly discovered evidence was immaterial or not exculpatory?
[3.] Did the PCRA court err by not considering [Appellant's] claims under the United States and Pennsylvania constitutions?
"On appeal from the denial of PCRA relief, our standard of review calls for us to determine whether the ruling of the PCRA court is supported by the record and free of legal error. The PCRA court's findings will not be disturbed unless there is no support for the findings in the certified record." Commonealth v. Lewis , 63 A.3d 1274, 1278 (Pa. Super. 2013). Relevant to this claim, section 9543(a)(2)(vi)
provides for post-conviction relief where a petitioner could prove a claim of newly discovered exculpatory evidence. In order to succeed on such a claim, the petitioner must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that:
(1) the evidence has been discovered after the trial and it could not have been obtained at or prior to trial through reasonable diligence;
(2) such evidence is not cumulative;
(3) it is not being used solely to impeach credibility; and
Commonwealth v. Fiore , 780 A.2d 704, 711 (Pa. Super. 2001).(4) such evidence would likely compel a different verdict.
In this case, there is no dispute that the evidence was not available, nor could it have been available, at the time of trial. Additionally, this evidence is neither cumulative nor being used solely to impeach credibility. Moreover, it is well-settled that a change in the outcome of a degree-of-guilt hearing is a change in the verdict as contemplated by the PCRA. Commonwealth v. Bonaccurso , 625 A.2d 1197, 1199 (Pa. Super. 1993).
We first consider Appellant's contention that the PCRA court erred in concluding that this after-discovered evidence would not have changed the outcome of Appellant's degree-of-guilt hearing. See Appellant's Brief at 21-34. Specifically, Appellant argues that the
new evidence at issue directly undermines the inferences used against [Appellant] to secure a conviction forty years ago. In advancing the credibility of its jail-house informant and seeking to undermine [Appellant's] explanation, the Commonwealth created a strong inference that seminal fluid found in the victim was [Appellant's], and that evidence and inference were critical reasons why the [trial court] found the intent necessary to render a verdict of first-degree murder.Id. at 25.
Essentially, Appellant is arguing that this after-discovered evidence created reasonable doubt as to the specific-intent-to-kill element of first-degree murder. "Specific intent and malice may be inferred through circumstantial evidence, such as the use of a deadly weapon on a vital part of the victim's body." Commonwealth v. Hicks , 156 A.3d 1114, 1124 (Pa. 2017). In Commonwealth v. Pruitt , 951 A.2d 307 (Pa. 2008), and Commonwealth v. Keaton , 729 A.2d 529 (Pa. 1999), our Supreme Court upheld first-degree murder convictions and found that the defendants possessed a specific intent to kill under similar circumstances.
In Pruitt , Pruitt admitted to breaking into the home of a 69-year-old woman, covering her mouth with a towel, tying it, removing her clothing, tying her up, and leaving her there "while he went upstairs to look for money." 951 A.2d at 314. "When he came back downstairs with the victim's money, she was not moving." Id. The forensic pathologist testified that the victim's death was caused by "strangulation, most likely with the towel that was found around her neck." Id. Our Supreme Court held that the "evidence is sufficient to support the mens rea element of first-degree murder, i.e., a specific intent to kill." Id.
Similarly, in Keaton , police found a partially decomposed body of the victim, a former girlfriend of Keaton's, in a basement of a house known for crack-cocaine activity. A "pair of tights was tied tightly around her neck as a ligature." 729 A.2d at 534. The autopsy revealed the victim had recently used alcohol and cocaine. Keaton admitted to having tied up the victim, "but claimed it was merely part of a 'sex game.'" Id. at 535. He also admitted to having left the victim unconscious and tied up in the basement while he left the house to obtain more drugs. Keaton claimed that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a first-degree murder conviction because he did not intentionally kill the victim. Our Supreme Court pointed out that "the act of tightening a strap around a person's neck, with enough force and violence to kill the victim, [is] sufficient to permit a finding of specific intent to kill." Id. at 537. Additionally, this Court took into account the fact that Keaton left the victim tied up "on the floor, unconscious in the pitch black of the basement." Id.
In this case, Appellant confessed to his role in the death of the victim. According to Appellant's own story, he provided drugs to the victim, tied her up in a way that included suspending her between two ropes with a rope bound around her neck and her hands tied behind her back, and left her in that compromised position for a period of time. Similar to Pruitt , and Keaton , these facts are sufficient to establish a specific intent to kill to support a first-degree murder conviction.
Additionally, "[a]ctions of the accused that occur before, during, and after are admissible as evidence to show malice." Commonwealth v. Gonzalez , 858 A.2d 1219, 1223 (Pa. Super. 2004) (emphasis in original). "[E]vidence of acts to conceal a crime, such as disposing of the victim's body, are relevant to prove the accused's intent or state of mind." Commonwealth v. Dollman , 541 A.2d 319, 322 (Pa. 1988).
By his own admission, Appellant went to great lengths to conceal the victim's body. Appellant admitted he used cement blocks and copper wire to submerge the victim's body in a pond on his property. After her body re-surfaced, he transported her to another location and tried it again. Based on this evidence, all of which was presented at the degree-of-guilt hearing, we hold that the outcome of that hearing would not have been different had the results of the DNA testing been available. Accordingly, we affirm the order of the PCRA court on that basis.
Appellant next argues that the PCRA court erred in concluding that the DNA evidence was neither material nor exculpatory. See Appellant's Brief at 34-43. Specifically, Appellant suggests that the PCRA court erred by considering evidence not of record. First, Appellant criticizes the PCRA court for creating a "newly-minted theory" regarding the perpetrator of this crime. Appellant's Brief at 36. Appellant takes issue with the following conclusion set forth by the PCRA Court:
Because we have already concluded that the outcome of Appellant's trial would not have been different, we are not required to address this argument as Appellant has not met the criteria for a new trial based upon after-discovered evidence. However, we address the remaining issues for completeness. --------
The presence of DNA material of another male does not help [Appellant's] case, it hurts it. In this court's view, the DNA evidence of another male is more inculpatory than ever, strongly suggesting that [Appellant] had an undisclosed partner in this depraved, murderous endeavor.PCRA Court Opinion, 4/13/2016, at 12 (footnote omitted). Additionally, Appellant disagrees with the PCRA court's conclusion that "the primary use of the DNA evidence is for impeachment: to quibble with the verdict and Evans' credibility." Id.
While we agree with Appellant that the PCRA court erred with respect to these conclusions, we conclude nonetheless that Appellant is not entitled to relief. In considering both the materiality and the exculpatory nature of the DNA evidence, we point out that the presence of semen in the victim from someone other than Appellant could implicate an accomplice as suggested by the PCRA court. However, it is equally likely that this evidence could lead to the conclusion that the victim had sexual intercourse, consensual or otherwise, with someone else in the day or days leading up to her death.
Moreover, the presence of semen from someone other than Appellant is certainly not exculpatory as to first-degree murder. Had Appellant been convicted of rape or another sexually-related offense, this DNA evidence could be considered exculpatory. The same is not true for first-degree murder, nor is it true for third-degree murder. Even if Appellant did not rape the victim, the DNA evidence would not have required the trial court to find Appellant not guilty of first-degree murder. Thus, despite the PCRA court's erroneous conclusions, we hold that Appellant is not entitled to PCRA relief on this basis.
Finally, Appellant argues that the PCRA court erred by not addressing Appellant's "claim that his constitutional rights independently compel a new trial." Appellant's Brief at 43. Appellant argues the following:
[Appellant] has been imprisoned for almost forty years under a theory based on evidence and inference that we now know to be false. The newly discovered DNA evidence dramatically undercuts the claim that he intentionally murdered Ms. Gama in the course of a sexual assault. To now force [Appellant] to remain in prison for the duration of a life sentence imposed for a crime of which he is innocent violates [Appellant's] due process rights under the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions, shocks the conscience, and offends traditional notions of justice. Because the PCRA court failed to address this claim altogether, this Court should at the very least remand for further proceedings.Appellant's Brief at 45.
Although he phrases this argument in terms of his rights under the United States and Pennsylvania constitutions, Appellant's argument is in reality a catchall argument suggesting that we should remand for the PCRA court to reconsider its decision. To be sure, the reviews of both this Court and the PCRA court implicate the protections Appellant is afforded under the constitutions. We recognize that Appellant may feel vindicated to some degree by this DNA evidence. Nevertheless, it does not prove, as he suggests, that he is innocent of first-degree murder. In fact, it does not even prove that he did not sexually assault the victim. "In DNA as in other areas, an absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." In re (John Marshall) Payne , 129 A.3d 546, 558 (Pa. Super. 2015). Thus, we conclude that remand to the PCRA court to address some unspecified constitutional claims is not warranted.
Having concluded the PCRA court did not err in denying relief, we affirm the order of the PCRA court.
Order affirmed.
Judge Shogan joins.
Judge Moulton files a dissenting opinion. Judgment Entered. /s/_________
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary Date: 9/7/2017