Commonwealth v. Gacobano
65 A.3d 416
| Pa. Super. Ct. | 2013Background
- Gacobano was convicted in 1996 of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, burglary, possession of instrument of crime, and conspiracy based on a 1995 home invasion and sexual assaults in Philadelphia.
- He pursued multiple PCRA petitions beginning in 1998, with various denials and appeals, including untimeliness rulings in 2002.
- In 2006, he sought DNA testing under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543.1; the PCRA court denied relief and the Superior Court affirmed in 2009.
- On April 18, 2011, he filed a fourth petition seeking post-conviction relief that included a request for DNA testing; the court dismissed it on March 12, 2012.
- The current appeal challenges the denial of post-conviction DNA testing, arguing innocence rests on undetermined DNA results.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Appellant is entitled to post-conviction DNA testing under §9543.1. | Gacobano contends testing should be allowed to establish new facts of innocence. | Commonwealth argues prior rulings and statutory requirements bar testing in this case. | No; not entitled under §9543.1. |
| Whether the law of the case precludes DNA testing relief. | Gacobano asserts the prior ruling should not bar current relief. | Commonwealth relies on the law-of-the-case doctrine to prevent reopening the issue. | Law of the case governs; testing denied. |
| Whether the PCRA timing/requirements affect the DNA testing decision. | Gacobano maintains timing rules should not bar testing. | Commonwealth asserts DNA testing is a separate procedure not triggering §9545 time-bar. | Timing provisions do not alter denial of DNA testing. |
Key Cases Cited
- Commonwealth v. Conway, 14 A.3d 101 (Pa.Super.2011) (reiterates PCRA standard of review in DNA testing matters)
- Commonwealth v. Brooks, 875 A.2d 1141 (Pa.Super.2005) (DNA testing not directly subject to §9545 time bar; separate proceeding)
- Commonwealth v. Nero, 58 A.3d 802 (Pa.Super.2012) (PCRA review standards applied to DNA testing denial)
- Commonwealth v. Calhoun, 52 A.3d 281 (Pa.Super.2012) (procedural framework for post-conviction DNA testing consideration)
- Commonwealth v. Weeks, 831 A.2d 1194 (Pa.Super.2003) (DNA testing procedure as separate from PCRA time bar)
- Commonwealth v. Williams, 35 A.3d 44 (Pa.Super.2011) (DNA testing relief analyzed apart from §9545 timing)
- Commonwealth v. McCandless, 880 A.2d 1262 (Pa.Super.2005) (law-of-the-case limits on reconsideration in subsequent phases)
- Commonwealth v. Starr, 664 A.2d 1326 (Pa.1995) (illustrates law-of-the-case stability purpose)