This appeal arises from Appellant Judy Ann Showers’ conviction for first degree murder following a jury trial before the Honorable Barry F. Feudale of the Court of Common Pleas of Northumberland County. The mandatory sentence of life imprisonment was imposed. Now represented by new counsel, Appellant brings this appeal. We affirm.
On September 2,1992, state police Trooper Robert McBride responded to the scene of an apparent suicide at the residence of Appellant and her husband, Delbert Showers, whose body was found lying on their couch. Norman Showers, the deceased’s brother, had already arrived on the scene and discovered what appeared to be a suicide note under the body. The note explained the deceased’s reasons for committing suicide and what drugs he took to accomplish it. The deceased died of an oral overdose of a mixture of Serax, an anti-depressant drug, and liquid morphine. The Serax was obtained by prescription, while the morphine had been taken from Helen Wolfe, a friend of the Showers and the former lover of the deceased.
On the day of her husband’s death, Appellant, a licensed practical nurse, had been alone in the house with him. During Trooper McBride’s investigation, the police determined that the note was not written by the deceased. In February of 1993, Trooper McBride again interviewed Appellant who admitted that she wrote the note because she feared she would be accused of killing her husband. Based upon inconsistencies in her story and other information which she provided, Appellant was charged with first degree murder.
At trial, the Commonwealth introduced evidence of Appellant’s motive for the killing. At the time of his death, the deceased was romantically involved with Sylvia Knecht, the younger sister of Helen Wolfe. Appellant knew of this affair.
Appellant attempted to establish that the death was a suicide by evidence that the deceased had sought treatment for depression in the past, and that he had discussed suicide.
After a one-week trial, the jury found Appellant guilty of murder in the first degree. On appeal, Appellant raises eight issues, which have been edited for clarity:
1. Was the evidence insufficient to sustain the verdict because the Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Delbert Showers was murdered by Appellant as opposed to having committed suicide or, alternatively, was the verdict against the weight of the evidence?
2. Did the trial court err in permitting the Commonwealth to introduce evidence of Appellant’s bad reputation for truthfulness?
3. Was trial counsel ineffective for not extensively cross-examining Dr. John Hume, the Commonwealth’s expert witness, who testified that the deceased was not a suicide risk?
4. Did the trial court err in admitting allegedly irrelevant, remote, and highly prejudicial evidence that Appellant had instructed Diane Showers, Appellant and the deceased’s daughter, to administer medication to the deceased without his knowledge several years before his death?
5. Did the trial court err in denying a motion for a mistrial when Trooper McBride testified that he felt there was a reasonable doubt that the deceased committed suicide?
6. Did the trial court err in: a) allowing the Commonwealth to grant limited use immunity to Diane Showers solely to impeach her testimony by a later witness; b) allowing the Commonwealth to treat her as a hostile witness; c) limiting the cross-examination of her to mattersgranted in the use immunity; and d) not compelling the Commonwealth to give full use immunity for all her testimony or preclude her from testifying pursuant to her invocation of her right against self incrimination?
7. Did the trial court err in allowing Janette Andrews to testify when she was called only to impeach Diane Showers and her testimony, which was hearsay, went beyond the scope of the offer of proof and the grant of immunity?
8. Did the trial court err in allowing the Commonwealth to cross-examine the defense forensic psychiatrist concerning a report that the deceased discovered that Appellant was having an affair in the mid-1970’s?
1. Sufficiency and Weight of the Evidence
Appellant’s first point of error is that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a first degree murder conviction. She points to evidence that the deceased had a long history of chronic depression; had been hospitalized and under medical treatment for depression; had told several people shortly before his death that he intended to commit suicide; and was a high risk to commit suicide according to a forensic psychiatrist.
In examining a sufficiency of evidence claim, we must determine whether the evidence and all reasonable inferences from it, viewed in a light most favorable to the Commonwealth as verdict winner, were sufficient to establish all the elements of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt.
Commonwealth v. Zimmick,
In addressing this issue, the trial court Opinion thoroughly examines the evidence supporting the first degree murder conviction. Therefore, to that extent, we adopt its Opinion as our own. After reviewing the parties’ respective briefs, the record and notes of testimony, and the trial court’s Opinion, we hold that there was sufficient evidence to convict Appellant of first degree murder. Furthermore, we hold that the verdict was not against the weight of the evidence as it does not shock our sense of justice.
In response to Appellant’s contention that trial counsel was ineffective for not raising a weight challenge before the trial court, we note that the contention is moot because the trial court did address the weight of the evidence.
2. Evidence of Appellant’s Reputation for Truthfulness
Appellant’s second issue is that the trial court erred in allowing the Commonwealth to present three witnesses who testified to her reputation for dishonesty. Appellant alleges three errors concerning the character evidence: first, although she testified at trial, she did not place her reputation for honesty at issue; second, the character evidence was based on remote knowledge; and third, one witness, to Appellant’s prejudice, testified beyond the scope of character evidence.
The admission of evidence is a matter reserved for the trial court whose decision, absent an abuse of discretion, we will not disturb.
Commonwealth v. Williams,
In
Commonwealth v. Scoleri,
During her testimony, Appellant recited her own version of the events surrounding her husband’s death. When confronted with the testimony of other witnesses, she stated that the other witnesses’ recollection of the facts were incorrect. It is clear that by testifying to a different version of the events surrounding the death, and by claiming that the other witnesses’ testimony was incorrect, Appellant placed her credibility at issue.
Contrary to Appellant’s position, it has long been the law of this Commonwealth that a witness’s credibility may be attacked by showing her bad reputation for truth and veracity.
Commonwealth v. Fowler,
Based on our review of the relevant case law, we can discern no distinguishing factor that would allow the use of
crimen falsi
convictions to impeach a defendant’s credibility, yet bar the use of evidence of reputation for veracity for the same purpose. Further, Appellant has provided no reason why a defendant should be treated any differently than any other witness with regard to issues of credibility; upon testifying at trial, a defendant, like any other witness, places her credibility at issue. That credibility may be impeached by prior
crimen falsi
convictions and/or by evidence of the defendant’s reputation for untruthfulness. Thus, the trial court did
Appellant’s next allegation of error concerning the evidence of her reputation for truthfulness is that it was too remote in time to be admissible. The trial commenced on March 14, 1994. Diane Campbell testified that she knew Appellant’s reputation from 1979 to the mid-1980’s. Michelle Steinbacher knew Appellant’s reputation from 1981 to 1985. The final reputation witness, Gloria Harbough, knew Appellant’s reputation in 1989. The community from which the reputation was garnered was a hospital at which the witnesses worked, and where Appellant was employed from 1979 until 1990.
As stated above, the admission of evidence is at the trial court’s discretion. It has long been held that evidence of reputation for truthfulness must relate to the time of trial.
When at the trial of a cause the character of a witness is shown in order to affect his credibility the question is whether he then told the truth. It is his character at the time he testifies that is under investigation, and this is to be established by evidence of his general reputation at that time----
Smith v. Hine,
Although recent case law does not provide specific examples of time frames by which to measure remoteness, our Supreme Court has addressed the issue in the past.
See Miller,
In
White,
the court recognized that twenty year old evidence of a defendant’s reputation for bad character was admissible when coupled with proof that the bad character continued at all times to the date of trial.
Id.
at 587,
Similarly, the admission of character evidence in the instant case evidences Appellant’s continuous reputation for dishonesty. Several witnesses testified that from approximately 1979 until 1989, Appellant had a reputation for dishonesty. Thus, the Commonwealth established an on-going, continuous reputation for dishonesty, corroborated by more than one person and spanning eleven years. This is not a case in which the only reputation evidence is one witness who testified that she knew the defendant for a short time many years ago.
Based upon the trial court’s discretion in this matter, there is no bright line to determine exactly when reputation evidence is too remote. In addition, remoteness is often a question of weight, not admissibility.
Ulatoski,
Further, the gap between the most recent reputation evidence and the death of Appellant’s husband was only three ■ years. At trial, numerous statements made by Appellant at the time of the death were admitted at trial. Thus, her credibility at the time she made the statements was also in
Appellant also takes exception to the testimony of Michelle Steinbacher that Appellant “wasn’t trusted by my staff,” in response to a question concerning Appellant’s reputation for truthfulness. Appellant immediately objected. The trial court sustained the objection and had the answer stricken from the record. In light of the fact that the answer was brief and was stricken from the record, Appellant has not established how the testimony prejudiced her. Moreover, Appellant did not seek a curative instruction or a mistrial.
See Commonwealth v. Jones,
Appellant’s final argument concerning the reputation evidence is addressed to the testimony of Gloria Harbough, who stated that she fired Appellant from the hospital in 1990. Appellant contends that this specific evidence of her reputation should not have been admitted. We note that Appellant raised no objection at trial to this testimony.
As the trial court correctly pointed out, Harbough testified for two purposes. One was to offer reputation evidence, and the other was to rebut Appellant’s claim that she left the hospital in 1990 in order to further her education. Hence, Harbough’s testimony was proper rebuttal evidence. We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this evidence.
3. Trial Counsel’s Cross-examination of Dr. Hume
Appellant’s third point of error is that trial counsel was ineffective for not cross-examining Dr. John Hume more extensively. The Commonwealth called Dr. Hume to testify as an expert in forensic psychiatry. He testified, contrary to
In reviewing a claim of ineffectiveness of counsel, it is Appellant’s burden to show that the claim is of arguable merit, that counsel’s action or inaction did not have a reasonable basis designed to effectuate her interests, and that counsel’s action or inaction was prejudicial.
Paolelb,
In reviewing trial counsel’s performance, we will not find ineffectiveness for failure to choose the best trial tactics or strategy to effectuate Appellant’s interests. Rather, the proper inquiry is whether counsel’s actions or lack thereof had
some
reasonable basis.
Commonwealth v. Pierce,
Trial counsel’s decision to limit his cross-examination did have some reasonable basis. Appellant presented her own expert witness, Dr. Harry A. Doyle, a certified forensic psychiatrist, who testified that in his expert opinion the deceased was at risk for suicide at the time of his death. Thus, the persuasiveness of the competing experts rested on such factors as credibility, familiarity with the case, and qualifications. During cross-examination, trial counsel elicited the fact that Dr. Hume was being paid by the Commonwealth, had only been on the case three to four weeks, did not make a written report, and was not board certified. In addition, an extended cross-examination might have allowed Dr. Hume to restate his opinion regarding the deceased’s risk of suicide. Thus, trial counsel’s limited cross-examination of Dr. Hume had some reasonable basis designed to effectuate Appellant’s interest.
Appellant’s fourth argument concerns evidence elicited from Bonnie Frey, who lived with the Showers during 1985 and 1986, that Appellant instructed Diane Showers, the daughter of Appellant and the deceased, to place medicine in the deceased’s coffee without his knowledge. Appellant contends that this evidence is irrelevant and extremely prejudicial because the events are too remote in time, and that counsel was ineffective for failing to object to its admission.
Appellant concedes that evidence of a prior course of conduct is relevant. Her only point of contention is that the incidents were too remote in time to be admissible. In Ulatoski, our Supreme Court discussed the admission of evidence of prior relations between a defendant and a homicide victim:
evidence concerning the nature of the marital relationship is admissible for the purpose of proving ill will, motive or malice. This includes, in particular, evidence that the accused physically abused his or her spouse.... [I]t is generally true that remoteness of the prior instances of hostility and strained relations affects the weight of that evidence and not its admissibility.... [N]o rigid rule can be formulated for determining when such evidence is no longer relevant.
In the instant case, the prior acts and the death of the deceased occurred approximately six to seven years apart. The similarity between the acts described by Bonnie Frey and the crime charged are strikingly close. Both involved the administration of prescription drugs to the deceased in the
Based on the foregoing, any objection to the evidence of Appellant’s prior acts in drugging the deceased would have been meritless, and counsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to raise a meritless argument.
Paolello,
5. Trooper McBride’s Testimony
Appellant’s fifth contention is that the trial court erred in denying a mistrial when Trooper McBride, the investigating officer, was asked about the investigation into the death of Appellant’s husband. In response, he stated, “Well, in December of — now, like I say, my doubts, my concerns, my suspicions have been growing and — but there’s just — I don’t want to jump to a conclusion. But in December I reached the point that I felt there was a reasonable doubt that a suicide occurred.” Appellant immediately objected and asked for a mistrial. The trial court denied the motion, but did give the jury a curative instruction that the use of “reasonable doubt” was irrelevant, and that the court would instruct the jury at the end of the trial on the proper use of the term.
Wdiether a mistrial is required is at the discretion of the trial court.
Commonwealth v. Johnson,
6. Limited Use Immunity for Diane Showers
Appellant’s sixth argument revolves around the Commonwealth’s grant of limited use immunity for Diane Showers in order to allow her to testify concerning certain events which occurred approximately two months before the murder. Within this issue are three arguments: 1) the grant of immunity did not comport with 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5947; 2) the Commonwealth was erroneously allowed to treat Diane as a hostile witness; and 3) Appellant was erroneously prevented from cross-examining her on any matters beyond the scope of the limited grant of immunity.
Appellant does not have standing to allege that the grant of limited use immunity did not comply with the statutory scheme.
Commonwealth v. Schomaker,
The Attorney General or a district attorney may request an immunity order from any judge of a designated court, and that judge shall issue such an order, when in the judgment of the Attorney General or district attorney:
(1) the testimony or other information from a witness may be necessary to the public interest; and
(2) a witness has refused or is likely to refuse to testify or provide other information on the basis of his privilege against self-incrimination.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5947(b).
Appellant contends that the Commonwealth did not satisfy the requirement that the immunized testimony be
Appellant’s next two arguments on this issue concern the interrogation of Diane Showers. The trial court allowed the Commonwealth to treat the witness as hostile, and limited Appellant’s cross-examination of her to matters related to the limited use immunity.
The scope and manner of cross-examination is left to the discretion of the trial court whose decision will not be disturbed absent an abuse of that discretion.
Commonwealth v. Wilson,
Contrary to Appellant’s claim, the trial court did not err in limiting Appellant’s cross-examination of Diane to matters related to the immunity. The cross-examination was restricted to the scope of the Commonwealth’s examination. Moreover, the court gave Appellant the option of calling Diane at a later point if the need arose. Finally, Appellant does not indicate what she would have explored on cross, nor how she was prejudiced by any limitation placed on her inquiries. The trial'court did not abuse its discretion in its rulings concerning Diane’s testimony.
7. Janette Andrews’ Testimony
Appellant’s seventh allegation of error pertains to the testimony of Janette Andrews, a friend of Diane’s. The Commonwealth attempted to establish that approximately two months
Andrews was with Diane that evening, and her testimony contradicted Diane’s version of events. According to Andrews, Appellant had telephoned Diane, not the other way around. Andrews testified that Diane told her that Appellant reported seeing the deceased’s car parked at Sylvia Knecht’s house earlier in the day, and that Appellant wanted Diane to discover whether the car was still there. Andrews also testified that Diane called her two weeks prior to trial and commented that their versions of what had transpired were inconsistent.
Appellant contends that Andrews’ testimony was erroneously admitted because the Commonwealth was allowed to impeach its own witness, Diane, by eliciting a different version of the events to which Diane testified. Appellant also alleges that Andrews’ testimony contained inadmissible hearsay. Furthermore, Appellant contends that it was impermissible for Andrews to testify that Diane called her two weeks before trial to tell her that their versions of the event were different, because the testimony went beyond both the scope of the Diane’s limited immunity and the Commonwealth’s offer of proof for Andrews.
Again, our standard of review on matters involving the admission of evidence is whether the trial court abused its discretion. The court held that the Commonwealth did not intend to impeach Diane, and only called Andrews after Diane had testified to a different version of the events of the evening in question. The court also held that Andrews’ testimony concerning Diane’s telephone call two weeks before the trial was not hearsay because it was used for purposes of impeachment, nor did it exceed the scope of Diane’s limited immunity or the offer of proof because the conversation pertained to events about which Diane had already testified.
Appellant’s contention that Andrews’ testimony contained inadmissible hearsay also fails. Although Andrews did repeat what Diane told her, the trial court correctly noted that the out-of-court statement was not used for the truth of the matter, but to impeach Diane. It is well-settled that a witness may be impeached by a prior statement as long as the statement is inconsistent with her trial testimony.
Commonwealth v. Brown,
Appellant claims that the Commonwealth could not impeach its own witness because it was not surprised by her testimony. It is within the trial court’s discretion to permit a party to impeach its own witness with prior inconsistent statements.
Commonwealth v. Grimes,
In response to Appellant’s contention that the Commonwealth sought to call Diane as a hostile witness based on foreknowledge of the evidence she would give, we note, as
Further, Andrews’ testimony that Diane called her two weeks before the trial was not improperly admitted. The trial court allowed this evidence on the ground that it impeached Diane, and that it was not outside the scope of Diane’s limited immunity because the conversation concerned events about which Diane had already testified.
Even if the testimony concerning the telephone call was inadmissible, Appellant has not shown how it prejudiced her. Andrews did not testify that Diane told her to change her story or to lie. Rather, she merely testified that during their conversation, Diane said that Appellant did not know about the trip to Sylvia Knecht’s house on the evening in question, and that their recollections of that night were different. Given the fact that Andrews had already contradicted Diane’s version of events, this evidence was merely cumulative of other, properly admitted evidence. Therefore, we hold that even if the trial court abused its discretion in allowing Andrews’ testimony to be admitted into evidence, Appellant has not shown sufficient prejudice requiring a new trial.
8. The Commonwealth’s Cross-examination of Dr. Doyle
Finally, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in allowing the Commonwealth to cross-exam Dr. Doyle, the defense’s forensic psychiatrist, about a report that Appellant was having an affair during the mid-1970’s. She contends that the evidence was inadmissible hearsay, highly prejudicial, and too remote in time. Appellant alleges that a cautionary instruction should have been given.
Affirmed.