Case Information

*1 J-S72019-17 NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

: PENNSYLVANIA :

v. : : :

JONATHAN COOK, : : Appellant : No. 46 EDA 2017 Appeal from the PCRA Order November 18, 2016 in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0511911-1999

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., MUSMANNO, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED DECEMBER 29, 2017

Jonathan Cook (“Cook”), pro se , appeals from the Order denying his third Petition for relief filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”). See 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 9541-9546. We affirm.

On April 22, 2002, a jury found Cook guilty of one count of third- degree murder, five counts of robbery, and four counts each of aggravated assault, conspiracy, possessing an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person. See 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2502, 3701, 2702, 903, 907, 2705. The trial court sentenced Cook to a mandatory term of life in prison for his conviction of third-degree murder. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9715. The trial court imposed various prison terms for his remaining convictions. On appeal, this Court affirmed Cook’s judgment of sentence. See Commonwealth v. Cook , 829 A.2d 355 (Pa. Super. 2003) (unpublished ____________________________________ * Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.

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*2 memorandum). Cook did not seek allowance of appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

On October 14, 2015, Cook filed the instant PCRA Petition, his third. On November 18, 2017, following appropriate Notice pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 907, the PCRA court dismissed Cook’s Petition without a hearing. Thereafter, Cook filed the instant appeal, followed by a court- ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Concise Statement of matters complained of on appeal.

Cook presents the following claims for our review: 1. Did the PCRA court err in dismissing [Cook’s] PCRA Petition

in which he alleged that his due process rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution were violated when the trial court allowed him to be tried [and] sentenced while he was incompetent[?]

2. Did the PCRA court err in dismissing [Cook’s] PCRA Petition in which he alleged that his Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel was violated when trial counsel allowed him to be tried [and] sentenced while he was incompetent[?]

3. Did the PCRA court err [in] dismissing [Cook’s] PCRA Petition when [Cook] was represented at trial by counsel who failed to effectively object to the introduction at trial of evidence that was not disclosed during discovery[?]

Brief for Appellant at 4 (some capitalization omitted).

“Our standard of review in PCRA appeals is limited to determining whether the findings of the PCRA court are supported by the record and free from legal error.” Commonwealth v. Johnson , 966 A.2d 523, 532 (Pa. 2009) (citation omitted).

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*3 Before addressing Cook’s claims, we first must determine whether he timely filed his PCRA Petition. A PCRA petition must be filed within one year of the date the petitioner’s judgment of sentence became final. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(3). The one-year time limitation is jurisdictional, and a trial court has no power to address the substantive merits of an untimely petition. Commonwealth v. Abu-Jamal , 833 A.2d 719, 723-24 (Pa. 2003); Commonwealth v. Gamboa-Taylor , 753 A.2d 780, 783 (Pa. 2000). The three exceptions to the one-year filing requirement are for after-discovered facts, interference by a government official, and a newly-recognized constitutional right. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(1)(i)-(iii). Any petition asserting one of these exceptions must also establish that the exception was raised within sixty days of the date the claim could have been first presented. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(2).

As such, when a PCRA petition is not filed within one year of the expiration of direct review, or not eligible for one of the three limited exceptions, or entitled to one of the exceptions, but not filed within 60 days of the date that the claim could have been first brought, the trial court has no power to address the substantive merits of a petitioner’s PCRA claims.

Gamboa-Taylor , 753 A.2d at 783. Cook’s judgment of sentence became final on June 26, 2003, after the expiration of the thirty-day period for seeking allowance of appeal with our Supreme Court. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(3); Pa.R.A.P. 1113. Thus, Cook’s Petition is facially untimely.

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*4 Cook asserts the newly discovered facts exception to the PCRA’s timeliness requirement. Brief for Appellant at 8. Specifically, Cook asserts that he was incompetent, and only became competent on or around October 1, 2015, two weeks before filing the instant PCRA Petition. Id. Cook asserts that this Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Cruz , 852 A.2d 287 (Pa. 2004), and its progeny, do not require a PCRA petitioner “to prove [his] incompetence and a timely filing prior to receiving an evidentiary hearing to prove incompetence [and] a timely filing.” Brief for Appellant at 8 (emphasis and some capitalization omitted). Cook contends that it is unfair to require him to use the “few lines” provided in PCRA Petition forms to convince the PCRA court that he was incompetent and complied with the timeliness requirements. Id. Cook additionally argues that his Petition raised a material issue of fact, requiring an evidentiary hearing. Id. at 9.

A PCRA petitioner bears the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that “he was mentally incompetent during the period in which to raise and preserve claims in his first PCRA petition.” Commonwealth v. Ali , 86 A.3d 173, 178 (Pa. 2014). Mental incompetence at relevant times may, if proven, satisfy the requirements of Section 9545(b)(1)(ii), “in which case, the claims defaulted by operation of the incompetence may be entertained.” Id. at 177-78.

In its Opinion, the PCRA court considered and rejected Cook’s claim of newly discovered facts, establishing an exception to the PCRA’s timeliness - 4 -

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*5 requirement. PCRA Court Opinion, 5/25/17, at 6-11. We agree with the sound reasoning of the PCRA court, as set forth in its Opinion, and affirm on this basis with regard to the claims raised by Cook. See id.

Order affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 12/29/2017

- 5 - *6 0 C i r c u l a t ed 12 / 07 / 2017 02 : 05 P M 0 2 1 _

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P I N I O N O f f i ce o f J u d i c i a l R e c o r d s A pp e a \ s / P O s t T r i a l P RO C E D U RA L H I S T O R Y : O n J a n u a r y 1 5 , 2 002 , f o ll o w i n g a j u r y t r i a l ' b e f o r e t h i s C o u r t , J o n a t h a n C o o k ( h e r e i n a f t e r , p e ti ti o n e r ) w a s f o und g u il t y o f t h i r d - d e g r ee m u r d e r ( H - 3 ), f i v e c o u n ts of r o bb e r y ( F - 1 ) , f o u r c o un t s of a g g r a v a t e d a ss a u l t ( F - 1 ) , a n d o n e c o u n t e ac h o f c r i m i n a l c o n s p i r a cy ( F - 1 ) , p o s s e ss i n g i n s t r u m e n ts o f c r i m e ( P I C ) ( M - 1 ) , a n d r e c k l e ss l y e n d a n g e r i n g a no t h e r p e r s on ( RE A P ) ( M - 2 ) . S e n t e n c i n g w a s d ef e rr e d u n til A p r il 1 1 , 2 0 0 2 , a t w h i c h ti m e p e ti ti o n e r w a s s e n t e n c e d t o t h e m a n d a t o r y t e r m o f li f e i m p r i s o n m e n t i n a cc o r d a n c e w i t h 4 2 P a . C . S . § 9 7 1 5 . ^[2] O n M ay 1 3 , 2 00 2 , d e f e nd a n t f i l e d a d i r e c t a p p ea l' a n d , o n M ay 2 7 , 2 00 3 , S up e r i o r C ou r t d i s m i s s e d p e titi o n e r ' s a pp ea l w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e p u r s u a n t t o a pp e ll a t e c oun s e l ' s A nd e r s " b r i e f . 5 ^[1] , - \ t t r i a l , p e tit i o n e r w a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y T a r i q K ar i m E l - S h a b azz , E s q u i r e . ^[2] § 9 7 1 5 p r o v i d e s t h a t " a n y p e r s o n c o n v i c t e d o f m u r de r o f t h e t h i r d d e g r e e i n t h i s C o m m o n w e a l t h w ho h a s p r e v i o u s l y b ee n c on v i c t e d a t a n y ti m e o f m u r d e r o r vo l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r . . . s h a ll b e s e n t e n ce d t o li f e i m p r i s o n m e n t . " O n J a n u a r y 7 , 1 9 85 , p e titi o n e r w a s c o nv i c t e d of v o l u n t ary m a n s l a u gh t e r a n d p o ss e s s i ng i n s t r u m e n t s of c r i m e , CP - 5 1- C R - 020 1 8 8 1- 1 9 8 4 . ^[3] P e ti ti o n e r w as r e p r e s e n t e d by L a r r y F e i n st e i n , E s q u i r e , o n d i r ec t a p p e a l . ^[4] A n d e r s v . C a l i f o r n i a , 3 8 6 U . S . 7 3 8 , 7 44 ( 1 9 8 1 ) ( d e s c r i b i n g t h e p r o c e d u r e f o r c o u n s e l a p p o i n t e d f o r h a n d l i n g s t a t e a p p e ll a t e p r o cee d i n g s f o r i n d i g e n t d e f e nd a n ts t o a d v i s e c o u r t t h a t a p p e ll a t e c l a i m s a r e m e r i tl e ss a n d r e qu e st p e r m i s s i o n t o w i t h d r a w a s c o u n se l). ^[5] O n d i r e c t a pp e a l , p e ti ti o n e r r a i s e d o n e c l a i m of i n e ff e c ti v e a s s i st a n c e o f c o u n s e l o n t h e g r o u n d s t h at t r i a l c ou n s e l f a i l e d t o p res e r v e a w e i gh t of t h e e v i d e n c e c l a i m r e g ar d i n g f l a w s i n p e ti t i on e r ' s i d e n ti f i ca ti o n as t he p e r p e t r a t o r o f t h e c r i m e s . S u p e r i o r Co u r t r e j e c t e d t h i s c l a i m pu rs u a n t t o C o mm on w e a lt h v . G r a n t , 8 13 A . 2 d 726 ( P a . 2 0 0 2 ), w h i c h h e l d t h a t c l a i m s

*7 Petitioner filed a Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA/ petition,pro se, on December 1, 2004, beyond the one year filing requirement stated in 42 Pa.CS. § 9545. ^[7] Counsel was appointed for defendant on July 28, 2005, ^[8] and filed a Finley ^[9] letter on November 15, 2005, explaining that she had not filed an amended petition because petitioner had not forwarded any facts which could be used to bring his petition under any of the timeliness exceptions to the PCRA's filing requirements. On November 23, 2005, because petitioner had not established that any of the enumerated exceptions to the filing requirement applied, this Court sent petitioner notice of its intent to deny and dismiss his PCRA petition without a hearing pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 907 (907 Notice). On December 16, 2005, this Court dismissed petitioner's PCRA petition consistent with its 907 Notice. On January 7, 2006, petitioner filed an appeal and, on August 16, 2006, Superior Court affirmed the trial court's dismissal of petitioner's petition as untimely."

Petitioner filed his second PCRA petition on June 12, 2009. Petitioner contended that his claims qualified as after-discovered evidence because he had filed his petition within 60 days of recovery from mental incompetence which rendered him unable to timely discover the factual bases for his collateral claims. On February 17, 2010, this Court sent petitioner a letter informing him of the requisite proof in order to determine whether a limited evidentiary hearing would be appropriate [FN contd.} of ineffective assistance of trial counsel should be addressed on collateral review rather than on direct appeal. Petitioner subsequently renewed this claim in his first petition for collateral relief. r, 42 Pa.CS.§§ 9541-9546. ^[7] Petitioner's first prose PCR.A petition raised blanket assertions of ineffective assistance of all prior counsel as well as prosecutorial misconduct. ^[3] Sondra R. Rodriguez, Esquire was appointed to represent petitioner on collateral attack pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P 904(() and Commonwealth v. Perez, 799 .A.2d 848 (Pa.Super. 2002) (holding that indigent petitioner is entitled to appointment of counsel on a first PCR.i\ petition, even where petition is untimely on its face). ^[9] Commonwealth v. Finley, 550 A.2d 213 (Pa.Super. 1988). ^[1] ° Commonwealth v. Cook, No. 133 ED:\ 2006, slip. op. (Pa.Super. 2006) (memorandum opinion).

2 *8 · - · · · ' · t · ··· · " · · '· · · - - - · · • · · · . . , . . . , · · , . _ , _ , . = - · · · · · · · - · -- • " · · " - · · - · · . . .. · . . . ' . • r .. · · ···. · , _ · ··• . - . .. .. . ·. · .. .. . < .· . . · . · · · · .. . . .. · ' X C % + ^[0] • · · • • ' " " . - � - · • - · · " ' - - - · · · · · • · , . . , · , " ·· , · , - - · - � - · ' . · . . • . · · •. • • . • · .. · . • · • . · • · · .· c . . · · , ., c ,, . C , , ... o n t h e i s s u e o f h i s a ll e g e d m e n ta l i n c o m p e t e n c y . O n M a r c h 5 , 20 1 0 , a j a il h o u s e p a r a l e g a l " s e n t t h i s C o u r t a l e t t e r as k i n g f o r a n e x t e n s i on of ti m e f o r pe titi o n e r ' s r e s p o n s e , as s e r ti ng t h a t p e titi o n e r w a s s till s u ff er i ng fr o m m e n t a l ill n e s s a n d w a s u n a b l e t o r e s p o n d i n a ti m e l y m a n n e r . O n M a r c h 3 1 , 20 1 0 , t h i s C o u r t r e ce i v e d a n a m e n d e d P C R A p e ti ti o n s i g n e d b y p e ti ti o n e r , w i t h a n a tt a c h e d l e t t e r fr o m t h e j a il h ou s e p a r a l e g a l i n d i ca ti n g t h a t t h e p a r a l e g a l ha d p r e p a r e d t h e a m e n d e d p e titi o n o n be h a l f o f pe ti ti o n e r . ^{[1] [2]} T h i s C o u r t s c h e d u l e d a h ea r i n g , w h i c h w a s h e l d o n J u n e 11 , 20 1 0 , s o t h a t p e ti ti o n e r c ou l d b e e v a l u a t e d b y a m e n t a l h e a l t h e x p e rt . J a m e s G . J o n e s , M . D . e xa m i n e d p e ti ti o n e r o n J u n e 1 1 , 2 010 , a nd f o u n d h i m m e n ta ll y i n c o m p e t e n t t o r e p r e s e n t h i m s e l f o r t o a ss i s t a n y a p p o i n t e d c oun s e l i n h i s o w n def e n s e , b u t o p i n e d t h a t t h i r t y d a y s o f t r ea t m e n t w a s r e a s o n a b l y c e r t a i n t o p r o v i d e h i m w i t h ca p a c i t y . O n J u n e 2 4 , 2 0 1 0 , t h i s C o u r t i s s u e d a n O r d e r c o m m i t ti n g p e ti ti o n e r f o r t h i r t y d a y s of m e n t a l h e a l t h t r ea t m e n t . A f t e r p e titi o n e r ' s t h i r t y d a y m e n t a l h ea lt h t r ea t m e n t w a s c o m p l e t e d , p e ti ti o n e r ' s i n c o m p e t e n c e w as f o u n d t o c on ti n u e a nd , t h e r e f o r e , o n S e p t e m be r 1 7 , 2 0 1 0 , t h i s C ou r t O r d e r e d c o m m i t m e n t o f p e ti ti o n e r f o r s i x t y a d d i ti o n . a l d a y s o f m e n t a l h e a l t h t r e a t m e n t . O n N o v e m b e r 1 5 , 20 1 0 , i n p r e p a r a ti on f o r p e ti ti o n e r ' s n e x t P C R A h ea r i n g , pe titi o n e r w a s e x a m i n e d by M il e s C . L a d e n h e i m , M . D . , J . D . , a f o r e n s i c p s y c h i a t r i s t . D r . L a d e n h e i m s u b m i tt e d a r e p o r t o n N o v e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 0 , i n d i ca ti n g t h a t pe titi o n e r r e m a i n e d i n c o m p e t e n t . O n N o v e m be r 1 8 , 2 0 1 0 , t h i s C o u r t O r d e r e d pe titi on e r c o m m i tt e d f o r a n e w si x t y d a y pe r i o d o f m e n t a l h e a l t h t r e a t m e n t . O n J a n u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 1 1 , d u e t o p e titi o n e r ' s c o n ti n u i n g i nc o m pe t e n c y , t h i s C o u r t c o n ti n u e d p e ti ti o n e r ' s P C R A h ea r i n g u n til f u r t h e r no ti ce . ^{[1] [1]} T h e s e l f - i d e n t i f i e d j a i l h o u s e pa r a l e g a l i d e n ti f i e d h i m s e l f as E r i c X . R a m b e r t , a n i n m a t e a t S C I - C o a l T o w n s h i p ( I n m a t e N u m b e r A I \ · f - 9 22 3 ) . ^{[1] [2]} F o r t h e s a k e of c l a r i t y , a n y r e f er e n c e t o t h i s f ili n g s h a ll r e f e r t o i t a s t h e " j a il h o u s e p e titi o n . " A s t h e j a il h ou s e p e ti ti o n c l a i m e d t h a t p e tit i on e r w a s i n a s t a t e of s u s t a i n e d m e n t a l i n c o m p e t e n c e , a n d as s u b s e qu e n t p r o s e f i li ng s by pe ti ti o n er m a d e n o r e p r e s e n t a ti o n s t h a t p e titi o n e r h a d a dop t e d t h e c l a i m s r a i s e d i n t h e j a il ho u s e p e ti ti o n , t h i s C ou rt d i d n o t a dd re ss t h e j a il h ou s e p e ti ti o n . T h i s C o u r t f o u n d t h a t , e v e n p u tti n g as i de t h e f a c t t h a t p e titi o n e r w as r e p r e s e n te d t o be i n c o m p e t e n t at t h e t i m e t h at t he j a i l h o u s e p e ti t i o n w as f i l e d , t h e j a il h ou s e p e titi o n w a s un h e l p f u l t o p e ti ti o n e r ' s c l a i m s a n d i n c o n s i s te n t w i t h t h e c l a i m s r a i s e d i n pe t i ti on e r ' s s e c o n d a n d t h i r d p r o s e p e t i ti on s . *9 _ .. _ _ . . _- .. ., :

- - � - , - · - - ' : : c . : .c . : : : . c - � . f ' ·· - ' ' " " ' - ' " - ' - " " · � �� � : v . · · : · < · . · · ··· . . ' · . . . : • • . : , . : . . . . • . . � . : . . : . . · · -- · · · . .. • . • · -- - · · · . , . . , . • _ . _ . ., .. � • . : , . . - · · · · - - -- - · . . . . . • . . · - - · - · . • . . , . - · . . · . . :. , · _ . • ·, . � - . . � � = . C � " • � · · · O n O c t o b e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 5 , as s e r ti n g t h a t h e h a d r e g a i n e d m e n t a l c o m p e t e n cy t w o w e e k s p r i o r , pe ti ti o n e r f il e d t h e i n s t a n t p e ti ti o n p r o s e , h i s t h i r d P C R A pe ti ti o n . O n F e b r u a ry 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 , t h i s C o u r t c on ti n u e d t h e m a tt e r f o r pe ti ti o n e r t o h a v e a c o m p e t e n c y e v a l u a ti o n . P e ti ti o n e r ' s c o m p e t e n c y e v a l u a ti on w a s c o m p l e t e d o n A p r il 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 , a n d h e w a s f o und c o m p e t e n t b y R o b e r t W . S t a n t o n , M . D _. w h o s ub m i t t e d a r e po r t , d a t e d A p r il 1 9 , 2 0 1 6 , t o t h a t eff e c t . T h i s C o u r t t h u s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t i t c o u l d p r o c e e d w i t h p e ti ti o n e r ' s P C R A pe titi o n , a nd e v a l u a t e d t h e c l a i m s o u tst a nd i n g fr o m b o t h p e ti ti o n e r ' s s e c o n d a nd t h i r d P C R A p e titi o n s . " A f t e r e v a l u a ti n g t h e f i li ng s p e ti ti o n e r h a d s ub m i tt e d , t h i s C o u r t d e t er m i n e d t h a t p e ti ti on e r f a il e d t o s a ti s f y h i s b u r d e n o f p r o o f i n s ho w i n g t h a t h i s c l a i m s s a ti s f i e d a n y o n e o f t h e ti m e li n e ss e x c e p ti o n s a r ti c u l a t e d i n § 9 5 4 5 ( b ) ( 1 ) a n d , o n O c t o b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , s e n t p e ti ti o n e r a 9 0 7 N o ti c e . O n N o v e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 , t h i s C o u rt d i s m i s s e d p e ti ti on e r ' s P C R A p e ti ti o n a s u n ti m e l y , c o n s i s t e n t w i t h i t s 9 0 7 N o ti c e . T h i s ti m e l y a p p e a l f o ll o w e d . L E G A L A N A L Y S I S :

P e titi o n e r r a i s e s t w o c l a i m s o n a pp e a l : ^[14] 1 . T h i s C o u r t v i o l a t e d p e ti ti o n e r ' s c on s ti t u ti on a l r i g h t s w h e n i t pe r m i tt e d p e ti ti on e r t o be t r i e d a nd s e n t e n ce d w h il e p e ti ti o n e r w a s i n c o m p e t e n t t o s t a nd t r i a l o r t o b e s e n t e n c e d . 2 . T r i a l c o u n s e l w a s i n e ff e c ti v e w h e r e h e f a il e d t o eff e c ti v e l y o b j e c t t o t h e i n t r o d u c ti o n o f e v i d e n c e a t t r i a l t h a t w a s no t d i s c l o s e d d u r i ng p r e t r i a l d i s c ov er y . ^{[1] [3]} P e titi o n e r ' s t h i r d p r o s e p e ti ti o n c l a i m e d : 1 ) t h a t t r i a l c o un s e l w a s i n e ff e c ti v e f o r p r o ce e d i n g w h e n h e k n e w o r s h o u l d h a v e kn o w n t h a t p e titi o n e r w a s m e n t a ll y i n c o m p e t e n t a t s e n t e n c i n g ; 2 ) t h a t p e ti ti o n e r w a s t r i e d i n s p i t e of a B ra d y v i o l a ti o n w h i c h o cc u rr e d p r i o r t o t h e s ta r t of h i s t r i a l ; a n d 3 ) t h a t t r i a l c o un s e l f a i l e d t o i m p eac h t h e c r e d i b i li t y of a k e y C o mm on w e a l t h w i t ne s s w h o w as a f o r m e r p o li c e o ff i c e r w ho l e f t t h e p o li c e f o r ce un d e r q u e s ti o n a b l e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . A d d i ti o n a ll y , p e ti ti on e r h a d t h e f o ll o w i n g i n e ff e c ti v e ass i s t a n ce o f c ou n s e l c l a i m s o u ts t a n d i n g fr o m h i s s e c o n d p r o s e p e ti ti o n : 1 ) t h a t t r i a l c o un s e l f a i l e d t o r a i s e t he c l a i m t h a t t h e C o u r t l a c k e d s u b j e c t m a t t e r j u r i s d i c ti o n o v e r pe ti ti o n er b ec a u s e t h e o r i g i n a l c r i m i n a l c o m p l a i n t w a s d e f e c ti v e o n i t s f a c e ; 2 ) t h a t t r i a l c o un s e l f a i l e d t o f i l e p o s t - s e n t e n ce m o ti on s t o v a c a t e ba se d o n t h e c l a i m t h a t p e ti ti on e r ' s c o n v i c ti o n a n d i m p o s i t i on of s e n t e n ce v i o l a t e d s t a t e p r o c e d u r a l r u l e s ; 3 ) t h a t t r i a l c ou n s e l f a il e d t o f i l e p o s t - s e n t e n ce m o ti o n s t o vac a t e t h e j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t p e titi o n e r b a s ed o n i n s u ff i c i e n c y of t h e e v i d e n c e ; 4 ) t h a t a pp e ll at e c o u n s e l f a il e d t o r a i s e t h e c l a i m t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t a b u s e d i t s d i s c ret i o n by i s s u i ng c u r a ti v e i n s t r u c ti o n s r a t h e r t h a n d e c l a r i ng a m i str i a l a f t e r t h e C o mm o n w ea lt h r e f e r e n c e d p e ti ti o n e r ' s i n c arc e r a t i on d u r i n g t r i a l ; 5 ) t h a t P C R . A c o u n s e l w a s i n e ff e c ti v e ba s e d o n f a i l u r e t o r a i s e e ac h of t h e p re v i o u s f o u r i n e ff e c t i v e n e ss of c o un s e l c l a i m s ; 6 ) t h a t P C R A c o u n s e l w a s i n e ff e c ti v e f o r f a il u r e t o a r gue t h a t pe ti t i on e r ' s c l a i m s q u a li f i e d und e r t h e a f t er - d i s c o v e r e d e v i d e n c e e x ce p ti o n s t o t he P C R . A ' s ti m e li ne s s r e q u i r e m e n t s be c a u s e p e ti t i o n e r s u ff e r e d fr o m m e n t a l i n c o m p e t e n c e w h i c h p r e v e n t e d h i m fr o m t i m e l y d i s c o v e r i n g t h e f a c t u a l b a s e s f o r h i s c o ll a t e r a l c l a i m s . ^{[1] [4]} T h i s C o u r t ha s r e p h r a s e d a nd c o n s o l i d a t e d p e t i t i o n e r ' s c l a i m s f o r e a s e o f d i s p o s i t i o n .

*10 I n i ti a ll y , t h i s C o u r t no t e s t h a t p e titi o n e r ' s s e c o nd i s s u e w a s n o t c l e a r l y r a i s e d i n e i t h e r p e titi o n e r ' s s e c on d o r t h i r d P C R A p e titi o n . W h i l e pe titi o n e r ' s t h i r d P C R A p e titi o n , f i l e d o n O c t o b e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 5 , c o n t a i n e d a c l a i m t h a t pe ti ti o n e r w a s t r i e d i n s p i t e o f a B r a d y ^{[1] [5]} v i o l a ti o n w h i c h oc c u r r e d p r i o r t o t h e s t ar t of t r i a l , p e titi o n e r ' s P C R A p e titi o n p r ov i d e d n o e x p l a n a ti on o r e l a b o r a ti o n o f a n y f a c t s w h i c h w o u l d s u p p o r t t h i s c l a i m , o r e v e n g i v e c o n t e x t t o p e r m i t t h e C o u r t ' s u nd e r s t a n d i n g o f e x ac tl y w h a t p e ti ti o n e r a ll e g e d h a d o c c u r r e d . A s p e titi o n e r d o e s n o t s t a t e h i s s ec o nd i s s u e o n a p p ea l a s a B r a d y c l a i m , t h i s C o u r t i s un a b l e t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r p e ti ti o n e r r e f e r s t o t h e u n s u p po r t e d B ra d y c l a i m r a i s e d i n h i s P C R A p e ti ti o n , o r t o a n e w c l a i m r a i s e d f o r t h e f i r s t ti m e on a p p ea l . "

" P a . R . A . P . 1 92 5 i s i n t e n d e d t o a i d t r i a l j u d g e s i n i d e n ti f y i n g a n d f o c u s i ng u po n t ho s e i s s u e s w h i c h t h e pa r ti e s p l a n t o r a i s e o n a p p e a l . " C o m m o n w e a l t h v . L e m o n , 8 0 4 A . 2d 3 4 , 3 7 ( P a . S u p e r , 2 0 0 2 ) . " W h e n t h e t r i a l c o u r t h a s t o g u e ss w h a t i ss u e s a n a p p e ll a n t i s a p p e a li ng , t h a t i s n o t e no u g h f o r m ea n i n g f u l re v i e w . " I d . , d ti ng C o mm on w e a l t h v . D o w li n g , 77 8 A . 2 d 6 83 , 6 86 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 1) . M o r e o v e r , " [ w ] h e n a n a p p e ll a n t f a il s a d e q u a t e l y t o i d e n ti f y i n a c o n c i s e m a n n e r t h e i s s u e s s o u g h t t o b e p u r s u ed o n a pp e a l , t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s i m p e d e d i n i t s p r e p a r a ti o n o f a l e g a l a n a l y s i s w h i c h i s p e r ti n e n t t o t h o s e i s s u e s . " I d . ( c i t a ti o n s o m i tt e d ). F i n a ll y , S u p e r i o r C ou r t h a s s t a t e d t h a t "a C o n c i s e S t a t e m e n t w h i c h i s t o o v a gu e t o a ll o w t h e c o u r t t o i d e n ti f y t h e i s s u e s r a i s e d o n a pp e a l i s t h e f u n c ti o n a l e q u i v a l e n t o f n o Co n c i s e S tat e m e n t a t a ll . " I d . ( c i t a ti o n s o m i tt e d ) . " E v e n i f t h e t r i a l c o u r t c o rr ec tl y g u e s s e s t h e i s s u e s [ t h e a ] p p e ll a n t r a i s e s o n a pp ea l a n d w r i t e s a n o p i n i o n p u r s u a n t t o t h a t s u p po s i ti o n , t h e i s s u e i s s till w a i v e d . " C o m m o n w e a l t h v . H e gg i n s , 8 09 A . 2 d 9 0 8 , 9 1 1 ( P a . Sup e r . 2 0 0 2 ), c i t i n g L e m o n , 8 0 4 A . 2d a t 3 6 - 3 7 . I n a s m u c h a s p e ti ti o n e r ' s s ec o n d c l a i m i s t o o v a g u e t o ^{[1] [5]} B r a d y v . M a r y l a n d , 3 73 U . S . 8 3 ( 1 96 3 ) . ^{[1] [6]} T h i s C o u r t n o t e s t h a t , e v e n i f p e ti ti o n e r ' s s e c o n d i ss u e r ef e r s t o t h e B r a d y c l a i m fr o m h i s O c t o b e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 5 p e ti ti o n , t h e a b s e n ce o f a n y f a c t s t o s u p p o r t t h e c l a i m o r de t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e c l a i m c o m p li e d w i t h a n y of t h e ti m e li n e ss e x ce p t i o n s i n d i ca t e d t h a t p e ti ti o n e r h a d f a il e d t o m e e t h i s b u r d e n t o p r o v e h i s c l a i m . S e e Co m m on w e a l t h v . B l a c k w e l l , 9 3 6 . A . 2 d 4 9 7 , 5 0 0 ( P a . S u p e r , 20 0 7 ) ( " I t i s t h e p e ti ti o n e r ' s b u r d e n t o p l ea d a n d p r o v e a n e x ce p ti o n t o t h e P C R J \. ti m e li n e ss r u l e . . .. [ F ] a il u r e t o a l l e g e a ti m e li n e ss e x ce p t i o n i n t h e P C R A p e ti t i o n i t s e l f p r e c l u de s t h e p e ti t i o n e r fr o m r a i s i n g i t o n a p p e a l . " ) . T h e r e f o r e , t h i s C o u r t w a s w i t h o u t j u r i s d i c t i o n t o c o n s i d e r p e t i t i o n e r ' s c l a i m . *11 . • . . ' · · = · · "" - ' - " � - · · -" , . > · - � " · _ _ , , ,. . . • = · - - � � , . · . · , , • . • .. · · _ .. .. . z , · · . � ·· o · , · • • · .. · , . , ·

· . . . . · . , · . . · . • · •. , · � .. • · , . , . · . . . � · · ., • . · · . , . · · · . . . , . .. . , . . _ . . . . • . • • . . . · . • •. . · _ . - · . · . _ - - · · pe r m i t m ea n i n g f u l r e v i e w , t h i s C o u r t w ill n o t s p ec u l a t e a s t o t h e s p e c i f i c i ss u e , o r i s s u e s , w h i c h p e ti ti o n e r p r o p o s e s t o ra i s e o n a p p e a l w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h i s m a t t e r . T h e r e f o r e , t h i s c l a i m w ill n o t b e a dd r e s s e d a n y f u r t h e r . A d i s c u s s i o n o f p e titi o n e r ' s r e m a i n i n g c l a i m f o ll o w s . 1 . T h i s C o u r t v i o l a t e d p e t i t i o n e r ' s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s w h e n i t p e r m i tt e d p e t i t i o n e r t o b e

t r i e d a n d s e n t e n c e d w h i l e p e t i t i o n e r w a s i n c o m p e t e n t t o s t a nd t r i a l o r be s e n t e n c e d . A m o n g t h e s e v e r a l c l a i m s pe ti ti o n e r r a i s e d i n h i s u n ti m e l y f i li n g s , p e titi o n e r c l a i m e d t h a t t r i a l

c o u n s e l w a s i n e ff e c ti v e f o r p r o c e e d i n g w h e n h e k n e w o r s h ou l d h a v e kn o w n t h a t pe titi o n e r w a s m e n t a ll y i n c o m p e t e n t a t s e n t e n c i n g . ^{[1] [7]} H o w e ve r , p e ti ti on e r c l a i m e d t h a t t h i s C o u r t c ou l d r ea c h t h e m e r i t s of a ll of h i s c l a i m s r a i s e d i n b o t h h i s s ec o n d a n d t h i r d p r o s e p e ti ti o n s , a ss e r ti n g t h a t h i s c l a i m s q u a li f i e d u nd e r t h e ti m e li n e ss e x c e p ti on f o r n e w l y - d i s c ov e r e d f a c ts i n 42 P a . C . S . § 9 5 4 5 ( b ) (1 ) ( ii ), b e c a u s e h e w a s a n d r e m a i n e d m e n t a ll y i n c o m p e t e n t t h r o u gh ou t t h e p e r i o d d u r i n g w h i c h h i s r i g h t t o f il e a P C R A p e titi o n o n t h e s e m a t t e r s l a p s e d , a nd b e c a u s e h i s t h i r d p e ti ti o n w a s f i l e d w i t h i n 6 0 d ay s o f h i s be c o m i n g c o m p e t e n t . B eca u s e p e ti ti o n e r f a il e d t o a d v a n ce s u ff i c i e n t p r o o f t o p v e r c o m e t h e p r e s u m p ti o n o f c o m p e t e n ce s upp o r t e d b y t h e t r i a l r e c o r d , a n d be c a u s e of h i s f i r s t P C R A pe ti ti o n , pe titi o n e r ' s c l a i m o f i n c o m p e t e n c e a t s e n t e n c i n g ( a n d i n c o m p e t e n c e a t t r i a l ) f a i l e d . P e ti ti o n e r ' s f i r st P C R A p e titi o n , t h o u g h u n ti m e l y , w a s c o g e n t a n d p e ti ti on e r n e i t he r c l a i m e d a n y m e n t a l i n c o m p e t e n c y n o r d i d i t a p p e a r t o t h e C o u r t at t r i a l o r s e n t e n c i n g t h a t m e n t a l i n c o m p e t e n c y m i g h t b e a n i s s u e . T h e r e f o r e , b ec a u s e pe titi o n e r f a il e d t o es t a b li s h t h e p o i n t i n ti m e a t w h i c h h e p a s s e d fr o m c o m p e t e n c e t o i n c o m p e t e n c e a n d t h e n b a c k t o c o m p e t e n c e , a n d t h a t h i s pe ti t i o n w a s f il e d w i t h i n t h e ti m e p e r i o d r e q u i r e d by t h e s t a t u t e a f t e r p a ss i n g b ac k t o c o m p e t e n ce , p e t i ti o n e r ' s c l a i m s ^{[1] [7]} O n N o v e m b e r 2 3 , 20 1 6 , f i v e d a y s a f t er t h i s C o u r t ' s N o v e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 O r d e r d i s m i ss i n g p e ti ti o n e r ' s p e ti ti o n as un t i m e l y , p e ti t i o n e r f i l e d a r es p on s e t o t h i s C o u r t ' s O c t o b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 9 0 7 N o t i c e , c l a i m i n g t h a t , i n a d d i ti o n t o h a v i ng bee n i n c o m p e t e n t t o b e s e n t e n ce d , he w as i n c o m p e t e n t t o s t a n d t r i a l . I n li g h t o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s C o u r t l o o k e d t o t h e t r i a l r e c o r d as a w ho l e i n i t s e v a l u a ti o n of p e titi on e r ' s c o m p e t e n c y c l a i m , a n d as c l a i m s of i nco m p e t e n c y ar e n o t s u b j e c t t o t h e w a i v e r p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e P C R . A , t h i s C ou r t w i ll t r e a t p e ti ti on e r ' s c o m p e t e n c y c l a i m as i f i t c on ce r n e d b o t h t r i a l a n d s e n t e n c i n g . S e e C o m m o n w ea l t h v . B r o w n , 8 72 A . 2 d 1 13 9 , 1 1 5 4 ( P a . 2 0 05 ) 0 10 l d i n g t h a t c l a i m s o f i n c o m p e t e n cy ar e no t s u b j e c t t o w a i v e r , a nd t h i s i s s o w he t h e r t h e c l a i m i s r a i s e d o n d i r e c t a pp e a l o r c o ll a t e r a l a tt a c k , as s u c h a r e s u lt w o u l d b e a b s u r d ) .

*12 -

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, c � · . • . , . • , � · ' "" ' -- ' · � ' ' ' ' , ' . · · · · · · _ .. , . . .. · . . •. . · · . •.. · .· , . . • , .· , . · · ·· ' - - .. · · · · . · . . · · . ' ' · . . · . _ ' , . . , · · � � · .. - ' " --- � ·· . ' ,. ' . " . ' • . . � · · • • . _ • • . , _ , . · . - , · , ' " ' L " ^[9] " ' ' . ' ' ' - ' · · · . ' . - · · · , · . · · · · · . · · · ' • · ·· · r a i s e d i n h i s s e c ond a n d t h i r d p r o s e pe ti ti on s d i d n o t q u a li f y as n e w l y - d i s c ov e r e d f a c ts a nd t h i s C o u r t l a c k e d j u r i s d i c ti o n t o e n t e r t a i n t he m e r i t s o f t ho s e c l a i m s .

P e n n s y l va n i a l a w p r o v i d e s t h a t " [ w ] h e n e v e r a p e r s on w ho h a s b ee n c h a r g e d w i t h a c r i m e i s f o u nd t o b e s u b s t a n ti a ll y u n a b l e t o u nd e r st a nd t h e n a t u r e o r o b j e c t of t h e p r o c e e d i ng s a g a i n st h i m o r t o p a r ti c i p a t e a n d a ss i st i n h i s de f e n s e , h e s h a ll be d e e m e d i n c o m p e t e n t t o be t r i e d , c o n v i c t e d , o r s e n t e n c e d s o l o n g a s s u c h i n c a p a c i t y c o n ti n u e s . " 5 0 P a . S . § 7 4 0 2 . A de f e n d a n t i s p r e s u m e d t o b e c o m pe t e n t t o s t a nd t r i a l , a n d t h e b u r d e n i s o n t h e d e f e n d a n t t o p r ov e , b y a p re p on d e r a n c e o f t h e e v i d e n ce , t h a t h e w as i n c o m p e t e n t d u r i n g t h e p r o c ee d i ng s . 5 0 P a . S . § 7 4 0 3 ( " [r] h e i nd i v i du a l m a k i n g a n a p p li c a ti o n t o t h e c ou r t f o r a n o r d e r d i r e c ti n g a n i n c o m p e t e n cy e x a m i n a ti o n s h a ll ha v e t h e b u r d e n o f e st a b li s h i n g i n c o m p e t e n c y t o p r o c e e d b y a p r e p on d e r a n ce o f t h e e v i d e n c e . " ); C o mm o n w ea l t h v . S m i t h , 1 7 A . 3 d 8 7 3 , 8 9 9 - 9 00 ( P a . 2 0 1 1 ) , c i ti n g C o m m o n w e a lt h v . R a i n ey , 9 28 A . 2d 2 1 5 , 23 6 ( P a . 2 0 07 ) . T o o b t a i n a he a r i n g o n s u c h a c l a i m , a p e ti ti on e r m u s t p r o ff e r e v i d e n c e t o m ee t t h i s b u r d e n . ^{[1] [8]} I d . A pp e ll a t e c o u r t s e x te n d g r ea t d e f er e n c e t o a t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e t e r m i n a ti o n o f a n a c c u s e d ' s c o m p e t e n c y b e c a u s e t h e t r i a l c ou r t h a d t h e op p o r t u n i t y t o o b s e r v e a def e n d a n t ' s b e h a v i o r d i r e c tl y . C o m m o n w e a lt h v . P r u i t t , 9 5 1 A . 2d 3 07 , 3 2 2 ( P a . 2 0 0 8 ) .

A P C R A p e ti ti o n no t f i l e d w i t h i n o n e y e a r o f t h e d a t e t h a t a pe ti ti o n e r ' s j u d g m e n t o f s e n t e n ce b ec a m e " f i n a l " m u st a ll e g e , a n d t h e pe titi o n e r m u st p r o v e , o n e o f t h e e x ce p ti o n s e n u m e r a t e d i n 4 2 P a . C S . § 9 5 4 5 ( b ) ( 1 ) , a s w e l l a s t h e " d u e d ili g e n c e " p r o v i s i o n o f § 9 54 5 ( b ) ( 2 ) :

( 1 ) ( i ) t h e f a il u r e t o r a i s e t h e c l a i m p re v i ou s l y w a s t h e r e s u l t o f i n t e r f e r e n c e b y g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s w i t h t h e p r e s e n t a ti o n of t he c l a i m i n v i o l a ti on o f t h e C o n s ti t u ti o n o r l a w s o f t h i s C o m m on w e a l t h o r t h e C o n s ti t u ti o n o r l a w s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ; ( l ) ( ii ) t h e f a c t s up on w h i c h t h e c l a i m i s p r e d i ca t e d w e r e u n k no w n t o t h e p e ti ti o n e r a n d c o u l d n o t h a v e b ee n a s ce r t a i n e d by t h e e x e r c i s e o f d u e d ili g e n c e ; o r ^{[1] [8]} � C o m m on w e a l t h v . Sa n ti a go , 8 5 5 A . 2d 6 8 2 , 6 92 - 9 4 ( P a . 20 0 4 ) ( h o l d i ng t h a t a P C R A c o u r t m a y h o l d a h ea r i ng t o r e t r o s pe c ti v e l y de ter m i n e a p e t i ti o n e r ' s c o m pe t e n cy a t t r i a l w h e re t h e i s s u e i s f i r s t r a i s e d i n a P C R . ! \ p e ti ti o n a nd w h e r e t h e p e t i t i o n r a i s e s a m a t e r i a l i ss u e o f f a c t c o n c e r n i n g p e t i t i o n e r ' s c o m p e t e n c y a t t h e ti m e o f t r i a l a nd w h e r e a d e q u a t e e v i d e n c e e x i s t s t o e v a l u a t e t h e c l a i m ).

*13 (1)(iii) the right asserted is a constitutional right that was recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States or the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania after the time period provided in this section and has been held by that court to apply retroactively. (2) Any petition invoking an exception provided in paragraph (1) shall be filed within 60 days of the date the claim could have been presented.

42 Pa.CS.§§ 9545(b)(1)(i)-(iii), (b)(2). Petitioner's petitions were facially untimely, as his second petition was filed nearly six years after the expiration of his time to seek allocatur following Superior Court's dismissal of his direct appeal. This Court could only consider the merits of the petition if petitioner proved one of the timeliness exceptions in§ 9545(b)(1) and the "due diligence" requirement in§ 9545(b)(2). Petitioner claimed that the circumstances and timing of his mental incompetence permitted him to advance all of his claims under the timeliness exception for after-discovered facts.

As a general rule, mental illness or psychological condition, absent more, willnot serve as an exception to the PCRA's jurisdictional time requirements. Commonwealth v. Hoffman, 780 A.2d 700, 702 (Pa.Super. 2001) (holding that the PCRA's timeliness requirements are both mandatory and jurisdictional in nature, and no court may alter or disregard them to reach the merits of a claim in a petition that is filed in an untimely manner). In very limited circumstances, forms of mental illness or incompetence may excuse an otherwise untimely PCRA petition. Commonwealth v. Monaco, 996 A.2d 1076, 1080-81 (Pa.Super. 2010), citing Commonwealth v. Cruz, 852 A.2d 287, 294-97 (Pa. 2004). Claims that were defaulted due to a PCRA petitioner's mental incompetence may qualify under the statutory newly-discovered facts exception on the basis that the incompetence rendered the petitioner unable to timely discover the factual bases for the collateral claims. Cruz, 852 A.2d at 293. In order for this Court to proceed to the merits of petitioner's claims alleged to be defaulted due to incompetence, petitioner was required to prove that: (1) he was and remained incompetent throughout the period during which his right to file a PCRA petition lapsed; and (2) that his current petition was timely filed within 60 days of his becoming sufficiently competent to ascertain the facts

8 *14 c V I · · ·· • . - � = « s ' " . " · < - - ' ° ' r · · , . - - · · · ' " - -· - · · · · · - · • · . · - - - - · • . · · - · � � - • , · · . . · · - , . s • · ·· · · · · · , · · · - · . · · · . · · , · · - . . · , . . , , . ,· · . - · · ··· · - · , - ·, - .• . • · , - · , / . ' . · · _ . • . · . , , · · · _ - � - " ' - ' - - ' C " / " . · · · · u pon w h i c h h i s u n d e r l y i n g c l a i m s w e r e p r e d i c a t e d . I d . a t 2 8 8 . If p e titi o n e r f a il e d t o p r o v e b o t h p o i n t s , t h i s C o u r t w a s o b li g at e d t o d i s m i s s t he pe ti ti on a s u n ti m e l y .

H e r e , pe ti ti o n e r a s s e r t e d t h a t h e w a s m e n t a ll y i n c o m p e t e n t a t t h e ti m e of t r i a l a n d s e n t e n c i n g a n d t h a t h i s t r i a l c o u n s e l w a s i n e ff e c ti v e f o r p r o ce e d i n g t o t r i a l a n d s e n t e n c i ng w h e n h i s c oun s e l k n e w , o r s h ou l d h a v e kn o w n , o f p e ti ti o n e r ' s i n c o m p e t e n c e . B e c a u s e p e ti ti on e r d i d n o t s u b m i t p r o o f s u ff i c i e n t t o o v e r c o m e t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e t r i a l r e c o r d s upp o r ti ng t h e p r e s u m p ti o n o f c o m p e t e n ce by a p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e e v i d e n ce , pe ti ti o n e r f a il e d t o m ee t h i s b u r d e n w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h i s c l a i m .

D u r i ng p e ti ti o n e r ' s t r i a l , a t w h i c h p e ti ti o n e r n o w c l a i m s h e w a s i n c o m p e t e n t , t h i s Co u r t c o ll o q u i e d p e titi o n e r w i t h r e s p e c t t o w h e t h e r h e u nd e rs t o o d h i s r i g h t s a n d a d v i s e d h i m t h a t ce r t a i n d e c i s i o n s a t t r i a l w e r e h i s a l o n e t o m a k e . A t e a c h p o i n t , p e ti ti o n e r ' s r e s p o n s e s i n d i c a t e d h i s u n d e rst a n d i n g o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h e p r o cee d i n g s a g a i n st h i m a nd h i s a b ili t y t o p a r ti c i pa t e i n h i s o w n d e f e n s e . " D u r i ng p e ti ti o n e r ' s s e n t e n c i n g , a t w h i c h pe titi o n e r n o w c l a i m s h e w a s i n c o m p e t e n t , t h i s C o u r t i n f o r m e d p e titi o n e r o f h i s r i g h t of a ll o c u ti o n :

T he C o u r t : M r . C o o k , i s t h e r e a n y t h i ng , s i r , t h a t y ou w o u l d li k e t o s ay be f o r e s e n t e n ce i s i m p o s e d i n t h e s e m a t t e r s ? Y o u h a v e t h e r i g h t t o a dd r e s s t h e C ou r t . Y o u ' r e n o t r e qu i r e d t o .

M r . C o ok : Y e s . W e ll , Y o u r H on o r , I s t a nd b e f o r e y ou a s a n i n n o ce n t m a n . T h e o n l y t h i ng I ' m gu il t y o f i s w a l k i n g o n t h e s t r ee t s . T h e C o u r t : A ll r i g h t . W e ll , t h e j u r y f o u n d o t h e r w i s e , a n d s o w e a r e b o u n d b y t h a t d e c i s i o n , M r . C o ok . Y o u r H on o r , w h e n I f i r s t c a m e h e r e , I - y o u kn o w , I p r o c e e d e d w i t h M r . C o o k : e v e r y t h i n g t h a t c o un s e l w a n t e d t o do . I d i d n ' t d e n y c o un s e l a n y t h i n g bec a u s e I w a n t e d t o f i n d o u t w h a t h a p p e n e d , t o o , y o u k no w . A n d I w a n t e d t h e D N A t e s t e d a n d e v e r y t h i n g . E v e r y t h i n g t h a t t h e c o u n s e l o r a s k e d f o r I g a v e . A n d t h e D N A c a m e b ac k u n c o n c l u s i v e [ s i c ] . I t w a s - i t w a s s o m e c o n f li c ts a b o u t - y ou k n o w w h a t I m e a n ? - a b ou t - a b o u t - a b o u t t h i s m y s t er i o u s m a s s fr o m t h e ^{[1] [9]} � , N o t e s of T es ti m o ny ( N . T . ) 1 / 9/ 0 2 a t 4 - 6 ( w he r e p e t i ti o n e r a s k e d t h e C ou r t t o e x p l a i n t h e d i ff er e n ce b e t w e e n a t r i a l b y t h e C ou r t a l on e a n d a t r i a l b y j u r y , a nd t h e n c o n f i r m e d u n d e r o a t h h i s c ho i c e t o b e tr i e d b y a j u r y ); N . T . 1 / 1 1 / 0 2 a t 5 2 6 - 53 1 ( w h er e p e ti t i o n e r , u n d e r o a t h , i n f o r m e d t h e C o u r t t h at h e h a d c h o s e n no t t o t e s ti f y . \ ' v ' h i l e p e titi o n e r t o l d t h e C o u r t d u r i n g t h i s c o ll oq u y t h a t h e h a d b e e n d i a g n o s e d w i t h a m e n t a l i ll n e ss , p e ti ti o n er s t a t e d t h e d i a gno s i s w as " [a ) l ong ti m e b a ck" a n d t h a t he d i d n o t s u ff e r fr o m t h e e ffe c ts o f t h a t i ll n e s s a t t r i a l . T he C o u r t c on f i r m e d , b as e d u pon p e titi o n e r ' s a n s w e rs , t ha t p e ti ti o n e r h a d v o l u n t a r il y a n d fr e e l y c h o s e n a g a i n s t t e s ti f y i n g . ) ; N . T . 1 / 1 4 / 02 a t 7 1 3 ( w h e r e t r i a l c o u n s e l , i mm e d i a t e l y a f t e r c onf e rr i n g w i t h p e t i ti on e r , i n f o r m e d t he C o u r t t h a t c o un s e l h a d re a d t o pe ti ti o n e r t h e p r op o s ed j u r y i n s t r u c ti o n s s u b m i t t ed b y t h e C o mm on w ea l t h , a nd h a d e xp l a i n e d t h e p o t e n ti a l i m p li c a t i o n s t o h i m ).

*15 beginning. I feel like it wasn't-you know, I didn't have a fair shake with that. Only thing I'm guilty of, Your Honor, is just walking in the street. Because they do DNA every day on TV. And the DNA was unconclusive[sic], Your Honor.

N.T. 4/11/02, 16-17.

Following this exchange, the Court read petitioner his sentence, noting that the Court had considered petitioner's mental health history as elaborated in the presentence investigation." Id. When asked, petitioner stated to the Court that he understood his sentences and that he had no questions. Id. at 19. Petitioner's conduct during the trial and sentencing proceedings was clear and coherent, and at no time did trial counsel or the Court find it necessary to raise an issue as to petitioner's competence.

To meet the limited exception provided for in Cruz, petitioner was required to establish that he entered a state of sustained incompetence at some point before the lapse of the deadline to file a PCRA petition on August 25, 2004, and remained in this state until at least August 17, 2015. ^[21] Save for unsupported allegations, petitioner failed to offer proof to overcome the record evidence supporting the presumption that he understood the nature of the proceedings against him and that he was able to participate in his own defense. Petitioner further failed to produce evidence to establish the crucial point in time where he passed from incompetence to competence, which was also necessary to determine whether petitioner met the Cruz exception. It is of note that, in petitioner's first untimely PCRA petition, he made no claim of, or reference to, incompetence, and in his second petition, filed in 2009, he stated coherent claims of ineffective assistance of counsel in 2o The presentence investigation report noted that petitioner "continues to have mental health problems for which he is receiving medication. He described hearing voices, having difficulty sleeping, having sweating hands and being scared a lot. The Defendant said that the medications seem to help somewhat." Presentence Report of Investigator Sheila Bedford at 3. The evaluative summary noted that, at the time of sentencing, petitioner "may be experiencing current mental health difficulties" and did not have "the insight nor tools to deter future recidivism." Id. at 4. ^[21] It was necessary that petitioner establish that he regained competence no earlier than 60 days before the filing of the thirdPCRi\ petition to preserve the claims from both his second petition and the third petition. If petitioner was competent for a period of 60 days during which he filed his second petition on June 12, 2009, the Cruz exception could not apply to his third petition and the claims therein would have to be dismissed as untimely.

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