Pennsylvania v. Elliott (majority)
Annotate this CaseIn 1994, Appellee Joseph Elliott was convicted of the first degree murder of Kimberly Griffith, and sentenced to death. Following the denial of relief on direct appeal, appellee filed a petition for collateral relief. Without holding an evidentiary hearing, the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County (the PCRA court) granted appellee a new trial on the following grounds: (1) that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to prepare for trial or interview appellee in person prior to trial; and (2) that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the medical examiner’s testimony regarding the estimated time of the victim’s death. The PCRA court denied appellant relief on his remaining claims. The Commonwealth appealed the PCRA court’s grant of a new trial, and appellee filed a cross-appeal from the denial of relief on his other issues. After careful consideration of the PCRA Court record, the Supreme Court found appellee did not meet his burden to prove he received ineffective assistance of counsel, and that it was an error for the lower court to grant a new trial without an evidentiary hearing. Therefore the Supreme Court reversed the grant of a new trial, and affirmed the denial of relief on appellee's remaining claims.
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