Commonwealth v. Showers

¶ 1 This appeal is from the denial of a first request for post-conviction relief from a life sentence for first degree murder. The central issue for determination is whether appellant showed by a preponderance of the evidence that counsel on direct appeal did not have a rational, strategic, or tactical basis for not pursuing the five issues now presented. We conclude that appellant has not borne her burden of proof, and therefore, we affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.

¶ 2 This court affirmed the judgment of sentence upon direct appeal in a published opinion on June 20, 1996. Com. v.…