Commonwealth v. Smyrnes, R., Aplt.

OPINION

CHIEF JUSTICE SAYLOR

This is a capital direct appeal arising out of Appellant’s participation, with a group of five other individuals, in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of Jennifer Lee Daugherty. The case is a companion one to that of co-perpetrator Melvin Knight. See Commonwealth v. Knight, 638 Pa. 546, 156 A.3d 239, 2016 WL 6873044 (2016).

I. Background

In February 2010, Ms. Daugherty visited Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where she encountered Appellant and his five co-perpetrators, including Knight; Appellant’s girlfriend, Angela Marinucci; and Amber Meidinger, with whom the victim…