Commonwealth v. Patton

OPINION

Justice EAKIN.

Appellant shot and killed his brother, Anthony, at a local bus stop. After fleeing to Cleveland, Ohio, he was arrested and returned to Pennsylvania. Loenell Howze, who was with Anthony at the bus stop, initially refused to assist the Commonwealth’s investigation; he later explained his initial unwillingness to cooperate was a result of his upbringing. An investigating officer noted “there is a perception that talking to the police is bad” in Howze’s neighborhood. N.T. Trial, 2/23/05, at 37.

Several days after the shooting, Howze decided to cooperate with police. Howze…