Commonwealth v. Johnson

OPINION

Chief Justice CASTILLE.

The Commonwealth appeals from the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County (“PCRA court”) overturning the verdict of guilt and sentence of death, and awarding appellee Raymond Johnson a new trial pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546. The court granted relief premised upon a finding that trial counsel were ineffective in various respects relating to the investigation and presentation of the defense at both the guilt and penalty phases. In granting guilt phase relief, the PCRA court declined to pass on the…