Commonwealth v. Pruitt, M., Aplt.

OPINION

CHIEF JUSTICE SAYLOR

This is a capital post-conviction appeal;

On September 23, 2003, Appellant forcibly entered the Berks County home of Greta A. Gougler, where he robbed, raped, and murdered her. Appellant was arrested, tried, and convicted for first-degree murder, rape, robbery, and other offenses, and a jury returned a death verdict in a capital sentencing proceeding. On direct appeal, this Court affirmed. See Commonwealth v. Pruitt, 597 Pa. 307, 951 A.2d 307 (2008).

In 2009, Appellant commenced the present proceedings under the Post Conviction Relief Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546 (the…