Commonwealth v. Hawkins

894 A.2d 716 (2006)

COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellant

v.

Brian W. HAWKINS, Appellee.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Submitted February 24, 2004.

Decided March 29, 2006.

Nicholas J. Casenta, Joseph W. Carroll, III, for the Com. of PA, appellant.

Christian J. Hoey, for Brian Hawkins, appellee.

Before: CAPPY, C.J., CASTILLE, NEWMAN, SAYLOR, EAKIN, BAER and BALDWIN, JJ.

OPINION

Justice BAER.

The Commonwealth appeals the Superior Court's order affirming the PCRA[1] court's grant of a new trial to Brian Hawkins (Appellee). The courts below ruled that trial counsel's decision not to seek a jury charge…