Commonwealth v. Paddy

OPINION

SAYLOR, Justice.

This is the direct appeal of Donyell Paddy from the sentence of death imposed following his conviction of the first-degree murder of Lashawn Whaley.

According to the evidence offered at trial, the events leading up to Lashawn’s murder began on January 15,1991, when two men were shot to death as they played basketball at the Panati Playground at 22nd and Lippincott Streets in Philadelphia. Lashawn, standing across the street, witnessed the shootings. Although initially reluctant to cooperate with the police, Lashawn eventually gave a formal statement identifying Paddy as…