Commonwealth v. Bright

• Decision Date: 06 August 1982
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Dexter BRIGHT, Appellant.
• Court: Pennsylvania Superior Court

449 A.2d 596

303 Pa.Super. 98

COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Dexter BRIGHT, Appellant.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

August 6, 1982

Submitted Dec. 5, 1980.

Elaine DeMasse, Asst. Public Defender Philadelphia, for appellant.

Gaele McLaughlin Barthold, Asst. Dist. Atty., Philadelphia, for Commonwealth, appellee.

Before CERCONE, President Judge, and HESTER and WIEAND, JJ.

WIEAND Judge:

Dexter Bright has appealed from a judgment of sentence imposed following conviction in a bench trial for robbery, ^[1] criminal conspiracy ^[2] and simple assault. ^[3] His sole contention is that the trial court erred when it granted the Commonwealth's petition to extend the time for commencement of trial under Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100(c). ^[4] Finding appellant's argument to be without merit, we affirm the judgment of sentence.

Appellant was arrested on March 14, 1979, and a complaint was filed against him the following day, March 15, 1979. Pursuant to Rule 1100(a)(2), ^[5] therefore, the run date for commencement of trial was September 11, 1979. A preliminary hearing was held on April 17, 1979, and the charges against appellant were returned to court. On June 20, 1979, defense counsel requested and was granted a continuance for fifty days. Pursuant to Rule 1100(d)(2), ^[6] the grant of the fifty day continuance at the request of the defense resulted in an exclusion of twenty days and enlarged the time for commencement of trial to October 1, 1979. On August 9, 1979 the case was called for trial, but the complaining witness was then on vacation and unavailable for trial. A motion by the Commonwealth for continuance was granted, and the case was relisted for trial on September 4, 1979. On September 4, 1979, both the Commonwealth and appellant appeared before the Honorable Nicholas Cipriani, but on this date the arresting officer was on vacation and unavailable. The case was again continued, and a new trial date was set for October 23, 1979. ^[7] On September 6, 1979, the Commonwealth filed a timely application for an extension pursuant to Rule 1100(c), alleging that because of the unavailability of the complainant and the arresting officer at the two previous trial listings and despite due diligence, trial could not be commenced within the time allowed by Rule 1100. Appellant filed an answer and, on September 28, 1979, moved to dismiss. A hearing was held on October 15, 1979 before the Honorable Ned L. Hirsh, who granted the Commonwealth's petition and ordered trial to be commenced on or before November 2, 1979. On October 23, 1979, appellant was tried and convicted.

"In reviewing the lower court's ruling that the Commonwealth has or has not met its burden of proving due diligence, we may consider only the evidence presented at the hearing by the Commonwealth and that evidence presented by the defendant which remains uncontradicted." Commonwealth v. Sharp, 287 Pa.Super. 314, 317, 430 A.2d 302, 304 (1981). Accord Commonwealth v. Ehredt, 485 Pa. 191, 194, 401 A.2d 358, 360 (1979); Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 472 Pa. 553, 564, 372 A.2d 826, 831 (1977); Commonwealth v. Jackson, 269 Pa.Super. 249, 253 n.4, 409 A.2d 873, 875 n.4 (1979). Appellant offered no evidence at the hearing, and the Commonwealth offered into evidence the record containing the notations made by the trial judge at the two previous listings of the case for trial. The record disclosed that on August 9, 1979, the complainant was on vacation, and that on September 4, 1979, the arresting officer was also on vacation.

In Commonwealth v. Postell, 280 Pa.Super. 550, 552, 421 A.2d 1069, 1070 (1980), the appellant argued that the lower court had erred in accepting court records as evidence in a Rule 1100(c) hearing to extend. This Court dismissed the argument, noting that the use of notations in court records had been permitted in Commonwealth v. Gibson, 248 Pa.Super. 348, 375 A.2d 132 (1977) and Commonwealth v. Kollock, 246 Pa.Super. 16, 369 A.2d 787 (1977). See also Commonwealth v. Jackson, supra, 269 Pa.Super. at 253-254, 409 A.2d at 875. Similar records were properly received and considered by the court in the instant case.

It is beyond peradventure that " '[a] court may grant the Commonwealth an extension of time for trial if it finds that trial cannot be commenced within the prescribed period despite due diligence by the Commonwealth.' Pa.R.Crim.P. 1100(c)." Commonwealth v. Sharp, supra 287 Pa.Super. at 317, 430 A.2d at 304 (1981), quoting Commonwealth v. Miller, 270 Pa.Super. 178, 182, 411 A.2d 238, 240 (1979). In the instant case, the delays on August 9, 1979 and September 4, 1979 were occasioned by the unavailability of the Commonwealth's witnesses due to their respective vacation schedules. "[W]hen witnesses become unavailable toward the end of the Rule 1100 time period--whether through vacation, illness, or other reasons not within the Commonwealth's control--the Commonwealth is prevented from commencing trial within the requisite period despite its due diligence and an extension of time is warranted." Commonwealth v. Sharp, supra 287 Pa.Super. at 317, 430 A.2d at 304, quoting Commonwealth v. Sinor, 264 Pa.Super. 178, 183 n.5, 399 A.2d 724, 727 n.5 (1979) (emphasis added). This Court has repeatedly held that where delay in the commencement of trial is caused by the unavailability of a witness rather than by a lack of due diligence on the part of the Commonwealth, an extension under Rule 1100(c) is properly granted: Commonwealth v. Thompson, 292 Pa.Super. 108, ---, 436 A.2d 1028, 1030 (1981); Commonwealth v. Long, 288 Pa.Super. 414, 432 A.2d 228 (1981); Commonwealth v. Schuster, 288 Pa.Super. 310, 431 A.2d 1063 (1981); Commonwealth v. Sharp, supra 287 Pa.Super. at 318, 430 A.2d at 304; Commonwealth v. Coleman, 280 Pa.Super. 162, 164, 421 A.2d 455, 456 (1980); Commonwealth v. Brant, 272 Pa.Super. 135, 141, 414 A.2d 707, 710 (1979); Commonwealth v. Sinor, supra 264 Pa.Super. at 183 n.5, 399 A.2d at 727 n.5; Commonwealth v. Brown, 252 Pa.Super. 365, 369, 381 A.2d 961, 963 (1977).

Moreover, the initial delay in the instant case was caused by a defense requested continuance. "[D]efense-requested continuances may realistically obstruct diligent efforts by the Commonwealth to try an accused and may, therefore, justify an extension under Rule 1100(c)." Commonwealth v. Brant, supra 272 Pa.Super. at 140-141, 414 A.2d at 709, quoting Commonwealth v. Mancuso, 247 Pa.Super. 245, 253-254, 372 A.2d 444, 448 (1977). Accord Commonwealth v. Hill, 290 Pa.Super. 399, 403, 434 A.2d 813, 815 (1981); Commonwealth v. Garnett, 258 Pa.Super. 115, 120, 392 A.2d 711, 713 (1978); Commonwealth v. Brown, supra 252 Pa.Super. at 368-369, 381 A.2d at 963; Commonwealth v. Gibson, 248 Pa.Super. 348, 352, 375 A.2d 132, 133 (1977). Although it cannot be said that the defense continuance prevented trial within the period allowed therefor by Rule 1100, it may be observed that such continuance did delay trial until the traditional summer vacation period. Thus, it could be considered by the court in determining whether the Commonwealth had exercised due diligence.

This is not a case involving the concept of judicial delay. Therefore, we find it unnecessary to discuss the circumstances under which judicial delay will warrant the granting of an extension under Commonwealth v. Mayfield, 469 Pa. 214, 364 A.2d 1345 (1976). The only issue in this case is whether the Commonwealth exercised due diligence in commencing trial.

Appellant's trial date, as set by the court, was twenty-two days beyond the original amended run date under Rule 1100. ^[8] The causes for the delay were (1) a defense continuance, and (2) the unavailability of Commonwealth witnesses occasioned through no fault of the Commonwealth. Under these circumstances, the trial court properly granted an extension of time within which to commence trial.

The judgment of sentence is affirmed.

CERCONE President Judge, files a dissenting opinion.

CERCONE, President Judge, dissenting:

I heartily dissent.

Rule 1100(c) provides that applications by the Commonwealth to extend the time for trial may be granted "only if trial cannot be commenced within the prescribed period despite due diligence by the Commonwealth." Since Commonwealth v. Mayfield, 469 Pa. 214, 364 A.2d 1345 (1976), Rule 1100(c) has been interpreted to require a record showing of due diligence. The Supreme Court stated there:

Henceforth, the trial court may grant an extension under Rule 1100(c) only upon a record showing: (1) the "due diligence" of the prosecution, and (2) certification that trial is scheduled for the earliest date consistent with the court's business; provided that if the delay is due to the court's inability to try the defendant within the prescribed period, the record must also show the causes of the court delay and the reasons why the delay cannot be avoided.

Id. at 222 364 A.2d at 1349-1350. Cf. Commonwealth v. Berry, 271 Pa.Superior Ct. 466, 414 A.2d 130 (1979); Commonwealth v. Warman, 260 Pa.Superior Ct. 143, 393 A.2d 1046 (1978). Mere assertions of due diligence and allegations of fact do not establish cause for an extension of time under Rule 1100(c). See Commonwealth v. Ehredt, 485 Pa. 191, 401 A.2d 358 (1979); Commonwealth v. Antonuccio, 257 Pa.Superior Ct. 535, 390 A.2d 1366 (1978); Commonwealth v. Ray, 240 Pa.Superior Ct. 33, 360 A.2d 925 (1976). Of course, the Commonwealth may obtain the extension it seeks if it presents sufficient evidence at the hearing on Rule 1100 petition. Cf. Commonwealth v. Cimaszewski, 261 Pa.Superior Ct. 39, 395 A.2d 931 (1978). In our review of the hearing court's ruling we may consider the evidence presented by the Commonwealth and only so much of the defense evidence which goes uncontradicted. Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 472 Pa. 553,...