Commonwealth v. Lafty

HESTER, Judge:

Appellee, Joseph M. Lafty, was charged with simple assault, aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of *431crime-generally, possession of an offensive weapon, and criminal conspiracy as a result of the severe beating of Ronald Thomaston on June 8, 1979 on an elevated public transportation platform at Kensington and Allegheny Avenues in Philadelphia. Appellee accosted the victim uttering a disparaging racial remark and then proceeded to beat him with a “two by four” board. The victim did not provoke the actions of appellee and his companions. Mr. Thomaston underwent surgery…