Commonwealth v. Murray

BROSKY, Judge:

This appeal is from judgment of sentence imposed subsequent to conviction for one count of aggravated assault and two counts of simple assault. Appellant raises four issues on appeal, one of which we find meritorious. 1 This case presents the question of whether a criminal defendant’s right to a public trial under the Pennsylvania and Federal Constitutions attaches during a preliminary hearing. The issue of whether a defendant’s right to a public trial applies to a preliminary hearing is a case of first impression in this Commonwealth. We agree that this constitutional right…