Commonwealth v. Dinkins

Following a nonjury trial, defendant, Robert Dinkins, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of crime. The defendant filed a motion for new trial and in arrest of judgment. The trial judge granted a new trial but denied the arrest of judgment. Both parties have filed appeals — the prosecution contending the trial court should not have granted a new trial and the defendant contending the trial court should have arrested judgment.

On December 4, 1976 the defendant returned to the home he shared with his two sisters and found his sister, Annie Dinkins in the…