Commonwealth v. Tolbert

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Roberts,

After two extensive hearings under the Post Conviction Hearing Act in which appellant’s 1953 guilty plea to murder and resultant life sentence were called into question, the hearing court denied all of appellant’s claims except his prayer for the right to appeal nunc pro tunc. Pursuant to the grant of relief below, appellant has taken this appeal, although he has done so pro se.

We note at tbe outset that appellant is constitutionally entitled to the assistance of counsel on direct appeal. See Commonwealth v. Wilson, 430 Pa. 1, 241 A. 2d 760 (1968). Counsel is of…