Commonwealth v. Barksdale

Opinion by

Spaulding, J.,

Appellant William Barksdale was convicted of burglary and aggravated robbery and acquitted of attempt with intent to kill by the Honorable Paul Chai,fin and a jury in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia. He appeals from an order of September 9, 1970, denying his motions in arrest of judgment and for a new trial.

Two issues raised by appellant require our consideration. First, the court, in its charge to the jury, repeatedly defined “reasonable doubt” as a doubt which would cause one to “refrain from acting” in matters of highest importance in his own life. In…