Commonwealth v. Mikell

OPINION

SAYLOR, Justice.

Appellant, William Mikell (“Mikell”), appeals from the sentence of death imposed after a jury found him guilty of the first-degree murder and robbery of Joseph P. Johnston, a taxicab driver.

Shortly after midnight on May 22, 1987, Mikell arrived at the home of Anthony Rice (“Rice”) at 6024 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. At the time, Rice was sitting on the porch along with his younger brother, Joseph, Narvell Coleman (“Coleman”), and two men identified only as Rob and Alfred. The group remained on the porch throughout the early morning hours, talking and smoking…