Commonwealth v. Brewer

OPINION OF THE COURT

EAGEN, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from orders of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County dated September 15, 1976. The case has a unique procedural history.

Charles Henry Brewer was indicted for the murder of his two-year-old stepdaughter, who died on January 19, 1959. On August 31, 1959, Brewer, who was represented by court-appointed counsel, entered a plea of not guilty and trial by jury began on that date. On the third day of trial, after the Commonwealth had presented the testimony of eleven witnesses, Brewer entered a plea of guilty to the charge of…