Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Childs, W.

OPINION

Justice DONOHUE.

In this appeal by the Commonwealth, we are asked to determine whether William Childs (“Childs”) was entitled to a castle doctrine1 jury instruction pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 505(b)(2.1), which became effective after Childs was charged with the crimes at issue but prior to his trial on those charges. We conclude that section 505(b)(2.1) does not affect a person’s right to use deadly force within his or her home, but rather creates an evidentiary presumption relevant to the evaluation of such a claim of self-defense, and is therefore a procedural statute. Because section…