Commonwealth v. Smith

WICKERSHAM, Judge:

Derrick Smith appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed by the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.

On January 22, 1983, police were called to appellant Smith’s residence, where they found Smith and the body of his common law wife, Vivian Pickens. Pickens had been strangled with an electric cord attached to a curling iron. Appellant told police “I killed my baby and she ain’t here no more.” N.T. 1/30/84, 19.

Appellant was arrested and taken to the police station where he made a formal statement admitting that he had strangled Pickens. Four hours later, he tried to…