Commonwealth v. Ash

OPINION

LARSEN, Justice.

On September 30, 1969, the body of Patricia Emlaw was found in a wooded area in Luzerne County. She had died of knife slashes of the neck. Appellant was indicted for the murder of Miss Emlaw and on March 30, 1970, he entered a general plea of guilty to the charge of murder before Judge Olszewski of the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County. After hearing the Commonwealth’s case, Judge Olszewski determined that the murder may be of the first degree and pursuant to Rule 1115(b) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, elected to secure two additional judges who,…