Commonwealth v. Cooney

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Bell,

Appellant was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Sylvia Jackson, who was living with appellant. In April of 1967, appellant, while represented by counsel, was tried for murder and voluntary manslaughter. Appellant attempted to prove that the killing was accidental or that Sylvia, after wounding him, committed suicide. Appellant testified at his trial that Sylvia was pointing a gun at him, and when he tried to take it away from her it went off and he was shot in the head, and that he did not remember anything until he woke up in the police…