Heacock v. Commonwealth

The principal question in this appeal is whether one who feloniously distributes cocaine is guilty of murder of the second degree when the recipient dies of an overdose. We will also consider other issues raised by the assignments of error.

The evidence is without substantial conflict. Jeff Chalkley and Audi Chaplin were hosts at a “drug party” held in their home during the early morning hours of August 16, 1981. Forrest Perry Heacock supplied a quantity of what was described as “[vjery high quality cocaine”. Heacock took the cocaine from a “baggie,” laid it in separate lines on a table, and…