Commonwealth v. Cross

OPINION

MONTEMURO, Justice.

This is the appeal of Charles E. Cross, appellant, from a final order of the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County denying relief under the Post Conviction Relief Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 9541 et seq. Because this is a case in which the death penalty has been imposed, jurisdiction over this appeal is conferred on this Court by 42 Pa.C.S. § 9546(d) (1988).

Appellant was convicted by a jury on March 1, 1982, for the murders of Denise Lucic and her two children, Danielle, age 7 and John, Jr., age 3. The jury found appellant guilty of three counts of first degree murder, and…