Commonwealth v. Auker

OPINION OF THE COURT

ZAPPALA, Justice.

The appellant, Robert Donald Auker, was convicted of murder of the first degree and kidnapping of his former wife, Lori Ann Auker, by a jury in the Court of Common Pleas of Northumberland County. At the sentencing phase, the jury returned a verdict of death. The Court of Common Pleas imposed a death sentence in addition to a consecutive sentence of ten to twenty years for kidnapping. The present direct appeal ensued. Although we affirm Appellant’s convictions, we vacate the sentence of death and remand for a new sentencing hearing.

A. Background

The events…