Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Hvizda, J.

OPINION

Chief Justice SAYLOR.1

The issue presented concerns whether a common pleas court was required to permit withdrawal of a guilty plea, upon the defendant-appellee’s assertion of innocence. The appeal is a companion case with Commonwealth v. Carrasquillo, 631 Pa. 692, 115 A.3d 1284 (2015).

Appellee stabbed his estranged wife, Kimberly, to death. He immediately surrendered to police and confessed. Subsequently, he pled guilty to first-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime. In exchange for the plea, the Commonwealth was to recommend that Appellee would receive the mandatory…