Commonwealth v. Sanford

OPINION

LARSEN, Justice.

On January 5, 1976, appellant, Michael Sanford, met with approximately one dozen gang members in order to retaliate against someone who had previously harmed one of the members in appellant’s gang. Armed with knives and screwdrivers, appellant and a dozen or so other members ambushed three boys coming out of a grocery store, stabbing all three and killing Steven Johnson. Appellant was placed under arrest after being questioned later the same evening.

Appellant, was tried without a jury before the Honorable Marvin R. Halbert, Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.…