Commonwealth v. Hardcastle

*241OPINION

McDERMOTT, Justice.

Appellant, Donald Hardcastle, appeals from the judgment of sentence of death imposed by the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia.

The basic facts of this case are as follows. On May 23, 1982, Joseph Gregg, age 60, and Ernestine Dennis, age 57, were found dead in Mr. Gregg’s home at 2122 West Stewart Street in Philadelphia. Joseph Gregg had been stabbed thirty-three times, Ernestine Dennis had been stabbed thirty-four times, and Joseph Gregg’s house had been set on fire. Testimony of several neighbors placed appellant, Donald Hardcastle, at or near the scene at the…