Commonwealth v. Stokes

OPINION ANNOUNCING THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

CAPPY, Justice.

Three consecutive sentences of death were imposed upon Ralph Trent Stokes on June 9, 1987. Further cumulative consecutive sentences of ten to twenty years for robbery, 1 two and one-half to five years for possessing instruments of crime, 2 and five to ten years for criminal conspiracy 3 were also imposed. As this case culminated in a penalty of death it is subject to direct automatic review by this Court. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(h)(1). In accordance with our statutory duty we will begin with a review of the sufficiency of the evidence.…