Commonwealth v. Clayton

OPINION ANNOUNCING THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

ZAPPALA, Justice.

This direct appeal arises from the March, 1982 jury trial of Appellant Willie Clayton for the shooting death and *27robbery of Earl Grice on May 26, 1980. Appellant was found guilty of murder of the first degree, robbery, and possession of an instrument of crime. The sentence of death was imposed by the jury on the murder charge. Consecutive sentences of imprisonment of ten to twenty years on the robbery charge and of two-and-one-half to five years on the weapon offense were imposed.

During pre-trial motions before the trial judge,…