Commonwealth v. Taylor

OPINION OF THE COURT

ROBERTS, Justice.

Appellant James Taylor appeals from judgments of sentence entered after a jury convicted him of murder of the first degree and aggravated robbery. 1 We reverse the judgment on both charges because a defense witness was improperly impeached by admissions of arrests which had not resulted in convictions.

I

Robert Morgan, a housepainter by trade, was beaten on September 1, 1971. He died of injuries two weeks later.

Shortly after the incident took place, police officers investigating the beating were called to a nearby State Liquor Store where appellant and a…