Commonwealth v. Rainey

OPINION

MONTEMURO, Justice.

On December 27, 1991, a jury found appellant, Michael Rainey, guilty of murder of the first degree 1 , robbery 2 , and related offenses. Three days later the jury imposed a sentence of death following a sentencing hearing held pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711. After denying appellant’s post-verdict motions, the trial court formally imposed a sentence of death as well as a consecutive sentence of ten to twenty years imprisonment for appellant’s robbery conviction. This direct appeal automatically followed. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(h)(1).

Appellant’s convictions stem from the…