Bilokur v. Commonwealth

Argument at bar was confined to the question whether a defendant’s statutory right to be present at trial and his constitutional right of confrontation were abridged by the stipulation into evidence of an incriminating extrajudicial statement.

Sitting without a jury, the trial court convicted Derrick Bilokur of maiming his five-year-old half-sister, Melanie Stawecki; of breaking and entering the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kelly; of maiming Mrs. Kelly; and of assaulting the arresting officer. He was sentenced to serve a total of 40 years in the penitentiary on the maiming convictions.…