Commonwealth v. Broaddus

Opinion by

Me. Justice Eagen,

In February 1959, Spencer Broaddus, the appellant, while assisted by counsel, entered a plea of guilty to murder generally. After an evidentiary hearing before a three-judge court, he was found guilty of murder in the first degree and was sentenced to life imprisonment. No appeal was filed.

In September 1964, Broaddus instituted an action in habeas corpus in the trial court, which was later dismissed. No appeal was entered from this order.

In 1967, Broaddus filed a petition in the trial court under the Post Conviction Hearing Act,1 and, after a counseled evidentiary…