Commonwealth v. Smith

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Roberts,

Following a joint trial by jury, appellant and a codefendant were found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life imprisonment. On this direct appeal from the judgment of sentence,1 appellant attacks the sufficiency of the evidence and challenges three rulings by the court during trial. Finding appellant’s contentions unpersuasive, we affirm.

The Commonwealth’s evidence established that on January 15, 1972, George Fautz, a barber, was brutally beaten and robbed in his Harrisburg shop. Later that day, appellant on two separate occasions discussed…