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Commonwealth v. Belcher

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jul 7, 1975
340 A.2d 435 (Pa. 1975)

Opinion

Argued May 5, 1975.

Decided July 7, 1975.

Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Dauphin County, No. 1834 Criminal Division, 1973, Caldwell, J.

J. Richard Oare, Jr., Harrisburg, for appellant.

LeRoy S. Zimmerman, Dist. Atty., Marion E. MacIntyre, Edwin W. Frese, Jr., Deputy Dist. Attys., Harrisburg, for appellee.

Before JONES, C. J., and EAGEN, O'BRIEN, ROBERTS, POMEROY and NIX, JJ.


OPINION OF THE COURT


Appellant was found guilty of murder in the first degree after a trial by jury. In this appeal he raises two issues. First, he alleges that the trial judge improperly instructed the jury. However, trial counsel made no objection to the charge as given, and this first issue, therefore, is beyond our consideration. Pa.R. Crim.P. 1119(b), 19 P.S. Appendix, and Commonwealth v. Clair, 458 Pa. 418, 326 A.2d 272 (1974).

Appellant next argues that the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to convict him of murder in the first degree. He contends that the Commonwealth's evidence on the specific intent to kill was deficient. Viewing, as we must, the evidence in a light most favorable to the Commonwealth, we find the evidence presented to be sufficient beyond a reasonable doubt. See, e. g. Commonwealth v. Bederka, 459 Pa. 653, 331 A.2d 181 (1975); Commonwealth v. Hornberger, 441 Pa. 57, 270 A.2d 195 (1970); and Commonwealth v. Stukes, 435 Pa. 535, 257 A.2d 828 (1969).

Judgment of sentence affirmed.


Summaries of

Commonwealth v. Belcher

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jul 7, 1975
340 A.2d 435 (Pa. 1975)
Case details for

Commonwealth v. Belcher

Case Details

Full title:COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Sammie BELCHER, Appellant

Court:Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Date published: Jul 7, 1975

Citations

340 A.2d 435 (Pa. 1975)
340 A.2d 435

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