Commonwealth v. Frye
Commonwealth v. Frye
Concurring Opinion
I concur in the result reached by the majority, but disagree with much of the reasoning. First, although I agree that it was not error for the court below to ¿dmit the evidence seized in the search of the apartment building in which appellant resided, this is for the sole reason that there was neither a motion to suppress under Rule 2001 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure nor an objection at trial to the admission of the evidence.
Second, I strongly disagree with the statement of the majority that “as soon as defendant admitted the stabbing, he was informed of his constitutional rights ás required by Miranda v. Arizona [384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966)].” On the contrary, neither at that time nor at any other time was he advised that a lawyer would be appointed to represent him if he was indigent. Commonwealth v. Sites, 427 Pa. 486, 235 A. 2d 387 (1967). Although the majority does not discuss it, appellant signed a written statement, which was admitted into evidence over his objection. I agree with thé court below that the statement was properly admitted, but only for the reason that no motion to suppress was timely made under Rule 324 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure. Commonwealth v. Eckhart, 430 Pa. 311, 242 A. 2d 271 (1968).
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
On January 25, 1967, a jury found Edward Frye guilty of murder in the second degree. The Court en banc dismissed defendant’s motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment. On February 5, 1967, Frye was sentenced to the Western Pennsylvania Diagnostic Clinic for a term of not less than five nor more than fifteen years. This appeal followed.
Defendant and the victim, Robert Alston, were roommates and both worked as bellboys at a golf club. On the night of Alston’s death, defendant and Alston had argued at a local bar and also in their room. Tenants at the same apartment or rooming house testified that during the argument defendant chased Alston to the second floor with a knife in his hand. Afte,r the two men were separated by tenants, defendant and Alston returned to their room on the third floor. Defendant testified that Alston then attacked him and that during the fight Alston was accidentally cut by defendant’s knife. On the other hand, the Commonwealth contends that on their return to the. third floor
Defendant advances twelve arguments in support of his appeal.
Defendant contends that he was unlawfully arrested without a warrant. The record reveals, however, that at the time defendant was arrested the arresting officer knew that a felony had been committed (Alston had been stabbed) and had probable cause to believe that defendant had committed the stabbing since defendant had chased Alston with a knife in his hand and after the stabbing, and immediately preceding arrest, had volmitwity admitted to the officer that he had stabbed Alston. Under these facts and circumstances an arrest without a warrant is valid. Commonwealth v. Goslee, 427 Pa. 403, 234 A. 2d 849. The law is well established that warrantless arrests must be predicated upon probable cause and probable cause exists where the facts and circumstances within the arresting officer’s knowledge and of which he had reasonably trustworthy information are sufficient in themselves to justify a reasonable belief that an offense has been or is being committed and that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing
Defendant next contends that there was an unlawful .search of the premises in. which he resided, and that evidence unlawfully obtained during the search was used against him at the trial. The récord reveals, however, that the search was not of the apartment owned, leased or occupied by defendant but of a first floor apartment, which defendant occasionally visited, and of the passageways, stairways and landings of the building which were used in common by all the apartment building tenants. This search of such premises without a warrant is not a violation of defendant’s Constitutional rights. Moreover, there was no pretrial motion to suppress this evidence, and no objection to its admission was made at the trial.
Defendant also complains of the Court’s denial of his' request for a bill of particulars. The record shows that the request was not made to the Court below, but was filed with the Clerk of Courts and the District Attorney. The bill of particulars was never submitted to the Court for approval in accordance with Rule 221(b) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. In any event, the granting of a bill of particulars is within the discretion of the lower Court. Moreover, Rule 221(c) provides that “When an application for relief is made, the Court may make such orders as it deems necessary in the interests of justice.” Not only was Rule 221(b) not complied with, but we further find that a bill of particulars in this case was unnecessary in the interests of Justice and there was no reversible error.
Defendant next contends that his - Constitutional rights were violated because he did not have counsel at the preliminary hearing. Under the facts in this
Defendant also contends that his Constitutional rights were violated because his confession (of the stabbing) which he gave the police was involuntary and was given without the required Constitutional warnings. Buie 323 of the Pennsylvania Buies of Criminal Procedure provides, in pertinent part: “If timely application is not made hereunder, the issue of the admissibility of [the confession on this ground] shall be deemed to be waived.”
Defendant also contends that his trial counsel did not give him adequate representation before or during ■the trial. However, we find no reason to disagree with the trial Judge’s observations and assessment of defense counsel’s performance in defendant’s behalf. These appear of record in the trial transcript as follows: “Mr. Frye, I say to you very sincerely, I think that Mr. Harper has done a tremendous job for you and I compliment him for that.” The trial Judge’s summation of defense counsel’s performance was made after the jury returned its verdict. Nor do we find
Defendant also raises the question of the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury’s finding of guilty of murder in the second degree. It is hornbook law that the test of the sufficiency of the evidence— irrespective of whether it is direct or circumstantial, or both — is whether, accepting as true all the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom, upon which if believed the jury could properly have based its verdict, it is sufficient in law to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the crime or crimes of which he has been convicted. Commonwealth v. Finnie, 415 Pa. 166, 202 A. 2d 85; Commonwealth v. Burns, 409 Pa. 619, 684, 187 A. 2d 552; Commonwealth v. Kravitz, 400 Pa. 198, 161 A. 2d 861; Commonwealth v. Williams, 432 Pa. 557, 248 A. 2d 301 (1968). Accepting as true, as we must, all of the credible and competent evidence, together with all reasonable inferences therefrom, it was undoubtedly adequate to prove defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and to support the jury’s verdict.
We find no merit in any of defendant’s contentions.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
A slight modification in the language of this provision of Bulo 323 was promulgated, effective February 3, 1969.
Italics, ours.
Reference
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- Commonwealth v. Frye, Appellant
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