Commonwealth v. Jones
Commonwealth v. Jones
Concurring Opinion
I concur in the decision of the court, and join in its opinion except for the portion dealing with the court’s failure to instruct on voluntary manslaughter. I think that, if requested, it would have been reversible error on the part of the trial court not to charge that voluntary manslaughter was a verdict which was within the power of the jury to return, even though there was no evidence to support such a finding. See Commonwealth v. Matthews, 446 Pa. 65, 285 A. 2d 510 (1971) (dissenting opinions of Mr. Justice Roberts and of the writer); Commonwealth v. Banks, 447 Pa. 356, 364, 285 A. 2d 506 (1971) (dissenting opinion of the writer, joined by Mr. Justice Roberts) ; Commonwealth v. Davis, 449 Pa. 468, 297 A. 2d 817 (1972) decided this day (opinions of Mr. Justice Roberts and of the writer in opposition to order of affirmance); and Commonwealth v. Kenney, 449 Pa. 562, 297 A. 2d 794 (1972), decided this day (dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Roberts, joined by the writer).
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting Opinion by
I dissent. It was error for the trial court not to charge the jury on involuntary manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter is defined as the killing of another without malice and unintentionally, but in the course of some unlawful act not amounting to a felony ... or negligently doing some act lawful in itself. Commonwealth v. Mayberry, 290 Pa. 195, 138 A. 686 (1927). The jury, as triers of fact, could have found that the death occurred as a result of a negligent act, since there was evidence that the fire was accidently set by the act of placing the can of gasoline too near the “hotplate”. It was within the province of the jury to either believe or disbelieve this testimony, and decide
The trial court also improperly deprived the defendant of a jury trial on the issue of malice which is a necessary element of murder and must always be decided by the jury. See Commonwealth v. Yuknavich 448 Pa. 502, 295 A. 2d 290 (1972) (concurring opinion by Justice Manderino ).
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The appellant, George Washington Jones, was indicted in separate hills for murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter and arson. The charges grew out of a fire which took the life of a five-week-old infant, Sean McKinnon, and destroyed the interior of a dwelling house at 2010 Federal Street in Philadelphia.
When the issue was called for trial, Jones was first arraigned on the murder and arson indictments at the request of the district attorney and then at the direction of the court he was arraigned on the involuntary manslaughter indictment. Pleas of not guilty were entered to the three indictments. After trial the jury returned a verdict of guilty of arson and guilty of murder in the first degree. By direction of the court, Jones was found not guilty on the involuntary man
Since a final judgment was not entered on the arson conviction, the appeal in that case is premature and will be quashed. Cf. Commonwealth v. Pollick, 420 Pa. 61, 215 A. 2d 904 (1966).
We initially note that while the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the conviction of murder in the first degree is not challenged, nonetheless, we have reviewed the record and are completely satisfied the trial testimony amply supports this conviction. From the testimony the jury was warranted in finding that after-threatening to “burn the place down”, Jones deliberately spilled gasoline over the floor of the first floor rooms of the house involved from a five-gallon can and then ignited the gasoline with a lit match. The conflagration followed.
In challenging the validity of the murder conviction and sentence imposed thereon, Jones principally asserts he was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial
A lapse of thirty-two months between arrest and trial does not necessarily mean the accused has been denied a speedy trial in the constitutional sense.
In Barker the Court characterized the length of delay as a “triggering mechanism”. Under the facts of
A second factor, identified by the Court, in Barker to be considered in determining if the rights of the accused were violated is the reason for the delay in bringing him to trial. In relation to this the record sustains the following conclusions by the trial court.
While the case was not listed for trial in the first instance until eleven months after the arrest, Jones suffered no prejudice by this delay and in fact was not ready for trial during this period. A request for a psychiatric examination, the results of which could hopefully be used in defense of the charges was not made until eighteen months after the arrest. After the case received its initial trial listing, nine continuances were granted, five of these at the request of the defense and two at the request of the district attorney, to which no objection was entered and which in no way attempted to delay the trial in order to hamper the defense. Additionally, the case was removed from the trial list in one instance for the purpose of plea bargaining negotiations and in another instance for reasons not discernible from the record. While we do not look with favor on such delays, we are not persuaded that under the circumstances the delays constituted a violation of Jones’ right to a speedy trial.
A third factor to be considered is the assertion of the right to speedy trial. The record shows that Jones never asserted this right until the day of the actual trial. As noted before, Jones did not object to the continuances granted to the Commonwealth, and in this regard it must also be kept in mind that he requested five of the continuances.
A fourth factor to be considered is the prejudice to the defendant. With respect to prejudice the United States Supreme Court stated the following in Barker:
After weighing and balancing all of the relevant factors, we rule Jones’ constitutional right to a speedy trial was not violated.
Jones next claims the trial court erred in directing the jury to return a not guilty verdict on the involuntary manslaughter indictment.
The Penal Code, Act of June 24, 1939, P. L. 872, §703, 18 P.S. §4703, of Pennsylvania in relevant part provides: “Whoever is convicted of involuntary manslaughter, happening in consequence of an unlawful act, or the doing of a lawful act in an unlawful way, is guilty of a misdemeanor. . . .” Under the proof the death involved resulted either from the perpetration of an arson or by virtue of an accident. This issue was made clear to the jury by the court and left entirely to the jury to resolve. Under the circumstances, we are not persuaded the complained-of instruction was preju
Jones next complains the trial court misstated certain testimony in instructing the jury. Assuming this is correct, the inadvertence was not of sufficient consequence to constitute fundamental error or to impinge on Jones’ right to a fair trial, and no objection was entered to the now complained-of instruction. Moreover, the court carefully charged it was the jury’s recollection of the testimony that governed.
Next, it is complained the court erred in its charge on causal connection between the arson and the death when it stated: “If you believe beyond a reasonable doubt that he willfully and maliciously set fire to the dwelling, you must find the defendant guilty of arson. If you find the defendant guilty of arson, and you believe beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a causal connection between the arson and the death of Sean McKinnon, then under the statute the defendant is guilty of murder in the first degree. However, you may find him guilty of murder in the second degree.” [Emphasis supplied.]
It is true the court did not adequately explain the concept of criminal causation, however, throughout the trial it was not disputed that the death was caused by the fire. Furthermore, counsel failed to call the inadequacy to the court’s attention, or to request additional instructions. Additionally, no objection to the charge was entered. Under the circumstances, this assignment of error will not be sustained.
Finally, Jones attacks the application of the felony-murder rule in cases where death is only proximately related to the felony. This issue is carefully discussed in Commonwealth v. Yuknavich, 448 Pa. 502, 295 A. 2d 290 (1972), and elaboration is unnecessary here.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Appeal in No. 384 is quashed.
The right to a speedy trial is a fundamental right contained within the Sixth Amendment (applicable to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment), which provides: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and publie trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.”
In United States v. Ewell, 383 U.S. 116, 86 S. Ct. 773 (1966), the United States Supreme Court stated: “We cannot agree that the passage of 19 months between the original arrests and the hearings on the later indictments itself demonstrates a violation of the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a speedy trial. This guarantee is an important safeguard to prevent undue and oppressive incarceration prior to trial, to minimize anxiety and concern accompanying public accusation and to limit the possibilities that long delay will impair the ability of an accused to defend himself. However, in large measure because of the many procedural safeguards provided an accused, the ordinary procedures for criminal prosecution are designed to move at a deliberate pace. A requirement of unreasonable speed would have a deleterious effect upon the rights of the accused and upon the ability of society to protect itself. Therefore, this Court has consistently been of the view that ‘The right of a speedy trial is necessarily relative. It is consistent with delays and depends upon circumstances. It secures rights to a defendant. It does not preclude the rights of public justice.’ Beavers v. Haubert, 198 U.S. 77, 87, 25 S. Ct. 573, 576, 49 L. Ed. 950. ‘Whether delay in completing a prosecution . . . amounts to an unconstitutional deprivation of rights depends upon the circumstances . . . The delay must not be purposeful or oppressive,’ Pollard v. United States, 352 U.S. 354, 361, 77 S. Ct. 481, 486, 1 L. Ed. 2d 293, ‘[T]he essential ingredient is orderly expedition and not mere speed.’ ” Id. at 120, 86 S. Ct. at 776. See also Commonwealth v. Ditzler, 443 Pa. 73, 277 A. 2d 366 (1971).
The basic policy considerations underlying the Sixth Amendment speedy trial provision can be found in Smith v. Hooey, 393 U.S. 374, 89 S. Ct. 575 (1969), wherein it is stated: “The historic origins of the Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial were traced in some detail by the Chief Justice in his opinion for the Court in
The Court further stated: “We regard none of the four factors identified above as either a necessary or sufficient condition to the finding of a deprivation of the right of speedy trial. Bather, they are related factors and must be considered together with such other circumstances as may be relevant. In sum, these factors have no talismanic qualities; courts must still engage in a difficult and sensitive balancing process. But, because we are dealing with a funramental right of the accused, this process must be carried out with full recognition that the accused’s interest in a speedy trial is specifically affirmed in the Constitution.” Id. at 533, 92 S. Ct at 2193.
In this connection the court charged the jury as follows: “Now you notice I did not say anything about involuntary manslaughter. In all fairness to the defendant in this ease, if you do not believe that death resulted because of the commission of arson, then he cannot be guilty of involuntary manslaughter because if you do not believe it happened by way of arson . . ., then you believe it happened the way he said it did and he is free of blame under those circumstances.”
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Commonwealth v. Jones, Appellant
- Cited By
- 35 cases
- Status
- Published