Commonwealth v. Monroe
Commonwealth v. Monroe
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
On January 29, 1972, at approximately 1:00 a.m., George Ware was fatally shot at a bar known as the “S and C Lounge,” located at 1326 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by appellant, Andre Monroe. The Commonwealth’s evidence disclosed that prior to the shooting, one James McCoy and another man were seated at the bar when they were approached by two women, one of whom was appellant’s sister. The
Appellant, in this appeal, argues that the trial court erred when it refused to give appellant’s requested charge relating to voluntary manslaughter. We agree.
At the time of appellant’s trial, a defendant was not entitled to a charge of voluntary manslaughter, unless there was some evidence in the case which could support such a verdict. See Commonwealth v. Davis, 449 Pa. 468, 297 A.2d 817 (1972), Commonwealth v. Matthews, 446 Pa. 65, 285 A.2d 510 (1971). Now see Commonwealth v. Jones, 457 Pa. 563, 319 A.2d 142 (1974).
We believe that there was evidence which could support a verdict of voluntary manslaughter in this case. As previously related, the testimony disclosed that twenty minutes before the shooting, appellant had seen
Judgment of sentence reversed and case remanded to the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia for a new trial.
Concurring Opinion
Concurring Opinion by
I concur in the grant of a new trial. It is my view that constitutional error occurs
The reasons supporting my view are set out in greater detail in Commonwealth v. Jones, 457 Pa. 563, 577, 319 A.2d 142, 146 (1974) (Opinion in Support of Reversal) (Roberts, J., joined by Pomeroy & Manderino, JJ.); Commonwealth v. Cannon, 453 Pa. 389, 398, 309 A.2d 384, 390 (1973) (Roberts, J., dissenting, joined by Pomeroy & Manderino, JJ.); id. at 400, 309 A.2d at 390 (Pomeroy, J., dissenting, joined by Roberts & Manderino, JJ.); Commonwealth v. Kenney, 449 Pa. 562, 570, 297 A.2d 794, 798 (1972) (Roberts, J., dissenting, joined by Pomeroy & Manderino, JJ.); Commonwealth v. Davis, 449 Pa. 468, 477, 297 A.2d 817, 818 (1972) (Roberts, J., Opinion in Opposition to Affirmance, joined by Pomeroy & Manderino, JJ.); Commonwealth v. Banks, 447 Pa. 356, 364, 285 A.2d 506, 509 (1971) (Pomeroy J., dissenting, joined by Roberts, J.); Commonwealth v. Matthews, 446 Pa. 65, 77, 285 A.2d 510, 516 (1971) (Roberts, J., dissenting, joined by Pomeroy, J.); id. at 78, 285 A.2d at 516 (Pomeroy, J., dissenting, joined by Roberts, J.).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Commonwealth v. Monroe, Appellant
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- 6 cases
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- Published