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Commonwealth v. Terry
321 A.2d 654
Pa.
1974
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*1 185' they yet they seek in which would had not filed, which enjoin allegedly plaintiffs’ and unreason- unlawful appellants had blockaded able use the streets illegality of protest of the use. The issue such appellees’ then before was not use of the streets proffered to the irrelevant evidence was court. properly and we before the court, which were issues refusal trial court’s find no of discretion abuse nor in refusal be its introduced, to allow the evidenceto hearing be could continue until the counterclaim filed. appellants, agree that however,

We must injunction unconstitutionally insofar as overbroad, is they advocacy by appellants of what believe it restrains immedi- There was no evidence that to be their cause. appellees irreparable to the ate or harm would result advocacy anything, any appellants’ nor from evidence appellants or intended to ad- had advocated by injunc- any prohibited doing of act vocate the no interference with circumstances, tion. Under these necessary speech appellants’ freedom of or injunction proper. that the terms of the as It follows September the decree 1972 must continued advocating any “or of the words modified deletion act”. hereby September 1972 is

The decree modified as so is affirmed. indicated, and, modified, as above party to bear own costs. Each Terry, Appellant. *2 November 1973. Before C. Argued J., Jones, Nix Roberts, O’Brien, Pomeroy, and Mander- Eagen, JJ. INO, Alen & him

William L. Van Alen, Jr., Van appellant. for Sellers, Attorney, District

Mawine J. Assistant Stotland, Attorney, District with her David Assistant Riehman, *3 Attorney, Sprague, District First Assistant Richard A. Attorney, Specter, for Common- District Arlen and appellee. wealth, 1974:

Opinion 1, July Mr. Justice O’Brien, Terry, Appellant, on con- Nelson was indicted bills burglary, conspiracy, rape, taining forcible counts of robbery aggravated murder. Prior to his trial, and suppress his appellant a motion to confession filed Appellant proceeded then to trial denied. was jurors After had been sworn, 1971. December 6, on plea changed guilty guilty. appellant from his not to guilty plea, his ac- examined on it was was After he judge cepted decided that a case of first and the by the made out been Commonwealth. had murder appellant three-judge panel guilty Thereupon, found degree. He first was life sentenced to prossed. bills other were nolle imprisonment. The This appeal followed.

188

Appellant argues that first court erred accepting guilty plea plea his due to the that the fact product was motivated a confession that was the aof Pennsylvania violation of Rule Criminal Procedure 118. Commonwealth v. 290 A.2d (1972). agree. do not An We examination of the clearly appellant’s record in this case indicates that the illegally Appellant confession was not obtained. was September approximately on arrested at 12,1970, 11:30 p.m., burglary in connection an unrelated and robbery that had occurred in the-Annin Street area Philadelphia. police He was then taken to head quarters, approximately September at 12:30 on a.m., proper warnings, after 13, 1970, where, constitutional questioned gave he was and an oral later statement, writing, implicating reduced to himself in the Annin signed approximate crime. Street He the statement at ly September 4:15 on 1970. a.m., then transferred to the Ad- Police Building, presumably arraigned ministration on robbery burglary charges and which arose out of approximately Annin Street incident. At 11:45 September on was taken a.m., 13, 1970, interrogation questioning an room for about the death Lovey decedent Connors, instant case. police they initially suspected appellant stated that where the because the house decedent had been mur- burglar- in the same manner dered was entered as the Annin home on Street, ized two homes neighborhood. Appellant in the same were was left interrogation approximately room until *4 the in 1:00 questioning formally began. p.m., the when He was rights of his constitutional and warned waived them. strip questioning, appellant a search his Prior to blood on his under- revealed was conducted, garments. Shortly discovered, after the blood was appellant orally participation in the confessed to his police Lovey reduced then Connors. signed. appellant’s writing, not but it was statement to appellant taken, After the initial statement was given a and was was to use the wash room allowed p.m., then left until 2:15 drink of water. He was alone approxi- again until at which time he was interviewed appellant mately p.m. was 3:15 After the interview, p.m. given a rest until 5:00 meal and was allowed to again p.m., con- At 5:00 was advised his give rights proceeded to a formal stitutional and then admissibility he chal- of which now statement, lenges. supra, held we product if

confession inadmissible it is becomes arraignment. unnecessary delay an In the instant relationship do not find a causal we such between case, arraignment Appel delay in and confession. the decedent lant confessed to the murder of within questioning began. an hour after the about that crime necessarily delay before that time was related to All period robbery appel Annin Street or to the when asleep Building. lant Administration was Police p.m., appellant orally The time between 1:00 when p.m., and 5:00 his crime, confessed to his when formal prepared, solely devoted statement was was to obtain possible accomplices ing giving the names of period appellant a meal and a of rest. On the facts of not believe that the we do confession chal case, product any unnecessary lenged delay herein was arraignment. argues that he next could not be found degree guilty of first because the murder, first upon felony-murder based rule and conviction *5 190 the Commonwealth had to nolle agreed pros felony-

the In merit. We find this without charges. argument A.2d v. 448 Pa. 292 337 Hainds, Commonwealth 67, that “. . . held repeatedly we stated: we have (1972), in where murder been committed alleged is have the that felony of a of perpetration felony, perpetration need not Moreover, be set forth indictment.” the nolle pros charges of the Commonwealth was by not the of situation in Commonwealth type presented Mileski, v. 309 A.2d 425 when 13, (1973), we held that a demurrer to a would robbery charge rule. preclude operation the felony-murder only this pros, its nolle case, Commonwealth, did not chose not to it felony prosecute charges; for a dismissal of the charges. move that the Commonwealth lastly argues it agreed violated because plea-bargain agreement if that enter a felony would guilty plea, indictments would be nolle and that the breach prossed felonies occurred when the Commonwealth used the for in the first proposing establishment We cannot The Com- degree. accept argument. the felonies in estab- monwealth, by using question to lish murder in the first did not breach the degree, plea-bargain agreement. by pleading guilty Appellant, to murder the decision of a generally, agreed accept as to his Com- three-judge panel degree guilt. The than monwealth did no more the facts present that surrounded the murder and final left determina- tion guilt as to to the up court. There was of record to the agreement no effect that the crime in no than higher rose question second-degree murder. sentence affirmed. Judgment Justice Roberts dissents. Mr. Nix dissents. Justice

Mr. Mandarino dissents. Justice

Mr.

191 Pomeroy: Concurring Opinion Mr. Justice dissenting in my expressed I to the view adhere at Pa. 547 v. 453 Dutton, opinion Commonwealth our decision (1973), A.2d 238 at 240 307 A.2d 417 Pa. 290 More only. prospectively should be (1972), applied *6 inadmis render applied if Futch is to even over, before Rule 118 obtained violation sible evidence not con Court should this the date of that decision, presented properly issues not sider on direct appeal v. Bittner, to the court below. Commonwealth v. Myers, 484 (1971); 272 A.2d post- case 266 A.2d 756 (1970). 439 Pa. 381, under any objection Hence trial motions were waived. as well of the admissibility confession, Rule 118 to the opinion, in the Court’s as the other considered points before the Court. are not properly Eagen Mr. Justice Mr. Chief Justice Jones concurring opinion. in this join Appellant. Crowson, Commonwealth v.

Case Details

Case Name: Commonwealth v. Terry
Court Name: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Date Published: Jul 1, 1974
Citation: 321 A.2d 654
Docket Number: Appeal, 231
Court Abbreviation: Pa.
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