Commonwealth v. Sleighter

495 Pa. 262, 433 A.2d 469 (1981)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

The defendant Sleighter and his accomplice Harmon were discussing with Walters, the victim, a gambling debt the victim owed Sleighter. Sleighter became upset with the victim and hit him because he would not surrender his rings to pay his debt to the defendant. Defendant threw the victim to the floor and removed approximately $30.00 cash from his wallet. Harmon removed the victim's watch and later gave it to Sleighter. Mr. Walters left the hotel lobby and proceeded down the alley. Sleighter and Harmon followed the victim into the alley, where they hit and kicked him until he was unconscious. The autopsy report revealed that the victim died as a result of the blows inflicted by the defendant and Harmon. At the degree of guilt hearing, the Commonwealth determined that Sleighter was guilty of second-degree murder due to the application of the felony murder doctrine because the death occurred while the defendant was committing robbery on Walters.