Court Opinion

ID: 9635691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 13:59:54.751892+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:32.965377
License: Public Domain

NIX, Justice
(dissenting).
Under the evidence established by the Commonwealth certain facts were unchallenged. First the deceased was *106killed by a weapon capable of firing .22 caliber projectiles. Secondly, Tyrone Jones, the alleged shooter, was apprehended in the vicinity approximately one hour after the incident. At that time he had in. his possession a .25 caliber weapon with .25 caliber bullets. The weapon was incapable of discharging a .22 caliber bullet.
While the majority is correct in its premise that a jury may reject a portion or all of the defendant’s statements, Commonwealth v. Boyd, 461 Pa. 17, 334 A.2d 610, 614 (1975); Commonwealth v. Murray, 460 Pa. 605, 334 A. 2d 255, 258 (1975); Commonwealth v. Marlin, 452 Pa. 380, 384, 305 A.2d 14 (1973); Commonwealth v. Williams, 450 Pa. 158, 162, 299 A.2d 643 (1973); Commonwealth v. Ewing, 439 Pa. 88, 93, 264 A.2d 661 (1970); Commonwealth v. Winebrenner, 439 Pa. 73, 82, 265 A.2d 108 (1970), it may not arbitrarily reject uncontradicted evidence in an effort to return a verdict of guilt. Without the benefit of the pathologist’s finding that death had been caused by a .22 caliber bullet, appellant described the weapon he observed which in fact was the weapon recovered by the police at the time of Jones’ arrest. This evidence was strengthened by appellant’s statement that the revolver used was placed by Jones in his waistband after the shooting. When arrested the .25 caliber pistol Was recovered from Jones’ waistband. Under these facts I can find no basis for the majority’s position that a jury should be permitted to ignore not only the appellant’s statement, but also the evidence presented by the Commonwealth as to the caliber of the gun fired. Nothing in the record connects appellant with the .22 caliber weapon which caused the victim’s death. I therefore dissent.
JONES, C. J., and ROBERTS, J., join in this dissent.