Court Opinion

ID: 9758339
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 23:23:00.68743+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:49.684541
License: Public Domain

POMEROY, Justice,
concurring.
I agree with the Court that the twice repeated assurances by the police to the defendant that, in effect, he would be immune from prosecution if he cooperated with the authorities served to undermine the validity of Peters’ purported waiver of his constitutional rights. In consequence, the Commonwealth has been unable to demonstrate that appellant knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived his Miranda rights prior to his second and third statements to the police. I also agree with the Court that appellant’s failure to raise his double jeopardy claim prior to his second trial precludes consideration of that claim in this appeal. To the extent, however, that today’s opinion reaffirms the validity of Commonwealth v. Bartolomucci, 468 Pa. 338, 362 A.2d 234 (1976), I disagree, and adhere to my view that Bartolomucci was incorrectly decided. See 468 Pa. at 353-356, 362 A.2d at 242-44 (Pomeroy, J., dissenting).