Court Opinion

ID: 9695933
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 18:31:37.10801+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:16:11.615948
License: Public Domain

ROBERTS, Justice
(concurring and dissenting).
I join in that portion of the opinion of the Court which requires that appellant be granted post-conviction relief unless the Commonwealth produces affirmative and convincing evidence of exceptional circumstances or compelling reasons justifying its denial of appellant’s request to confront Harry DeWolf.
*606However, if the Commonwealth fails to produce that evidence, the appropriate relief is discharge; because DeWolf is now dead and a show-up thus impossible, appellant could never receive a fair trial. Therefore, I would remand for a hearing without deciding the probable cause issue, and, if relief should not be granted, permit an appeal in due course in which the question óf probable cause could then be considered.
MANDERINO, J., joins in this opinion.