Court Opinion

ID: 9750793
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 15:32:50.09828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:26:22.130466
License: Public Domain

MANDERINO, Justice,
concurring.
Although I agree with the majority that appellant’s arrest was invalid, and that his confession was the product of that illegal arrest, I cannot agree with the majority’s conclusion that a willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing may be inferred solely from the use of a deadly weapon on a vital part of the body. Commonwealth v. O’Searo, 483 Pa. 286, 396 A.2d 1173 (1978) (concurring opinion of Manderino, J.). Commonwealth v. O’Searo, 466 Pa. 244, 352 A.2d 30 (1976) (dissenting opinion of Manderino, J., joined by Roberts, J.). Proof of the use of a deadly weapon on a vital part of the body is sufficient to support an inference of malice only.
In the cases in which we have upheld convictions of murder in the first degree, the evidence established not only the use of a weapon on a vital part of the body, but also other facts from which the fact finder could conclude that the killing was willful, deliberate, and premeditated. Commonwealth v. Petrakovich, 459 Pa. 511, 329 A.2d 844, 848 (1974); Commonwealth v. Mosley, 444 Pa. 134, 279 A.2d 174 (1971); Commonwealth v. Hornberger, 441 Pa. 57, 270 A.2d 195 (1970); Commonwealth v. Ewing, 439 Pa. 88, 264 A.2d 661 (1970); Commonwealth v. Commander, 436 Pa. 532, 260 A.2d 773 (1970).
*302In this case, however, the majority relies on only one fact — the firing of a shot from a distance toward people appellant did not know — to support its conclusion that deliberation and premeditation, as well as malice, can be inferred.
An inference of deliberation and premeditation can be made only if the evidence contains other facts such as:
“(1) facts about how and what the defendant did prior to the actual killing which show he was engaged in activity directed toward the killing, that is, planning activity.
(2) facts about the defendant’s prior relationship and conduct with the victim from which motive may be inferred.
(3) facts about the nature of the killing [which indicate] that the manner of killing was so particular and exacting that the defendant must have intentionally killed according to a preconceived design.” (Emphasis in original.) La Fave and Scott Handbook in Criminal Law, pp. 562-568.
The majority’s reliance on Commonwealth v. Kampo, 480 Pa. 516, 391 A.2d 1005 (1978) for the proposition that malice and premeditation can be inferred is misplaced. In Commonwealth v. Kampo, supra, two witnesses testified that appellant told them someone was going to die that day. Clearly, this testimony showed a plan to kill someone and therefore, a fact finder could find deliberation and premeditation. Here, there is no such additional evidence.
ROBERTS, J., joins in this concurring opinion.