Commonwealth Pennsylvania v. Michael

On December 27, 1991, a jury found appellant, Michael Rainey, guilty of murder of the first degree , robbery , and related offenses. Three days later the jury imposed a sentence of death following a sentencing hearing held pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. 9711. After denying appellants post-verdict motions, the trial court formally imposed a sentence of death as well as a consecutive sentence of ten to twenty years imprisonment for appellants robbery conviction. This direct appeal automatically followed. 42 Pa.C.S. 9711(h)(1).