People v. Gireth

California Supreme Court

People v. Gireth

129 P.2d 684, 21 Cal. 2d 58, 1942 Cal. LEXIS 424

CourtCalifornia Supreme Court

DecidedOctober 8, 1942

DocketCrim. 4443

StatusPublished

This text of 129 P.2d 684 (People v. Gireth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

People v. Gireth, 129 P.2d 684, 21 Cal. 2d 58, 1942 Cal. LEXIS 424 (Cal. 1942).

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Opinion

THE COURT.

— This is an automatic appeal from a judgment of conviction of first-degree murder imposing the death penalty on the defendant. (See § 1239, Pen. Code.)

Examination of the record discloses that on July 16, 1942, the defendant, a married man, shot and killed a young woman whom he had been meeting clandestinely. The victim was shot as she slept in a motor-court cabin shared with the defendant in Alameda County. Defendant left the scene of the homicide and by telephone notified the authorities of the crime. He was taken into custody shortly thereafter and freely admitted the shooting. Accordingly, he was indicted for murder. At all times he has refused the assistance of counsel. Upon his arraignment he pleaded guilty. After hearing evidence addressed to the degree of the crime, *59 the court determined it to be of the first degree and imposed the death penalty.

The voluntary statement of the defendant to the authorities shortly after his arrest and his testimony before the grand jury when it was investigating the crime, support the judgment. An alienist testified as to defendant’s sanity.

The judgment is affirmed.

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THE COURT.

— This is an automatic appeal from a judgment of conviction of first-degree murder imposing the death penalty on the defendant. (See § 1239, Pen. Code.)

Examination of the record discloses that on July 16, 1942, the defendant, a married man, shot and killed a young woman whom he had been meeting clandestinely. The victim was shot as she slept in a motor-court cabin shared with the defendant in Alameda County. Defendant left the scene of the homicide and by telephone notified the authorities of the crime. He was taken into custody shortly thereafter and freely admitted the shooting. Accordingly, he was indicted for murder. At all times he has refused the assistance of counsel. Upon his arraignment he pleaded guilty. After hearing evidence addressed to the degree of the crime, *59 the court determined it to be of the first degree and imposed the death penalty.

The voluntary statement of the defendant to the authorities shortly after his arrest and his testimony before the grand jury when it was investigating the crime, support the judgment. An alienist testified as to defendant’s sanity.

The judgment is affirmed.

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Bluebook (online)

129 P.2d 684, 21 Cal. 2d 58, 1942 Cal. LEXIS 424, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-gireth-cal-1942.