People v. Isby

Defendants George Isby and Robert Shorts were jointly charged with the murder of Jerome Willingham. Upon arraignment, each of the defendants pleaded “not guilty” and “not guilty by reason of insanity” but before trial, each withdrew the latter plea. Respective motions of defendants for a separate trial were denied. In the course of the ensuing joint trial the question of the present sanity of defendant Shorts arose, the jury was excused, and the matter was determined by the court sitting without a jury. The court found defendant Shorts sane. Defendants’ joint trial then continued and the jury…