People v. Sanchez

A jury found defendant guilty of violation of Penal Code section 4500 (assault with deadly weapon by an inmate of a state prison undergoing a life sentence) 1 which under the circumstances of the instant case required the imposition of the death penalty. The court denied defendant’s motion for a new trial and entered judgment on the verdict. This appeal is automatic. (Pen. Code, § 1239, subd. (b).)

On April 23, 1965, defendant, an inmate at the state prison at San Quentin undergoing a life sentence, was assigned to work under the supervision of Ralph Canning in the prison clothing factory.…