People v. Bonville

Conviction by a jury for arson. The sole question on appeal is whether at his trial defendant was denied the right to represent himself. We hold he was not.

Defendant’s trial had originally been set for 18 July 1967, but because of two continuances at the request of the defendant and because of court congestion the cause was not called for trial until 24 August 1967. On the morning of the trial defendant first brought to the court’s attention his dissatisfaction with the services of appointed counsel, the public defender, and requested the appointment of “effective counsel” under section 987a…