People v. Finch

Defendant was convicted in a non-jury trial of second-degree murder* 1 and sentenced to 25 to 30 years. He appeals from the entry of that sentence.

The defendant entered the Broker’s Tip Bar on May 2, 1969, at about 9:30 p.m. and began giving the barmaid a rough time. She refused to serve him and then called the owner. The owner arrived and asked the defendant to leave the premises. Upon refusal, the said owner then seized a police billy club to aid in escorting the defendant from the bar. At this point, the defendant turned and shot the owner twice, killing him, and wounding a customer at the…