People v. Bentley

The defendant-appellant’s delayed application for leave to appeal raises the question whether he was denied his right to counsel because his trial attorney also represented a co-defendant with conflicting interests.

Defendant Bentley and codefendant Jordan were charged with armed robbery and convicted by a jury of that offense on July 24, 1973. One attorney was appointed to represent both defendants. The defendants made a pretrial motion for separate trials on the grounds that a witness had confused the two defendants in earlier identifications, only one defendant would present an alibi…