People v. Chadd

Opinion

MOSK, J.

Defendant Billy Lee Chadd appeals from a judgment imposing a sentence of death following his plea of guilty to a charge of first degree murder, As will appear, we hold that the trial court committed prejudicial error in accepting that plea without the consent of defendant’s counsel as required by Penal Code section 1018. Because *744of the limited nature of the issue, we need not recite the facts of the case in detail.

Defendant was arraigned on a complaint charging him, inter alia, with the first degree murder of Linda Hewitt (count 6), and alleging special circumstances making the…