People v. Rentz

Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Tompkins County, rendered February 23, 1976, upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crime of murder in the second degree and sentencing him to an indeterminate term of imprisonment of 25 years to life. The defendant, then 18 years old, confessed before trial that he arrived home prior to his mother in the afternoon of June 17, 1975; that he spoke with his mother about what they could do with the upstairs rooms; that they went upstairs; that no argument ensued although before they went upstairs she had complained about his setting fire to his…