State v. Tessier

In late November 1972 the defendant, John J. Tessier, had a trial by jury on a charge of murder and was found guilty of manslaughter. On March 28, 1973, at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the trial justice sentenced the defendant to a term of six years at the Adult Correctional Institutions. Sentence was immediately stayed pending the defendant’s appeal to the Supreme Court. Notice of appeal was filed April 3, 1973, and the case was docketed in the Supreme Court on June 13, 1974. The defendant’s brief was filed May 7, 1975, and the state’s brief was filed August 29, 1975. On October…