People v. Martinez

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE SULLIVAN

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant was tried for murder and, in a bench trial, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to not less than one nor more than 14 years. On appeal, he contends that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was not acting in self-defense.

It appears that defendant and Francisco Parra had been drinking with two women in the Mona Lisa tavern. About midnight, another patron, Albert Gyland, made advances to one of the women. The record discloses a conflict in the testimony of defendant and Parra…