Taglianetti v. Fontaine

This is a petition for habeas corpus wherein the petitioner seeks to be admitted to bail pending his trial on the charge of murder. Application was made to this court after petition for the same relief had been heard and denied by a justice of the superior court.

Under Rhode Island law, a defendant convicted of murder in the first degree must be sentenced to life in prison. The portion of Article I, Sec. 9 of the Rhode Island Constitution which is relevant hereto reads as follows:

“All persons imprisoned ought to be bailed by sufficient surety, unless for offences punishable by death 1 or by…