State v. Mitchell

Lewis, Justice:

A jury rejected appellant’s plea of insanity and convicted him of the murder of his wife, resulting in the imposition of a life sentence. He contends in this appeal that a directed verdict of not guilty should have been granted because the evidence conclusively established his plea of insanity; and, alternatively, that a new trial should be granted because of (1) alleged prejudicial statements and questions by the trial judge and (2) erroneous instructions to the jury as to the burden of proof on the issue of insanity.

The contention that appellant was entitled, as a matter of…