Hernández Martínez v. Delgado

The petitioner-appellant, Cecilio Hernández Martínez, was convicted on August 27, 1954 of the crimes of attempt to commit murder and violation of § 4 of the Weapons Act, having been sentenced to serve indeterminate sentences of 3 to 10 years and of 1 to 5 years imprisonment in the penitentiary, respectively. He filed a petition of habeas corpus on the ground that those convictions are void because at the trial he was deprived of the due assistance of counsel.

After the writ was issued, the corresponding hearing was held before the Superior Court, Caguas Part. Petitioner’s evidence consisted of…