People v. Sheran

Defendant, Rodney G. Sheran, was found guilty by a jury of the second degree murder of his wife, Esme. Defendant’s motion for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence was denied by the trial court which, however, granted defendant’s motion to modify the verdict by reducing the crime from second degree murder to manslaughter. The People appeal from the order reducing the class of the crime; defendant appeals from the order denying his motion for a new trial.

The body of a deceased woman was found at approximately 10:30 on the morning of May 26, 1955, lying on a fire road in the…