People v. Farr

Defendant killed his wife Marcile with a target pistol in the early hours of July 5, 1965. He pleaded “not guilty. ’’ There was no plea of “not guilty by reason of insanity.” After a jury trial in which he was represented by private counsel he was found guilty of murder in the second degree.

Three issues are involved in this appeal:

1. Was the jury adequately instructed on the subject of diminished capacity ?

2. Did the evidence show, as a matter of law, that the most serious crime of which defendant was guilty is manslaughter?

3. Was a certain exhibit offered by defendant improperly excluded ?

We…