People v. Barber

Defendants were charged with the crime of murdering one Leslie Barber. Decedent and defendant Erlene Barber were husband and wife. Defendant Eugene Barber was a brother of decedent. After the trial, the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against both defendants and recommended leniency. Motions for new trial were denied. The trial court sentenced them to state prisons. They appealed from the judgment and order denying them a new trial.

On June 16, 1943, Leslie Barber, the decedent, and his wife, Erlene, together with a Mr. and Mrs. Jones, started to go on a fishing trip to Big Bear Lake.…