People v. Garcia

Bert Crandall was shot and killed in a Grand Eapids bar. Defendant Anastacio Garcia, Jr., was arraigned on an open charge of murder (MCLA § 767.71 [Stat Ann 1954 Eev § 28.1011]); he stood mute, and a plea of not guilty was entered. At a rearraignment he pled guilty to the lesser included offense of manslaughter and subsequently was sentenced to 7-1/2 to 15 years in prison. Later, on defendant’s motion, the plea was vacated and a trial ordered for the reason that because of language difficulties Garcia was not fully aware of his constitutional rights when he made the plea of guilty. He was…