People v. Benzinger

The principal issue on this appeal is whether the evidence offered at trial, circumstantial in nature, was sufficient to establish the defendants’ guilt of manslaughter in the first degree beyond a reasonable doubt.

John Benzinger, defendant Patricia Benzinger’s husband, was found dead in his home by the police at approximately 12:30 a.m. on August 14, 1970. The deceased had been seen alive at about 7:00 p.m. on the evening of August 13, 1970. The prosecution attempted to prove that the defendants Patricia Ben-zinger (Benzinger) and Carl Miller (Miller) were present at the Benzinger home at…