People v. Hamilton

By jury verdicts defendant was found guilty of the first degree murders of Estella Hamilton (count one) and of Lorenzo Bernard (count two). The jury fixed the penalty on count one at life imprisonment, and on count two at death. Motions for a new trial and reduction of the penalty on the second count were denied. The appeal is automatic (Pen. Code, § 1239, subd. (b)).

This is the second trial and appeal in this case. The first trial resulted in death penalty judgments on both counts, which were reversed. (People v. Hamilton (1961) 55 Cal.2d 881 [13 Cal.Rptr. 649, 362 P.2d 473].)

Defendant does…