People v. Pike

By jury verdicts defendants Pike and Ceniceros were found guilty of first degree murder, and Pike was also found guilty of armed robbery. On the murder count the jury fixed the penalty at life imprisonment as to Ceniceros and at death as to Pike. Defendants appeal from the judgments 1 rendered accordingly and from orders denying their motions for new trial and Pike’s motion to reduce the penalty to life imprisonment. The appeal by Pike is automatic. (Pen. Code, § 1239, subd. (b).)

As will hereinafter be shown, Pike took the stand and in effect made a judicial confession of his guilt of the…