People v. Bezy
People v. Bezy
Opinion of the Court
The defendant was accused of the murder of John Mengetti, and on bis trial the court admitted evidence
There was also evidence of threats (in Julias Hedrick’s testimony) against the Mengettis, which we think was admissible.
The court erred in permitting the prosecution to give evidence as to the character ■ of the deceased for peace and quietness, (People v. Anderson, 39 Cal. 704.)
The court committed no error or abuse of discretion in restricting counsel for defendant in his opening statement to stating what he expected to prove, without any argument upon such facts. (People v. Anderson, 44 Cal. 65.) The counsel had abundant opportunity in the course of the trial in suggesting and arguing all points of law pertinent to the cause.
For the errors above pointed out the judgment and order should be reversed and the cause remanded for new trial, and it is ordered accordingly.
Myrick, J., and Sharpstein, J., concurred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THE PEOPLE v. FIDELE BEZY
- Cited By
- 16 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- CBnrmAL Law—Evidence—Threats against Brother op Deceased.—On a trial for murder, threats made by the defendant against a person other than the deceased are admissible in evidence only under circumstances which show some connection with the injury inflicted on the deceased; and the fact that the person against whom the threats were made was the brother of the deceased and lived with him is insufficient to justify the admission of the evidence. Id.—Character op Deceased.—Evidence of the character of the deceased for peace and quietness is inadmissible against the defendant. Id.—Practice—Opening Statement fob Defendant.—In his opening statement to the jury, counsel for the defendant may he restricted by the court to a state. ■ ment of the facts which he expects to prove without any argument upon the same.