Spring

Ronald Spring was charged by information with an odd combination of offenses, murder and malicious mischief (Pen. Code, §§187 and 594, subd. (a)). His motion for entry of judgment of acquittal was denied, except on the first degree murder charge (Pen. Code, § 1118.1), and the jury found him guilty of murder in the second degree and malicious mischief.

We must resolve three questions: (1) Was the evidence sufficient to sustain a second degree murder conviction? (2) Did the court err in permitting extended media coverage of the trial? (3) Was Spring’s counsel guilty of a variety of alleged instances of ineffective representation?

We hold the evidence was insufficient to support a murder conviction and, pursuant to Penal Code section 1181, subdivision 6, modify the judgment to involuntary manslaughter (Pen. Code, § 192, subd. 2). But we find no error in the allowance of extended media coverage and no merit in those claims of ineffective assistance of counsel not already mooted by the reduction of the murder conviction to manslaughter.

I

Spring, 35, suffered from the delusion a woman named Twilla Suggs, whom he barely knew some 19 years ago, was confined in a convent but…