People v. Bell

In a jury trial defendant Betty A. Bell was found guilty of murder of the second degree. Her motion for new trial was denied and she appeals from the judgment and from the order denying her motion for new trial.

The defendant and her husband, the deceased, had resided at 2220 Vista Del Mar Avenue since 1954. On the evening of May 17, 1958, Mr. Bell was shot by a revolver held by defendant. He died from the wound two days later. Sergeant Theodore Rushton, responding to a radio call, arrived at the premises at 9 :55 p.m., knocked on the door and receiving no response went to the north side of the house where he heard voices in the bedroom, asked to be permitted to enter and shortly thereafter was admitted by defendant. When questioned as to what had happened, defendant said: “He is in there. He will tell you.” The officer went to the bedroom where he found Mr. Bell, clad in shorts, lying on a bed in a pool of blood; there appeared to be no disarrangement of the furniture and the premises seemed to be in order. A few minutes later Officer Berger arrived and both officers went into the bedroom where they found a black leather holster lying on the bed. In the front room they found a…