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Date: 11-02-2017
Case Style:
The People of the State of California v. Michael Sheppard
Santa Clara County Courthouse - San Jose, California
Case Number: 1138195302
Judge: Not Available
Court: Superior Court, Santa Clara County, California
Plaintiff's Attorney: Chuck Gillangham
Defendant's Attorney: Jeffrey Dunn - Public Defender
Description: San Jose, CA - Jury Convicts Defendant Who Claimed He Was Too Drunk To Have Intentionally Killed Woman
The People of the State of California charged Michael Hill, age 54, with first-degree murder for killing Bertha Paulsen, who was beaten to death.
Defendant's lawyer claimed that Hill was extremely drunk and could not have formed the mental intent needed to have developed malice aforethought.
Sheppard took the stand and denied that he killed Paulsen even though he told the police that he did kill her.
Subsequent to the killing, Sheppard stuffed her body in a shopping cart and wheeled her out to a railroad track and staged the scene to look like a stranger rape.
Outcome: Defendant was found guilty of second-degree murder and faces 15 years to life in prison.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: