Hamilton murder resurfaces

Michael Allen Hamilton, the man convicted of murdering his wife in Terra Bella in 1981, was back in court last Thursday in preparation for a new trial to determine his fate.

A decision to sentence Hamilton to death was overturned when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th District Court ruled his defense attorney did not present sufficient evidence during the penalty phase of his client’s trial. A trial date for a new penalty was supposed to be set last Thursday, but was postponed to Aug. 24.

Assistant Tulare County District Attorney Shani Jenkins said Hamilton’s murder conviction will not be overturned or reconsidered, but his penalty could potentially change. A jury must determine whether he should be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, or given the death penalty again.

“This has been going on for about six months, and was finally remanded back to us on the 22nd,” she said. “The case was put over for the trial setting to determine how much time the actual trial is going to take. This is an interesting case.”

It’s been 28 years since jurors found Hamilton guilty of shooting to death his pregnant wife, Gwendolyn, and their unborn son, and ditching her body in a white truck at the junction near Terra Bella and Highway 65.

Hamilton will appear in court again at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 24 in Dept. 6. in Visalia.

Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.