Supreme Court of California

Conviction and death sentence for first degree murder and other crimes are affirmed where: 1) the court did not err in denying defendant's motion to suppress evidence as there was probable cause for issuance of a warrant and it was lawfully executed; 2) the court did not err in denying defendant's motion to suppress her confessions; 3) purported constitutional error in selecting the grand jury was not prejudicial, and the grand jury had jurisdiction to indict her; 4) venue for the trial was not improper; 5) the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction for robbery; 6) the court did not err in the various instructions it gave to the jury; 7) the court did not err in its rulings related to the aggravating factor of attempted escape; 8) there was no error in admitting victim impact evidence and in not giving a limiting instruction on victim impact evidence; and 9) California's death penalty statute does not violate the state or federal constitutions. The burglary convictions must be reversed as the evidence did not establish an entry.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/27/2009
• Published 07/27/2009

Judges

• GEORGE, C.J.

Court

• Supreme Court of California

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Lynne S. Coffin and Michael J. Hersek, State Public Defenders, under appointment by the Supreme Court, Barry P. Helft, Chief Deputy State Public Defender, and Kathryn E. Collier, Deputy State Public Defender, for Defendant and Appellant., Bill Lockyer and Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorneys General, Robert R. Anderson, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Assistant Attorney General, Bruce Ortega and Amy Haddix, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.