Ortega v. Superior Court
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The grand jury heard evidence that petitioner went with Herrera to a bar. Petitioner’s acquaintances, Porter-Kelly and Simons, were also present. Sims arrived. Petitioner punched Sims, who was knocked to the ground. Herrera saw the three men kick and punch Sims. Herrera tried to stop the beating and then tried to leave. Petitioner and Simons also got into the car. As Herrera pulled away, Sims ran up, yelling. Simons fired two shots, killing Sims. The injuries from the beating were severe enough that had he not been shot, they could have been fatal.
The grand jury was instructed on aiding and abetting, aiding and abetting under a natural and probable consequences theory, the felony murder rule, and general principles of homicide, murder with malice aforethought, robbery, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. The three were indicted for murder, second-degree robbery, and assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.
Later, the governor signed Senate Bill 1437. Petitioner moved to set aside the indictment, arguing that he had been indicted under the natural and probable consequences doctrine or the felony-murder rule, which were now-invalid theories of murder absent certain findings not made by the grand jury. The court denied the motion, finding the evidence sufficient to entertain a strong suspicion that petitioner specifically intended to aid in the murder by coordinating in advance, participating in the beating, and assisting Simons in fleeing. The court noted the grand jury instructions on direct aiding and abetting. The court of appeal denied relief; the evidence and instructions supported petitioner’s indictment on a still-valid theory of murder.
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