California v. Moore
Annotate this CaseA jury convicted defendant Paul Roger Moore of first degree murder based exclusively on circumstantial evidence that he built and planted a victim-activated bomb in an irrigation pump he knew the farm foreman and eventual victim, Roberto Ayala, would activate. On appeal, Moore argued his first cousin Peter had the motive and violent disposition to murder Roberto. ‘[Defendant’s] narrative of family intrigue has all the earmarks of a Shakespearean tragedy and makes for compelling drama.” On the narrow legal questions presented, the Court of Appeal found substantial evidence to support the verdict and no abuse of discretion in admitting evidence or denying the defense request for surrebuttal closing argument, and therefore affirmed the judgment.
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