California v. Watson
Annotate this CaseKhary Watson challenged his sentence of life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) for committing felony murder when he was only four months shy of his 18th birthday. Watson's offense occurred after he chased down a woman who tried to run away while Watson was robbing her. Watson shot her in the back. He argued his sentence violated the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution. He also contended California's sentencing scheme as well as specific Penal Code provisions violated the equal protection and due process clauses of the United States Constitution. The Court of Appeal concluded Watson's arguments lacked merit; thus, affirmed.
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