People v. Trujeque
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury trial in 1999, Defendant was convicted of first degree murder, second degree murder, and second degree robbery. Defendant stipulated to a 1971 prior second degree murder conviction alleged as a special circumstance. As to both murder counts, the jury found true the special-circumstance allegation of multiple murder. The trial court imposed a sentence of death that was supported by the multiple murder special-circumstance finding. The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of conviction for second degree murder and reversed the penalty judgment, holding (1) Defendant’s 1971 second degree murder conviction was obtained in violation of the double jeopardy clause, and therefore, this special-circumstance finding must be set aside; (2) the trial court erred by allowing the prosecution to refile the second degree murder charge, which had previously been dismissed; (3) the multiple murder special circumstance is vacated because it was based in part on the invalid second degree murder conviction; and (4) therefore, the judgment of death must be reversed. Remanded for resentencing.
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