People v. Watson CA1/1

BACKGROUND

The People’s Case Prosecution witnesses testified to the following events: In September 2016, S.H. met her cousin T.L. and her friend T.J. in Berkeley to “hang out

1 and go[] to purchase some weed.”1 T.J. arrived with her friend Gregory Ignacio, Jr., who S.H. and T.L. knew only by the nickname “G”. T.J. eventually called Jacob Felipe,2 from whom she and T.L. had previously bought marijuana. The three girls and Ignacio walked about four or five blocks to meet Felipe to make the purchase. It was late afternoon or early evening, but still light. The group met Felipe, who was alone, near some apartment buildings. They spent no more than five minutes buying the marijuana. The three girls started walking away, but Ignacio stayed and spoke briefly with Felipe. To T.J., it looked as though Ignacio and Felipe were “chatting.” T.L. described their exchange as a “regular conversation, not hostile.” S.H. did not remember any fights, arguments, or hostilities between Ignacio and Felipe. Ignacio then rejoined the trio, and the four continued walking back toward where they had started. Shortly thereafter, a man, later identified as defendant, approached them from behind—coming from…