People v. Bowersock CA2/5

I. BACKGROUND

The Los Angeles District Attorney charged defendant with murdering Laurie Ann Prejean (Prejean), his former romantic partner. The District Attorney alleged defendant shot and killed her in retaliation for her testimony against him in a criminal proceeding. The District Attorney also charged defendant with robbing Prejean and burglarizing her home. In June 1996, a jury found defendant guilty of first degree murder and first degree residential burglary (the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the robbery charge). The jury also found true an allegation that defendant used a firearm when he committed both offenses and a special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed in retaliation for Prejean’s testimony. The trial court sentenced defendant to life without the possibility of parole. The judgment of conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. In January 2022, defendant petitioned for resentencing pursuant to section 1172.6. Defendant requested the trial court

1 Undesignated statutory references that follow are to the Penal Code.

2 appoint counsel, and the court appointed a deputy public defender to represent him. In support of his petition, defendant…