People v. Archer CA1/2

BACKGROUND

Evidence at Trial Valdez was shot in his home at 5:50 a.m. on June 28, 2021.1 In the weeks before the murder, Archer sent Valdez many texts accusing him of betraying their friendship by sleeping with Archer’s wife Alexie.2 Two days before the murder, Archer sent Valdez a string of accusatory, threatening texts—culminating in, “You fuck every friend you got over and this friend going to do something about it.” The two then spoke by telephone; according to Archer, Valdez admitted the affair and apologized. As seen on surveillance video, Alexie parked outside Valdez’s home shortly before midnight on June 27 and sat in her truck for about 45 minutes. For part of that time, Alexie and Archer argued by text message. Archer texted, “Fuck off alexie edge I am done love u” and claimed to be in bed with another woman. Alexie sent a text that was partly forensically recovered and began, “Again think what you want, I am not having sex wit.” Around 12:30 a.m., Valdez walked outside and brought Alexie into the house with him. Alexie’s truck was still in front of Valdez’s house at 5:41 the next morning, when someone drove by in a black Mercedes and honked. Archer was known to drive a…