People v. Mundi CA5

INTRODUCTION

In 2021, a jury convicted defendant Harbhajan Singh Mundi of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a); count 1) of his landlord, and mayhem (§ 203; count 3) and assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2); count 4) of the landlord’s son, and found true multiple enhancement allegations. (Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.) In a separate phase of trial, the jury found defendant was sane at the time he committed the crimes. On appeal, defendant asserts insufficient evidence supports each of his convictions, and he challenges the jury’s finding that he was sane at the time of the commission of the crimes. We affirm.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

In July 2018, Nizam Rajabali (Nizam), his son Jahan Rajabali (J.R.), and others met with defendant to negotiate the transfer of defendant’s lease related to a property owned by Nizam. At some point, defendant pulled out a loaded firearm and started to shoot. J.R. managed to wrestle the gun away from defendant, but Nizam, J.R. and defendant were all shot during the incident. Shortly thereafter, defendant hit Nizam in the head with a hammer. Nizam ultimately died from the injuries he sustained. In connection…