People v. Kishor CA3

BACKGROUND

I. The amended information charged Kishor and three codefendants with conspiracy to commit murder, robbery and carjacking, burglary, robbery, mayhem, and attempted murder in connection with a violent attack on Kishor’s wife in her home. Kishor pleaded no contest to robbery and attempted murder pursuant to People v. West (1970) 3 Cal.3d 595. (§§ 211, 664, 187, subd. (a).) At the change-of-plea hearing, the prosecutor recited a factual basis for the plea: In January 1998, Kishor’s codefendants entered the victim’s home and “proceeded to attempt to drown her, smother her with a rag soaked in bleach, doused her in bleach and attempted to set her on fire, struck her repeatedly and stabbed her twice in the back. [¶] In addition, upon entry of these three co-defendants to the residence, they demanded jewelry . . . and money from the victim . . . and ultimately after the victim was attacked by these three co-defendants, her automobile was stolen from inside her attached garage. [¶] During the investigation of the case, it was determined that [Kishor] . . . enlisted the aid of these three individuals for the specific purpose of having them attack and kill his estranged wife…