People v. Willis CA2/2

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

I. Facts

A. The underlying crime2 Appellant was abusive toward taxicab driver Crystal Stahl (Stahl), with whom he lived for some time. During one fight, appellant hit Stahl repeatedly while he told her, “You’re never going to leave me.” Stahl broke up with him and started dating someone new. Shortly thereafter, appellant attacked her, and she called the police, resulting in appellant’s arrest. Stahl moved in with her new boyfriend. Appellant told his friends he was angry that Stahl had put him in jail and that she was dating a new man. He stated that he was going to kill her, and more specifically, that he would burn her in the taxi she drove and flee to Las Vegas. On January 5, 2000, appellant called the cab service and requested that Stahl pick him up at a gas station. Stahl obliged. Soon thereafter, she was found dead, having been burned alive in her taxicab a mile and a half from where she had picked up appellant.

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

2 This summary is drawn from the opinion in the direct appeal, People v. Willis (2004) 115 Cal.App.4th 379 (Willis).

2 B. Conviction and appeal On June 27,…