People v. Craig CA4/3

FACTS

I.

THE INFORMATION

An information charged Craig with first degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a); count 1) and conspiracy to commit assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury (§§ 182, subd. (a)(1), 245, subd. (a)(1); count 2), along with a gun enhancement (§ 12022, subd. (a)(1)). He plead not guilty and proceeded to jury trial in 2008.

II.

TRIAL TESTIMONY2

Craig and Cesar Guzman were close friends since childhood. As adults, they played basketball, played music, and smoked crack cocaine together every weekend. Craig became friends with the neighbors in his apartment complex, including the victim, Corle. Craig and Corle hung out

1 All undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.

Effective June 30, 2022, the Legislature renumbered section 1170.95 to section 1172.6. (Stats. 2022, ch. 58, § 10.) For purposes of clarity, we refer to the statute as section 1172.6 throughout the opinion. 2 This court took judicial notice of the appellate record in People

v. Craig, case No. G041699. The facts are derived from the jury trial transcript.

2 nearly every night. Craig introduced Corle to Guzman a few months before the murder. They all frequently hung…