People v. Rodriguez CA2/5

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

I. Facts

A. Background and Context In May 2020, Rodriguez, then 20 years old, and Liana Mkrtchyan had been friends since around the seventh grade. They had lived near each other in their childhood neighborhood, each with their respective families. In 2020, Mkrtchyan lived with her family in Van Nuys while Rodriguez lived with his mother and brother in Glendale. At that time, their friendship had been recently renewed once Mkrtchyan had broken up with a boyfriend who had restricted her social contacts. In 2020, Rodriguez and Mkrtchyan as close friends communicated regularly by text message and saw each other frequently.

2 We take the facts from the trial testimony and other evidence presented at trial.

3 Both Rodriguez and Mkrtchyan also knew brothers Teodik and Tadeh Atanes through school and mutual friends.3 Rodriguez and Teodik (or “Teo”) were close friends for a period of years, a fact known by Mkrtchyan in 2020, and Teodik at one earlier point lived with Rodriguez. But when the friendship between Rodriguez and Mkrtchyan was renewed in 2020, Mkrtchyan observed that Teodik was not around, though she did not discuss this with Rodriguez. According…