People v. Samuels CA1/4

BACKGROUND

In July 2022, Samuels was charged with murder (Pen. Code,1 § 187, subd. (a); count 1); shooting at an occupied motor vehicle (§ 246; count 2); possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 29800, subd (a)(1); count 3); and carrying a loaded firearm in an incorporated city (§ 25850, subd. (a); count 4). The information alleged enhancements under counts 1 and 2 for personally inflicting great bodily injury during the commission of a felony (§ 12022.7, subd (a)) and personally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury and death (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)). The information also alleged several circumstances in aggravation (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.421) and that Samuels had suffered a prior strike conviction. The following evidence was presented at trial. Samuels and the victim met in 2020 and immediately started dating. As set forth in greater detail below, a friend of the victim testified that she believed the victim started working as a prostitute shortly after she started dating Samuels and that she believed Samuels was a pimp. Fernando Sevilla was charged and tried as Samuel’s co- defendant. He testified at trial that in the early morning of November 6, 2020, as he was…