People v. Chukwu CA2/4

INTRODUCTION

In February 2024, a jury convicted defendant and appellant Obinna Chukwu of assault with a deadly weapon and found true the allegation that he caused great bodily injury in the commission of the assault. (Pen. Code,1 §§ 245, subd. (a)(1); 12022.7, subd. (a).) The jury acquitted Chukwu of making criminal threats and mayhem. (§§ 422, subd. (a); 203.) The trial court struck Chukwu’s prior strike under People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, and denied a defense motion for Veteran’s Diversion. The trial court sentenced Chukwu to five years in state prison, consisting of a low term of two years on the assault, enhanced by three years under section 12022.7 for inflicting great bodily harm. Chukwu timely appealed. We appointed counsel to represent him. On December 24, 2024, Chukwu’s counsel filed a brief raising no issues on appeal and asking us to review the record independently. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende).) That same day, we sent Chukwu a letter informing him of his right to file within 30 days a supplemental brief raising any appellate issues he wished us to consider. On January 24, 2025, Chukwu filed a supplemental brief raising…