The People v. Randhawa CA3

BACKGROUND

Karnail Singh and his wife Ranjeet Kaur were friends of defendant and his wife, Tejinder Kaur Randhawa. Defendant and his wife often argued; defendant’s wife told Singh and Kaur that defendant was volatile and violent. The wife left defendant in early 2004, storing some of her belongings with Singh and Kaur at their home. When Singh informed defendant that defendant’s wife picked up her clothes from Singh’s home, defendant became upset. Defendant came to the apartment of Singh and Kaur one evening in September 2004, carrying a small briefcase. He said he wanted to show them some papers. But then defendant repeatedly asked Singh to divulge his wife’s location. When Singh said he did not know, defendant pulled a gun from his briefcase and said: “I will kill you and then I will kill my wife.” Singh stood up and said “my brother, don’t [do] this thing to me.” He tried to grab the gun from defendant, but defendant then shot Singh in the shoulder. As Kaur picked up the phone to call the police, defendant aimed his gun at her, and the gun fired twice. Singh tried to hold defendant, but defendant wrestled free and shot Singh in the chest, below his heart. After the last shot,…