The People v. Christon CA2/2

FACTS

Prosecution Evidence On September 1, 2005, there was a dice game in the driveway of Johnny Stringer, the murder victim. There were up to 20 men playing and observing at any given time, including Duron Marshall, Keith Pierre, Donte Liggins, Kristopher Calmes, Andre Pommells, and John Kennedy. Estimates of the money on the ground during the game varied from about $400 to $2,000. At one point, defendant arrived and greeted everyone. Marshall knew defendant to be a member of the Block Crips gang. About 10 minutes later, Marshall heard defendant ask, “Is anybody strapped?” Liggons heard him say, “There‟s a lot of money out here. Where the burners at?” Stringer told defendant there was no need for anyone to be strapped because they were at his house. Sometime later, after defendant had gone, Marshall and Pommells saw an individual walk past the driveway and look. He then cut across the grass on the diagonal. The young man had a bag in his left hand and his right hand in his pocket. He said, “Break yourselves,” or “Give up the cheese,” which meant he was going to rob the men. Everyone stood up. Stringer stepped off the wall where he was standing next to Marshall and said, “Who are…