People v. Medina CA2/3

BACKGROUND

I. Evidence at trial

One evening in September 2021, Emma was stabbed multiple times. The evidence at trial showed that around the time Emma was stabbed, her roommate and neighbors saw Medina or heard his car leaving the scene, although Medina denied stabbing Emma. A. Prosecution’s case-in-chief In September 2021, Jordan Rippe, Rachel Rukseta, and Emma lived at a house in North Hollywood. Rippe’s family owned the house, and he used one bedroom and Rukseta used the second bedroom. Emma lived in a detached shed that had been converted into a bedroom at the back of the property. Emma had been dating Medina since spring 2021, and he was at the property often. Medina drove a gray Cadillac that had a distinct sound. The car was so loud that Rukseta could hear

2 Medina coming and going in his car, and neighbors had complained about the noise. Rukseta heard Medina arguing with Emma “a lot.” He cussed at Emma and called her a “bitch.” Rukseta thought that Medina was drunk when he fought with Emma because a couple of times glass bottles were thrown outside Rukseta’s window. Sometimes Emma would talk to Rukseta about the fights and refer to Medina as “ ‘[t]hat fool’ ” or…