People v. Narcisse CA1/4

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL

BACKGROUND

Narcisse stabbed a woman outside a Pinole bar in the early morning hours of November 11, 2011, cutting her from the middle of her forehead, through her left ear, and down to her neck behind her ear. The incision was life threatening. It caused a

1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code.

1 significant loss of blood, required surgery, and left the victim with a visible scar and hearing problems. At trial, witnesses provided contrasting versions of exactly what happened. According to the victim, she first encountered Narcisse the previous summer at the same bar when she was there with her companion. On that occasion, Narcisse followed the victim and her companion out of the bar, asked the victim for her phone number, persisted in soliciting the number even after the victim refused to give it, and prevented the victim and her companion from getting into their car until someone who was with Narcisse persuaded him to give up. The victim stated that she saw Narcisse about two other times at the same bar, these times without incident, before the night of the stabbing. The victim testified that on the night of the stabbing, Narcisse bumped…