Pinholster

People v. Pinholster

Bad Law

1 Cal. 4th 865·1992 Cal. LEXIS 529·4 Cal. Rptr. 2d 765·824 P.2d 571·92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1416

Supreme Court of CaliforniaFebruary 20, 1992S004616. Crim. No. 23781California10,663 words

Opinion

Mosk, J.

Defendant Scott Lynn Pinholster was convicted by a jury of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187) of Thomas Johnson and Robert Beckett. The jury found true two multiple-murder special-circumstance allegations (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(3)) and allegations that each murder was committed during the perpetration of a robbery and a burglary. (§ 190.2, subds. (a) (17)(i) & (vii).) The jury also found as to each count that defendant personally used a knife. (§ 12022, subd. (b).) The jury returned the same verdicts and findings against codefendant Paul David Brown. In addition, the jury convicted defendant of burglary of the residence of Michael Kumar (§ 459), robbery of Johnson and Beckett (§ 211), with intentional infliction of great bodily injury and personal use of a knife (§§ 12022.7, 12022, subd. (b) ). Defendant was convicted separately of the robbery of Todd Croutch (§ 211), and the jury found true an allegation that he was armed with a firearm (§ 12022, subd. (a)).

The jury fixed the penalty at death. This appeal is automatic. We conclude that one multiple-murder special circumstance should be set aside, and the judgment otherwise is affirmed.

I. Facts

A. Guilt Phase

1.…

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Parties

The PEOPLE
Plaintiff
SCOTT LYNN PINHOLSTER
Defendant

Judges

Mosk

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