Granillo

By information filed in Tulare County Superi- or Court in February of 1985, defendants Gary Granillo, Frank Ruiz, and Daniel Granillo were charged with violation of Penal Code section 187 (murder). Special allegations further alleged Gary Granillo and Ruiz used a deadly weapon within the meaning of section 12022, subdivision (b) (a knife). At arraignment, all defendants pled not guilty. The special allegations were also denied.

Defendants’ motion to set aside the information because of a denial of speedy trial was denied, as was a motion for separate trials. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the unsworn jury and bring in a new jury venire based upon underrepresentation of individuals with Hispanic surnames was denied. A motion by all defendants to dismiss the unsworn petit jury and start jury selection over based upon the prosecution’s invalid use of peremptory challenges to preclude Hispanics from being on the jury was also denied.

All defendants were found guilty of first degree murder. The weapons use allegations were also found to be true. Gary Granillo was sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder, plus a consecutive one-year sentence for the weapon use; Frank Ruiz…