Hargrove

A jury convicted defendant Aaron Christopher Hargrove of first-degree murder, street terrorism, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and associated enhancements. He was sentenced to a total determinate term of 13 years 8 months, plus a consecutive indeterminate term of 25 years to life. 1 Defendant appeals, claiming the following errors: (1) The trial court's instructions on three of the prosecutor's four independent theories of first degree murder were legally incorrect; (2) the trial court erroneously admitted expert testimony as to defendant's mental state, and (3) the prosecutor unlawfully exercised peremptory challenges against two prospective jurors based on a group bias. We disagree with defendant's arguments and affirm the judgment in its entirety.

Some of the occupants convinced Cobbs to go outside to look in the car, and then locked him out of the house. Cobbs responded by kicking the door and throwing objects off the porch. He left before the police arrived.

Later that morning, Cobbs met with a number of other gang members, perhaps as many as nine or ten including defendant, and complained about Williams taking his gun. The group eventually left in four cars…