Loyd

Certified for Partial Publication. [*]

Christine Loyd was convicted by jury of two counts of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187) [1] and one count of arson (§ 451, subd. (c)) and was sentenced to prison for a term of 55 years to life. She alleges on appeal that the trial court committed reversible error by denying her motion to sever counts, allowing the prosecutor to cross-examine a defense witness about defendant's religious beliefs and permitting a witness to testify to hearsay statements. She further contends that the district attorney committed prosecutorial misconduct by taping some of her jail conversations and by impugning the integrity of defense counsel and referencing defendant's religious beliefs during closing argument. We find no error and affirm.

Defendant was charged by indictment with two counts of murder (counts one and two; § 187) and one count of arson (count three; § 451, subd. (c).) She entered a plea of not guilty. Subsequent motions to quash, strike or dismiss the indictment (§ 995), to sever count one from counts two and three, and to impose sanctions due to the taping of some of defendant's jail conversations, were denied. The case…