Pizarro

On August 11, 1989, an information was filed alleging appellant Michael A. Pizarro had committed the following crimes: count I, murder of Amber B. (Pen. Code, § 187) with the special circumstances that the murder was committed while appellant was engaged in the crime of rape (Pen. Code, § 190.2, subd. (a)(17)), and that the murder was committed while appellant was engaged in the crime of a lewd or lascivious act upon a child under age 14 (Pen. Code, § 190.2, subd. (a)(17)); count II, forcible lewd or lascivious act on a child under age 14 (Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (b)); and count III, forcible rape (Pen. Code, § 261, subd. (a)(2)).

On August 17, 1989, appellant was arraigned and pleaded not guilty.

On May 22, 1990, jury selection commenced. On May 31, 1990, during trial, a Kelly/Frye hearing was held to determine the admissibility of the results of DNA identification evidence and the trial court ruled the results were admissible.

On June 6, 1990, the jury returned verdicts finding appellant guilty of all counts and also finding the charged special circumstances to be true.

On July 3, 1990, appellant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on…