Godlewski

Statement of Facts

Three defendants appeal following their convictions for murder. As none of the defendants directly raises a sufficiency of the evidence claim, we will briefly summarize, in accord with the traditional rule of appellate review (People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 562 [ 162 Cal.Rptr. 431 , 606 P.2d 738 , 16 A.L.R.4th 1255 ]), the operative events of this murder-for-hire case. Additional facts will be set forth as necessary to evaluate the specific assignments of error.

Raymond E. Godlewski, desiring to kill his father, hired Gene Flack to commit the crime. Hack enlisted Michael Brown’s assistance. At approximately 12:30 a.m. on July 4, 1989, Brown drove Hack to the victim’s home in Sylmar. Hack knocked on the door. When the victim answered, Hack murdered him with a single shotgun blast to the head. Brown drove Hack from the scene.

On July 5,1989, Hack told Paul Caines that he had committed the murder. Caines notified the police. The police interviewed Hack and Brown but released them. Several days later, the police arrested Godlewski and Brown. Hack fled to Louisiana but was soon apprehended.

The three men were jointly charged and tried. However,…