Ibrahim

I. Introduction

In this case we hold that kidnapping for extortion does not require the person extorted be someone other than the kidnapped victim. Mamdouh Ibrahim and Atif Ibrahim appeal from a judgment of conviction for multiple offenses, including murder, rape, and kidnapping for extortion resulting in death. We affirm.

II. Background

Mamdouh and Atif are brothers. The victim, Zinab Saad, was their former stepmother. Each emigrated from Egypt. In 1991, Zinab was divorced and living with her two daughters in San Mateo. Mamdouh shared an apartment in Concord with Subhi Beilani. Circumstantial evidence indicates that on Friday, January 18, 1991, Mamdouh and Atif, accompanied by Subhi, abducted Zinab from her house in San Mateo and took her to the Concord apartment, where she was raped and murdered. They then took the body to the Marin Headlands and set it on fire.

The evidence of activity by Mamdouh, Atif and Subhi between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on January 18 is sketchy. Witnesses testified that the three left the Concord apartment with Mamdouh’s girlfriend at 4 p.m. in two vehicles, leaving the girlfriend at her workplace at 4:10 p.m.; they later returned to the…