Mendoza

A jury convicted defendant Manuel Mendoza of one count of residential robbery (Pen. Code, § 212.5), four counts of robbery (§ 211), three counts of kidnapping for purposes of robbery (§ 209, subd. (b)), two counts of commercial burglary (§ 459), one count each of forcible rape (§ 261, subd. (a) (2)) and arson with great bodily injury (§ 451), and murder (§ 187, subd. (a)).

The jury found true allegations that defendant inflicted great bodily injury on a person over the age of 60 years during the commission of the residential robbery, the forcible rape, the arson, and the murder. (§ 1203.09, subd. (a).) The jury also found true the special circumstance allegations that defendant committed the murder during the commission of robbery, rape, and arson. (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(17)(A), (C), (H).) Defendant was sentenced to death. This appeal is automatic. (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 11; Pen. Code, § 1239, subd. (b).)

I. Facts and Proceedings

Defendant was convicted in this case of crimes based on four separate events, which we discuss below.

A. Guilt Phase

1. Prosecution’s Case

a. Robbery of Jung Wang

At 4:00 p.m. on February 5, 1986, Jung Wang was working at Mickey’s Liquor on…