Ramirez

On November 7, 1989, defendant Richard Ramirez was sentenced to death for the so-called Night Stalker murders following his convictions of 12 counts of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)), one count of second degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a)), five counts of attempted murder (§§ 187, 664), four counts of rape (§261, former subd. (2)), three counts of forcible oral copulation (§ 288a, former subd. (c)), four counts of forcible sodomy (§ 286, former subd. (c)), and 14 counts of first degree burglary (§ 459). The jury found true allegations of multiple-murder, burglary, rape, forcible sodomy, and forcible-oral-copulation special circumstances. (§ 190.2.) The court imposed a sentence of death. This appeal is automatic. (§ 1239, subd. (b).) For the reasons that follow, the judgment is affirmed.

FACTS

Prosecution’s Case

On the afternoon of June 28, 1984, Jack Vincow arrived at his elderly mother’s apartment in Los Angeles and was surprised to find the screen missing from her open living room window and the front door unlocked. The missing window screen was on the floor of the living room, and the contents of the living room were in disarray. He found his mother,…