People v. Lawson CA4/1

FACTS

The crimes in this case occurred in one of five two-story modules in the San Diego

County jail. The subject module has a common area or day room with tables and a

television on the first floor and two floors of inmate cells along part of the perimeter of

the day room. There is a deputy's station with windows on the first floor of the jail, in the

center of the five modules. The jail also has a video surveillance system on every housing

floor. Lawson's crimes were captured on the video surveillance system. At trial, the

prosecutor presented the video, which did not have an audio portion, and still shots from

the video.

Around 10:00 a.m., Yorik Hancock, Michael Ottinger, and Joshua George were

eating lunch at a table in the day room while Lawson, dressed in all blue, stood by the

doorway of his cell. At one point, Hancock left the table, went to one cell and then went

to Luis Gautier's cell on the upper level. Hancock stayed in Gautier's cell for "just a little

bit." He then returned to the table where he joined Ottinger and Lawson.

Lawson returned to his cell and later exited it with his cellmate, Arden Montalvo.

Lawson walked over to George…