People v. Inestroza CA4/2

I. INTRODUCTION

On December 12, 2014, a jury convicted defendant and appellant, Teresa

Guadalupe Inestroza, of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence (Pen. Code, § 192,

subd. (c)(1), count 1), and sentenced her to 36 months of formal probation subject to a

number of terms and conditions, including that she serve 365 days in county jail.

On this appeal, defendant argues that her conviction must be reversed because (1)

defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to object to the admission of

her statement that, at the time of the incident, she was driving with a suspended driver’s

license and without vehicle insurance, (2) the People misstated the “beyond a reasonable

doubt” standard during closing argument, which “effectively reduced” their burden of

proof, and (3) defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to object to the

People’s misstatement of what constitutes “beyond a reasonable doubt.” We conclude

defense counsel did not render ineffective assistance and the People did not misstate the

“beyond a reasonable doubt” standard.

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On August 12, 2014, an information charged defendant with…