Jenkins
People v. Jenkins
Opinion
Opinion
BACKGROUND
I. Summary of Facts in the Prior Opinion
The following facts are drawn from our prior opinion in Jenkins’s direct appeal
(the 2004 opinion). (People v. Conner et al. (May 7, 2004, E033015) [nonpub. opn.].) In
June 1999, Michael Conner and the murder victim, Reeves, got into a fight with two men.
Conner fired a gun at the men and injured them. Several days later, law enforcement
interviewed Reeves about the shooting.
In September 1999, Conner and Jenkins tracked down Reeves. Conner asked
Reeves whether he had “‘snitched’” on Conner, and Jenkins also questioned Reeves.
Conner ordered Reeves “to start digging and find the gun,” which Conner believed
Reeves had given to the police. After Reeves failed to produce the gun, Conner and
Jenkins took Reeves to a landfill, where Reeves attempted to flee. Conner chased and
shot at Reeves; once he caught Reeves, he strangled Reeves over a 10-minute period.
3 Conner also struck Reeves in the head with a rock several times. Reeves died from
multiple gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to the head and neck.
Before they took Reeves to the landfill, Jenkins told Conner, ‘“[H]e’s the only
witness. You got to kill him.’”…