People v. Sarwar CA3

BACKGROUND

The Murder On August 21, 2018, around 3:43 p.m., defendant went to a liquor store and bought a knife and a beer. He had to be shown how to close the knife blade and defendant pressed his finger to the blade appearing to test its sharpness. Defendant then drank the beer within the liquor store while staring towards a massage parlor that was within the same shopping center. A few minutes later defendant left the store and walked over and entered the massage parlor. Junying Lu, who went by Lucy, was giving a massage to another customer and told defendant to come back later. Defendant returned to the liquor store around 4:29 p.m. and continued drinking his beer. After being asked to leave the store, defendant exited and stood outside finishing his drink and continued watching the massage parlor. Immediately after the other customer left the massage parlor defendant walked back over around 4:34 p.m. and entered the massage parlor again. Defendant was in the massage parlor for about 50 minutes. During this time defendant stabbed or cut Lucy about 20 times in the head, abdomen, and hands, killing her. She was later found in the back of the massage parlor, outside of all the…