People v. Valadez CA2/3

BACKGROUND

Valadez lived with his wife, Sandra Valadez,1 and their four children in a back house on property that they shared with Sandra’s relatives. In November 2015, Valadez came home and, without warning, shot Sandra several times. Sandra, who was holding their infant child, fell to the floor. Two of the Valadez children—ages six and eight at the time—saw their father shoot their mother. The six-year-old ran out of the house and told her aunt, “Daddy shot mommy.” Sandra died from her wounds, but the infant was uninjured. After hearing gunshots, Sandra’s aunt entered the room and fought with Valadez as he threatened to kill everyone else on the property and tried to reload his gun. The police arrived several minutes later and arrested Valadez. Valadez testified at

1 Because Valadez and his wife shared the same last name, we refer to his wife by her first name.

2 trial and claimed he was unconscious when he shot Sandra due to a mix of alcohol, methamphetamine, and anti-anxiety medication. The People charged Valadez with one count of murder (Pen. Code,2 § 187, subd. (a); count 1), one count of making a criminal threat (against the aunt) (§ 422, subd. (a); count 2), and one…