Minifie

*1259 On the morning of February 16, 2012 Minifie forced his ex-girlfriend Lillian Pleitez into the passenger seat of his vehicle and drove away. After a witness called 911, Minifie was followed by two police cars. A high-speed chase ensued through the streets just west of downtown Los Angeles, with Minifie running through multiple *443 red lights. The chase ended when Minifie swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle head-on. Pleitez died on the way to the hospital.

The jury found Minifie guilty of second degree murder ( Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a) ; count 1), 1 kidnapping (§ 207, subd. (a); count 2), and evading an officer causing injury ( Veh. Code, § 2800.3, subd. (a) ; count 3). Minifie waived his right to a jury trial on his alleged prior convictions, and admitted he had suffered three prior convictions. The court found that Minifie had served three prior separate prison terms within the meaning of section 667.5, subdivision (b).

On count 1 the trial court sentenced Minifie to an indeterminate term of 15 years to life. On count 2 the trial court sentenced Minifie to the upper term of eight years, to run consecutively. The trial court imposed three…