Eddy

This appeal presents an issue of fundamental importance to all defendants facing criminal prosecution in California: whether the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court of the United States in McCoy v. Louisiana (2018) 584 U.S. ----, 138 S.Ct. 1500 , [ 200 L.Ed.2d 821 ] ( McCoy ), affords a defendant an absolute right to decide the objective of his defense and to insist that his counsel refrain from admitting guilt, even when counsel's experience-based view is that confessing guilt might yield the best outcome at trial. Because we conclude that defendant's absolute right under McCoy to maintain his innocence was violated, we must reverse both his conviction for first degree murder ( Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a) ) 1 and the associated finding of true on the special allegation that he used a knife in the commission of the crime (§ 12022, subd. (b)). Having determined that defendant is entitled to a new trial, we do not reach his remaining contentions.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Defendant Morgan Eastwood Eddy and the victim often spent time at Lonnie L.'s apartment. At some point, however, Lonnie decided that defendant was no…