People v. Venturine CA2/6

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In December 2017, appellant and his girlfriend Pauline M. got into an argument after she saw a text message from another woman on his cellphone. After Pauline asked appellant to leave her house, he told her “he would start with [her] car, then he would ruin [her] house and then he would find [her] and kill [her]. And then he said he would break [her] son’s neck.” Appellant, who had been drinking alcohol, also pushed Pauline and punched a hole in her bedroom door. In July 2018, appellant went to Pauline’s house and told her he was “cleaning up his act” and was residing in a sober living facility. Appellant began drinking beer and yelled at Pauline, who asked him to leave. Appellant pushed Pauline to the ground, straddled her, and repeatedly punched her in the face and head. Pauline, who was bleeding from her head, nose, and

2Appellant pleaded no contest in three separate cases and his appeals in the three cases were consolidated for purposes of argument and decision.

2 ear, hit appellant with a flashlight in self-defense. Appellant told Pauline “I’m gonna kill you” and asked, “Where would you like me to bury your body?” Pauline ran to a neighbor’s…