People v. Landis CA4/2

BACKGROUND

1. The circumstances leading to defendant’s conviction

In 1995, a jury convicted defendant of first degree murder of Karen Beloz, who

was found strangled and wrapped in a blanket in the back seat of a car that had been

doused with gasoline and set on fire (§ 187, count I). (People v. Landis (Jan. 24, 1997,

E016856) [nonpub. opn.], pp. 2-3 (Landis I).) The jury also convicted him of a felony

violation of Vehicle Code section 2800.2 (driving in willful disregard for the safety of

persons or property while fleeing from a pursuing police office, count III), and

misdemeanor reckless driving in violation of Vehicle Code section 23103, subdivision

All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.

2 (a), count IV. The trial court found true the allegations defendant had suffered a section

667.5, subdivision (b) prior prison term as well as two prior convictions for serious and

violent felonies coming under the Three Strikes Law (§ 667).

In August 1995, the court sentenced defendant to a total indeterminate sentence of

101 years to life. The sentence consisted of 75 years to life for the first degree murder

conviction, a term…