People v. Wright CA4/1

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Wright’s Conviction for First Degree Murder on a Theory of Felony Murder Committed During a Robbery On October 13, 2003, John D. was assaulted during a robbery in his

catering business and sustained significant injuries to his head and neck.

Unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to the Penal Code.

We base our factual description on the preliminary hearing transcript, which Wright identified as the factual basis for his guilty plea, and which the

2 According to the medical examiner who later performed an autopsy of John D., due to John D.’s preexisting heart condition, the stress from the robbery and assault caused John D. to suffer a fatal heart attack within days of the incident. Prior to John D.’s death, he was interviewed by law enforcement officers about the incident. John D. told officers that he was in his catering business talking to a Black male approximately 18 to 19 years old, whom he

had not met before.3 John D. believed the man was approximately 6’1” and had a thin or normal build. John D. and the man spoke to each other while sitting in chairs at John D.’s desk. The man stated that…