People v. Law CA6

I. BACKGROUND

In a confidential indictment, the grand jury alleged that Law murdered Nguyen and personally used deadly and dangerous weapons, a rock and brick, in the commission of the offense. A. Trial Evidence On July 12, 2016, Hoang Thi “Jenny” Ho was looking for Nguyen. Ho was concerned about Nguyen’s health because, when Ho had seen him that morning, he had been doing crack for three days and seemed “very tired” and “weaker” than usual. She tried calling Nguyen but received no response. When Ho did not find him at his house, she drove by Law’s house at around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m.: Law and Nguyen were friends, and Nguyen frequently visited Law, sometimes with Ho, sometimes to use crack together. Nguyen’s car was parked in Law’s driveway. Because Nguyen had not been answering his phone, Ho called Law and offered to bring him some crack and to “hang out.” When she returned with “the goods,” Ho spoke to Law in person in the driveway. Ho noticed a “chunk” of blood—and “not, like, fresh color blood”—on Law’s face. Ho asked about Nguyen, but Law told her that Nguyen had left. Ho left but, thinking that Nguyen might be inside avoiding her, returned a few minutes later, knocked…