People v. Cory CA2/3

BACKGROUND

I. The evidence from Cory’s trial3

This case arises from a February 8, 1996 home invasion robbery that resulted in the deaths of Curtis Reilly and Charles Johnson. Cory was jointly tried with Kevin Watkins and Joseph Portillo for murder and related crimes. Isaac Pereira was also implicated in the crimes but was not tried with Cory, Watkins, and Portillo.

1 All further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code. 2 Effective June 30, 2022, section 1170.95 was renumbered to section 1172.6, with no change in text. (Stats. 2022, ch. 58, § 10.) 3 We have granted the People’s request for judicial notice of the record from Cory’s direct appeal (People v. Ronald Lee Cory and Joseph John Portillo (June 8, 1999, B118065) [nonpub. opn.]).

2 A. Events leading to the murders The victim Reilly was acquainted with some of the defendants through his friend, Patricia Russell. Reilly sold drugs and sometimes Russell would arrange for Portillo and Pereira to buy drugs from him. On February 5, 1996, three days before the murders, Russell was introduced to Cory when she went with him, Portillo, and Pereira to buy speed from Reilly at his auto body shop. The…