People v. Buchanan CA2/5

FACTS

The Murder

In September 2016, roommates Benjamin Wakrat and Richard Hong lived in the Hollywood Hills. Jacques Hyzagi and Emily Lembo lived in a unit to the left of Wakrat and Hong’s unit. There was a pathway between the two units, which was accessed by a single stairway with several gates. A patio behind Wakrat and Hong’s unit was also gated. The path to the patio

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

2 gate was not visible from the street and only accessible through a narrow opening between two houses with several twists and turns. Wakrat and Hong kept the padlock on the gate closed so that it would appear secure, but usually left it unlocked because Hong did not have keys for it. On September 22, 2016, Wakrat and Hong attended an event in Venice Beach until around 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. Wakrat went to a bar afterwards, but Hong told Wakrat he was going home. Hyzagi and Lembo also went out that evening. Hyzagi got home around midnight. When Hyzagi parked his car, he noticed a tent on the garage floor that was out of place. As he walked up to his unit, Hyzagi noticed that there was a light on over the door leading to Wakrat and…