People v. Ward CA2/5

I. BACKGROUND

The Los Angeles County District Attorney charged defendant in 2012 with willfully, deliberately, and premeditatively attempting to murder victim Israil Barri (Barri). The charging document additionally alleged defendant personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon (a knife) and personally inflicted great bodily injury in connection with the attempted murder. (§§ 12022, subd. (b)(1)), 12022.7, subd. (a).) Tonya Edwards (Edwards) was charged as a co-defendant in the attempted murder of Barri. Defendant and Edwards were also charged with two assault offenses arising out of the same attack on Barri. In 2014, pursuant to an agreement with the prosecution, defendant resolved the charges against him by pleading guilty to an attempted murder charge (and admitting certain sentencing enhancements—though not the charging document’s allegation that the attempted murder was willful, deliberate, and premeditated) in exchange for a 19-year prison sentence. The

1 Undesignated statutory references that follow are to the Penal Code.

2 trial court imposed the contemplated sentence, comprised of seven years for attempted murder, doubled to 14 years for having sustained a prior…