People v. Stilley CA3

BACKGROUND

I Jury Trial Proceedings In 1994, the People charged Stilley, along with codefendant Rory Clay, with first degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a)). At trial, the People introduced evidence that the victim in this case was managing the Delta Breeze Hotel around the time he was killed. Because the hotel was in “total shambles,” Susan E. was brought on to take over management. On June 6, 1994, while removing car parts stored in the laundry room, Susan E. was confronted by Clay (a frequent visitor of the hotel) who claimed the parts were his. The next day, Clay confronted Susan E. again to ask what she was doing with his stuff and where the victim was. He then said, “Tell that motherfucker I’m going to kill him.” That night, Clay called Susan E. at her home and demanded to know where “his stuff” and the victim were. When Susan E. told him that everything she took out had been put in the dumpster, he threatened to get a machine gun and spray her house. According to Stilley’s uncle, Donnie Stilley,2 on June 10, Stilley called him between 1:00 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. Stilley said he was coming to Donnie’s home, which is in a rural area of Auburn more than 30 miles from where Stilley…