Neuschmid

I. BACKGROUND/PRIOR PROCEEDINGS

On September 29, 2010, Williams and his co-defendant, Isaiah Dominic Hale, were charged with attempted deliberate and premeditated murder, along with various other crimes and enhancements. Both Williams and Hale pled not guilty and denied the enhancement allegations. Prior to trial, Williams moved to sever his trial from Hale’s trial. The trial court denied the severance motion. Williams and Hale subsequently proceeded to a joint jury trial. On direct appeal of his conviction, the California Court of Appeals recounted the following facts underlying the charges against Williams and the evidence presented at trial:

Giselle Matteson is substituted for Robert Neuschmid as Acting Warden, California State Prison, Solano. FED. R. CIV. P. 25(d). The Charges Count one charged only Williams with firing at an inhabited dwelling (§ 246) on March 7, 2010. Count two charged both defendants with the March 10, 2010, attempted murder (§§ 664, 187, subd. (a)) of Julian Williams, who was defendant Joe Williams’s cousin. It was further alleged that the attempted murder was committed willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation. In connection with…