People v. Streeter

Opinion

CHIN, J.

A jury convicted defendant Howard Larcell Streeter of the first degree murder of Yolanda Buttler. (Pen. Code, § 187.) It found true special circumstance allegations of lying in wait (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(15)) and the intentional infliction of torture (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(18)). The trial court declared a mistrial as to the penalty phase after the jury could not reach a verdict. At the beginning of the penalty phase retrial,- the trial court released the jury after granting defendant’s motion for a continuance. At the second penalty retrial, the jury returned a verdict of death, and…