People v. Spencer

CUÉLLAR, J.

*648 A jury convicted defendant Christopher Spencer of murdering James Madden. ( Pen. Code § 187 ; all further undesignated references are to this code.) It also found true the special circumstance allegations that Spencer murdered Madden while robbing him and burglarizing his place of business. (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(17).) The jury returned a verdict of death, prompting this automatic appeal. ( Cal. Const., art. VI, § 11 ; Pen. Code § 1239, subd. (b).) We affirm the judgment in its entirety.

I. FACTS

On January 24, 1991, four days before Madden was fatally stabbed, a group of men robbed…