People v. Dennis

Opinion

CHIN, J.

A jury found William Michael Dennis guilty of first degree murder for killing his former wife, Doreen Erbert. (Pen. Code, §§ 187,189.) When defendant attacked Doreen with a machete-like weapon, she was eight months pregnant. The jury found defendant guilty of second degree murder for killing Doreen’s fetus. (§§ 187, 189.) The jury also found as a special circumstance that defendant committed multiple murders. (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(3).)

At the conclusion of the penalty phase, the jury returned a verdict of death. The trial court denied defendant’s motion to modify the verdict under…