People v. Riel

Opinion

CHIN, J.

A jury convicted defendant of the first degree murder, robbery, and kidnapping of Edward Middleton and found true special circumstance allegations of robbery murder and kidnapping murder. The jury also found that defendant personally used a deadly weapon as to all counts, and that he had two prior second degree burglary convictions for which he served a prison term. After the penalty trial, the jury returned a verdict of death, and the court imposed that sentence. This appeal is automatic. (Pen. Code, § 1239.) We will strike a redundant prior prison term finding and otherwise…