State v. Cota

UDALL, Justice:

The appellant, Frank Encisco Cota, hereinafter referred. to as defendant, was charged by information with first degree murder in the death of a state narcotics agent, Roy Singh. One Pedro Flores Valenzuela was a co-defendant. A first trial of the defendant and Valenzuela resulted in a mistrial.

After the second trial had commenced, Valenzuela pled guilty and the trial continued as to defendant. The defendant was subsequently convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to the death penalty. On appeal the conviction was reversed.

Defendant on rétrial was reconvicted and…