People v. Gonzales

Opinion

CORRIGAN, J.

Defendant Veronica Utilia Gonzales was convicted of murdering Genny Rojas.1 The jury found as special circumstances that the murder was intentional and involved the infliction of torture,2 and occurred while defendant was engaged in the commission and attempted commission of mayhem.3 It returned a verdict of death. On this automatic appeal, we affirm the judgment in its entirety.

I. FACTS

A. Guilt Phase

1. Prosecution

Defendant was the aunt of Genny Rojas. Genny and her siblings were removed from the custody of defendant’s sister Mary Rojas, after Mary went into a drug…