People v. Collins

Opinion

CORRIGAN, J.

A jury convicted defendant of first degree murder, robbery, and kidnapping for robbery. It found true kidnapping-murder and robbery-murder special circumstances and allegations that defendant personally used a firearm in the commission of the offenses. The jury fixed the penalty at death. The trial court granted defendant’s motion for a new penalty trial, after which the trial judge recused himself from further proceedings in the case. Upon appeal by the People, the Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s order granting a new penalty trial and reinstated the death…