People v. Perez

Opinion

PANELLI, J.

We granted review in this case after a divided Court of Appeal reduced defendant’s first degree murder conviction to second degree murder for insufficient evidence of premeditation and deliberation. As explained hereafter, we conclude that the judgment of the Court of Appeal should be reversed.

Facts

Defendant killed Victoria Mesa in her home in Garden Grove on the morning of September 30, 1988. There is no question that he was the *1121perpetrator. The only question is the circumstances under which the murder occurred—that is, whether it was premeditated and deliberate.

Michael…