People v. Parra

My study of the record leads me to conclude that in this case the State has taken the accidental death of an unfortunate young woman and turned it into a prosecution for murder and involuntary manslaughter. In the trial court, it was the State’s theory that the defendant, Michael Parra, with his automobile, murdered Sharon Dobosz, his girlfriend, so he could collect the proceeds of insurance on her life. Twenty-one witnesses testified for the State in support of this theory. Much of their testimony was trivia concerning defendant’s personal life, but all aimed at suggesting to tire jury that…