People v. Steele

Opinion

CHIN, J.

A jury convicted defendant of the first degree murder of Lee Ann Thurman (Pen. Code, § 187)1 with the use of a knife (§ 12022) and found true the special circumstance of a prior murder conviction (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(2)). Later, defendant admitted three prior serious felony convictions. (§ 667, subd. (a).) After a penalty trial, the jury returned a verdict of death, and the court imposed that sentence. This appeal is automatic. (§ 1239, subd. (b).) We affirm the judgment.

I. The Facts

A. Guilt Phase

1. Prosecution Evidence

During the evening of August 5, 1988, the body of Lee Ann…