People v. Cole

Opinion

WERDEGAR, J.

Introduction

Defendant Stephen Cole was convicted by a jury in Los Angeles County Superior Court of the first degree murder of Mary Ann Mahoney (Pen. Code, § 187; all further statutory references are to this code unless otherwise indicated) and arson (§451, subd. (b)). The jury also sustained a special circumstance allegation that the murder was intentional and involved the infliction of torture. (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(18).) A mistrial was declared on a further special circumstance allegation that defendant committed the murder while engaged in the commission of arson. (Former…