State v. Lopez

MOELLER, Justice.

JURISDICTION

Defendant George Villegas Lopez and his brother, Jose Villegas Lopez, were jointly indicted for armed robbery and first degree murder. The murder charge alleged a premeditated murder or, in the alternative, a felony murder. The offenses were alleged to have been committed on October 4, 1985, against the victim identified in the indictment as “Hugo L. Munoz, aka Macario Suarez.” 1

Upon motion, the trial court severed defendant’s trial from that of his brother. The brother, Jose Lopez, pled guilty to first degree murder and received a stipulated term of life…