Wafai v. People

LOHR, Justice.

The defendant, Badawi Kamel Wafai, was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and was sentenced to consecutive terms of life imprisonment following a trial to a jury. The defendant appealed, and the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of conviction. People v. Wafai, 713 P.2d 1354 (Colo.App.1985). We granted certiorari to determine whether the trial court erred in ordering a change of venue on its own motion, over the defendant’s objection, in order to assure the defendant a trial by an impartial jury. In affirming the trial court’s action, the court of…