People v. Boyce

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During the course of one evening, Defendant and another man burglarized two businesses, robbing several people inside, and killing off-duty peace officer Shayne York. After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of first degree murder with the special circumstances of killing a peace officer in retaliation for the performance of his duties and of murder during the commission of robbery and burglary. Defendant was sentenced to death for the murder conviction. The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s convictions, holding (1) the trial court did not err in its evidentiary rulings or in instructing the jury during the guilt phase; (2) sufficient evidence supported the finding that Defendant intentionally killed York in retaliation for the lawful performance of his duties, and the special circumstance allegation was constitutional; (3) Defendant’s challenges to the robbery-murder and burglary-murder special circumstances were unavailing; (4) Defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to self-representation was not violated at the penalty phase; (5) any error in the instructions during the penalty phase was harmless; and (6) Defendant’s death sentence was proportional and constitutional. View "People v. Boyce" on Justia Law