Opinion ID: 590329
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Sufficiency of Special Circumstances Evidence

Text: 29 Hendricks argues that the evidence from trial was insufficient to establish the special circumstances alleged in his case. At trial, the jury had found that three special circumstances existed: (1) felony murder for the Parmer robbery; (2) felony murder for the Parmer burglary; and (3) multiple murder. Hendricks argues that the prosecution presented insufficient evidence concerning his mental state to establish the robberies and the burglary, as well as the multiple murder. Because of this, Hendricks claims, his conviction was obtained in violation of his right to due process under the fourteenth amendment. 30 The evidence supporting the special circumstance findings is sufficient if  'viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.'  Lewis v. Jeffers, 497 U.S. 764, ----, 110 S.Ct. 3092, 3103-04, 111 L.Ed.2d 606 (1990) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)). 31 With regard to the multiple murder special circumstance finding, the jury found Hendricks guilty of murdering Haynes and of murdering Parmer. Those findings included findings concerning the requisite mental state for murder. Hendricks does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence for each individual murder. Moreover, Hendricks does not argue that the multiple murder special circumstance requires a finding of some mental state independent of the mental state required for each murder. Accordingly, Hendricks' sufficiency of evidence argument concerning the multiple murder special circumstance is without merit. 32 With regard to the felony-murder-robbery special circumstances, ample evidence supported those findings. As the California Supreme Court observed: 33 Defendant's paramour, Annette Stone, under a grant of immunity, testified that prior to the Parmer murder defendant left their motel room announcing [h]e was going to find a faggot, knock him over the head, and take his money. He later returned with Parmer's checkbook; Stone cashed a check for $255 by forging the victim's signature, turning the proceeds over to defendant. 34 Hendricks, 44 Cal.3d at 644, 244 Cal.Rptr. 181, 749 P.2d 836. 35