Opinion ID: 2631878
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 2 We recite the facts from the record in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict. State v. Litherland, 2000 UT 76, ¶ 2, 12 P.3d 92. The dead body of Edward Livsey was discovered by two hikers in Emigration Canyon in August 1997. His legs and hands were bound together with shoelaces. A red bandana was tied around his neck, and the State medical examiner concluded that he died from asphyxia. The victim also had a bruise on the back of his neck, which the medical examiner said could have been from a blow that rendered him unconscious. ¶ 3 On the day before the victim's body was found, the victim and defendant drove in the victim's car to the train station near downtown Salt Lake City and picked up Roberto Sanchez-Martinez (Martinez), a Mexican immigrant, who was looking for gardening work. Defendant asked Martinez if he wanted to do some work for them. Martinez said yes and got in the car. Because Martinez did not speak English, he spoke only to defendant, and did not speak directly with the victim. Instead of taking Martinez to a place to work, the three men drove around Salt Lake City, drinking beer. ¶ 4 After they had driven around for awhile, defendant told Martinez that they were going to a party in the mountains. Martinez asked to be driven back to the homeless shelter, but defendant told him not to worry because he would be paid for a whole day's work. Sometime before two o'clock that afternoon, the three men drove up Emigration Canyon. The victim parked the car, and all three men got out. Defendant and the victim engaged in anal intercourse and then returned to the car, where Martinez was waiting. ¶ 5 The three men then got back into the car and started down the canyon. Less than a mile down the road, defendant pulled out a knife and ordered the victim to stop the car. When the victim pulled over, defendant told both men to get out of the car. Outside the car, defendant and the victim began arguing. Martinez told defendant that he needed to relieve himself, and he walked a few feet away to do so. When Martinez returned, he heard the victim scream. Defendant struck the victim several times in the back of his neck with his fist, while still clutching the knife in his fist. The victim fell to the ground and did not move. Defendant choked the victim with his hands. Defendant told Martinez that if he tried to interfere, he would kill him. ¶ 6 Martinez ran to the side of the road to summon help, but defendant ran after him and again threatened to kill him. Ultimately, defendant removed the victim's shoelaces from his shoes and tied his hands and feet together. Defendant also tied a red bandana he had with him tightly around the victim's neck. Defendant searched the victim's pockets and took the keys to the victim's car. Defendant ordered Martinez back into the car, threatening him with the knife. ¶ 7 As defendant and Martinez were driving back into Salt Lake City, Martinez asked defendant to let him out. Defendant refused and told Martinez that he was coming with him. Defendant drove first to Mesquite, Nevada, where he put all of the victim's belongings into a black bag from the trunk of the car and threw the bag into the garbage. Defendant then drove to Las Vegas, Nevada. ¶ 8 When they arrived in Las Vegas, Martinez and defendant stayed in a trailer with one of defendant's friends. The next day, Martinez went with defendant and his friends to a nearby lake, and then to a casino. Defendant and his friends watched Martinez the entire time, to make sure he did not get away. ¶ 9 On Wednesday morning, while driving the victim's car with Martinez and two of defendant's friends, defendant was stopped by North Las Vegas police officers. The police checked the license plate on the car, and upon discovering that it was stolen, arrested all four occupants. The North Las Vegas police then notified the Salt Lake City Sheriff's Department. ¶ 10 Detectives Forbes and Chidester flew from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas to interview the suspects. The detectives interviewed defendant twice within a twenty-four hour period. Each time defendant was given Miranda warnings, and each time defendant waived his rights and agreed to speak with the detectives. Both interviews were conducted using an interpreter, who translated the detectives' questions to defendant, and then translated defendant's answers back to the detectives. During both interviews, defendant maintained that he did not kill the victim. Defendant told the police that he was not in Salt Lake City at the time of the murder and had not been for four or five months. He said that he came to the United States from Mexico about two weeks before. Defendant told the police that he bought the victim's car from a man in a bar in Las Vegas for $300. When asked where he got the money to buy the car, defendant said that he had earned the money working in Phoenix, Arizona, but had spent the last week in Las Vegas. ¶ 11 At trial, the jury heard testimony from Martinez describing the events he witnessed before, during, and after the victim's death. Defendant did not testify, but his explanation of how he had acquired possession of the victim's car and his claim of innocence in the killing of the victim were admitted into evidence through the testimony of Detective Forbes. Physical evidence, including a Utah bus pass, a key ring, and defendant's fingerprints taken from the victim's car, was also admitted. The jury convicted defendant of murder and theft. ¶ 12 On appeal, defendant raises numerous claims. He argues that (1) trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object to Detective Forbes's testimony and the admission of the physical evidence; (2) the trial court committed plain error in admitting Detective Forbes's testimony and the physical evidence; (3) the trial court erred in refusing to give a requested jury instruction; and (4) the cumulative effect of the errors committed by the trial court warrants reversal, even if the individual errors standing alone do not.