Opinion ID: 2633199
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Crimes and Trial

Text: The following description of the crimes and trial is taken in large part from our decision in Thomas's automatic appeal. ( Thomas, supra, 2 Cal.4th at pp. 504-514, 7 Cal.Rptr.2d 199, 828 P.2d 101.) On August 15 and 16, 1985, a number of followers of the Grateful Dead rock band were staying at Rainbow Village because the band was scheduled to play locally during the coming weekend. Among them were Mary Gioia and Greg Kniffin. During the early morning hours of August 16, 1985, Gioia and Kniffin were beaten and shot at point-blank range near Rainbow Village. [1] Gioia's body was seen floating in the San Francisco Bay on the morning of August 16; Kniffin's body was recovered by an underwater dive team the next day. Thomas was arrested shortly after the murders. The prosecution's case consisted entirely of circumstantial evidence falling generally into four categories: Thomas's ownership of a high-powered rifle that could have inflicted the fatal wounds, which he was seen using the night of August 15 but claimed was stolen immediately thereafter; sightings of Thomas alone with the victims shortly before the killings; Thomas's conduct and statements after the killings, collectively suggesting consciousness of guilt; and certain additional physical evidence, including recovery of a corncob pipe at the murder scene that was argued to have been Thomas's. The defense centered on the testimony of Vivian Cercy. Cercy testified at the preliminary hearing but was unavailable at trial, so her prior testimony was read to the jury. Her testimony pointed to a third party, a blond man, as potentially responsible for the murders. Cercy testified that on the night of August 15-16, she was parked in her car outside Rainbow Village when she witnessed a discussion/argument between three people. Two of the people resembled Gioia and Kniffin; the third, a tall blond man she did not know, she referred to as Bo. After the discussion/argument, the woman walked off; the blond man followed. Minutes later, Cercy heard sounds that could have been firecrackers or gunshots. Later that night, she saw the blond man washing his hands in a sink and throwing something over a fence. Still later, a man she could not describe knocked on her car door, asked her a few questions, and threatened to kill her. The jury convicted Thomas of first degree murder for killing Kniffin and second degree murder for killing Gioia. (Pen. Code, § 187.) [2] It found true a multiple-murder special circumstance. (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(3).) It also found true allegations that Thomas used a firearm in the commission of each murder. (§ 12022.5.) The jury returned a verdict of death, and we affirmed. ( Thomas, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 504, 7 Cal.Rptr.2d 199, 828 P.2d 101.)