Opinion ID: 2575864
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Constitutional Validity of Lying-in-wait Special Circumstance

Text: Defendant contends that the lying-in-wait special circumstance (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(15)), as interpreted by this court, violates the Eighth Amendment to the federal Constitution by failing to appropriately narrow the class of persons eligible for the death penalty. We have repeatedly rejected this contention, and defendant fails to convince us the matter warrants our reconsideration. ( People v. Nakahara, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 721, 134 Cal.Rptr.2d 223, 68 P.3d 1190; see also People v. Vieira, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 303, 25 Cal.Rptr.3d 337, 106 P.3d 990; People v. Gutierrez (2002) 28 Cal.4th 1083, 1148-1149, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 373, 52 P.3d 572.)