P. v. Hamel CA4/3
A jury convicted Barbara Ann Hamel of first degree felony murder, finding true the special circumstance allegation that she caused the victim’s death during a robbery in which the perpetrators followed the victim, Chi Bui, in his car after he departed a Hawaiian Gardens casino with substantial winnings. (Pen. Code, §§ 187, subd. (a), 190.2, subd. (a)(17)(A); all further unlabeled statutory references are to the Penal Code.) The jury also found Hamel guilty of second degree robbery and attempted second degree robbery. (§§ 664, 211, 212.5, subd. (c).) Based on the special circumstance finding, the trial court sentenced Hamel to life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP; see fn. 2, infra).
Comments on P. v. Hamel CA4/3