P. v. Allen CA2/6
Minutes after shooting a close friend 10 times, appellant Cornell Arthur Allen called 911. He did not say that his life was threatened by the unarmed victim. Instead, he told the dispatcher that the victim “wouldn’t leave” and “had sex with my girl.” Shortly before the slaying, appellant discovered that his girlfriend was in a sexual and emotional relationship with the victim. She feared appellant, who was angry.
A jury convicted appellant of second degree murder, finding that he used a firearm to commit the crime. He was sentenced to 15 years to life for the murder plus 25 years to life for using a gun, for a total of 40 years to life in prison.
Appellant contends that the trial court (1) gave inadequate self-defense instructions and (2) should have allowed evidence that the victim was a drug dealer with a criminal record.
Comments on P. v. Allen CA2/6