P. v. Brandon
A jury convicted appellant James Brandon of first degree murder (Pen. Code, 187, subd. (a)), with the special circumstance finding that the murder was perpetrated by means of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle ( 190.2, subd. (a)(21)). He was also convicted of attempted murder ( 664, 187, subd. (a)) and possession of a firearm by a felon ( 12021, subd. (a)(1)). Various sentencing enhancements were found true. On January 20, 2006, the trial court sentenced appellant to prison for life without the possibility of parole.
The sole issue in this appeal concerns the trial courts evidentiary ruling restricting appellants presentation of evidence and limiting the scope of his cross-examination of prosecution witness Earl Pecot, who identified appellant as the murderer. Appellant argues that he suffered prejudice because he was unable to present evidence and fully cross-examine Pecot about Pecots prior lies to the police in an unrelated homicide investigation. We find the trial courts evidentiary ruling was well within the courts discretion and affirm.
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