People v. Jasso

Summary

The court upheld Jasso’s first degree murder conviction, robbery-murder special circumstance, death judgment, and related guilt-phase rulings. It concluded that Perez’s statements to Rivera were admissible declarations against penal interest and non testimonial, that other challenged evidence either was forfeited or harmless, and that the jury’s findings made any felony-murder instructional error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The court declined to resolve most ineffective-assistance claims on direct appeal because the record did not disclose counsel’s reasons. It remanded only to permit the trial court to consider whether to strike the firearm enhancements under Senate Bill No. 620.