PEOPLE v. JENNINGS Part-III
<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1698443-1"; urchinTracker(); </script> <html ><br /> <head><br /> <title>PEOPLE v</title><br /> </head><br /> <body><br /> <div><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/><b >PEOPLE v. </b><b<br /> >JENNINGS</b><b<br /> ></b><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>Filed 8/12/10<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/><b >IN THE SUPREME COURT OF </b><b<br /> >CALIFORNIA</b><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>THE PEOPLE, )<br /> <br/> )<br /> <br/> Plaintiff and Respondent, )<br /> <br/> ) S081148<br /> <br/> v. )<br /> <br/> )<br /> <br/>MARTIN CARL JENNINGS, )<br /> <br/> ) San Bernardino County<br /> <br/> Defendant and Appellant. ) Super. Ct. No. FVI-04195<br /> <br/>__________________________________ )<u></u><br /> <br/><b > </b><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/><b >Story continued from part II…..</b><br /> <br/><b > </b><br /> <br/>Defendant, focusing entirely on Michelle's<br /> allegedly innocuous intent in giving Arthur the sleeping pills, argues there<br /> was insufficient evidence of his intent to kill. The relevant inquiry, however, is whether defendant<br /> harbored an intent to kill when he tortured Arthur. The nature of the torture inflicted upon<br /> Arthur -- the continuous infliction of serious and possibly<br /> life-threatening physical injuries while deliberately and systematically<br /> starving Arthur to the point of emaciation -- is sufficient to suggest that<br /> defendant had such intent. In evaluating<br /> the evidence regarding intent to kill, the jury was not required to credit, and<br /> was entitled to reject, defendant's repeated claims to the contrary. Defendant admitted that one of his last acts<br /> of torture -- hitting Arthur on the back of the head with a shovel so hard<br /> that it caused a large, gaping wound -- might have killed Arthur,<br /> suggesting this was his intent. Defendant<br /> also admitted he was â€