P.v .Armenta
Joel Armenta appeals from a conviction of second degree murder with a true finding that he personally used a knife to commit the crime. He contends: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support the murder conviction and knife use finding; (2) the trial court erred in admitting statements he made before and after the crime; (3) the trial court erred in admitting expert testimony of an unqualified witness; and (4) the trial court erred in excluding hearsay evidence of his brother's admission that he (the brother) stabbed the victim. Court find no error as to the murder conviction. However, Court conclude the knife use enhancement must be reversed because the trial court improperly excluded the brother's admission, and the error was prejudicial.
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