P. v. Strong CA1/3
Defendant Javon Strong appeals a judgment convicting him of first degree murder and sentencing him to a term of 25 years to life in prison. He contends his constitutional rights were violated by the admission at trial of his girlfriend’s involuntary statements to the police. We find no error and thus shall affirm the judgment.
On September 6, 2011, defendant was charged with a single count of murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)).
Prior to trial, defendant moved to exclude statements made by his girlfriend, Ineshia Elder, to police during an interview on August 18, 2008, on the ground that the statements were unreliable and impermissibly coerced. The prosecutor argued that defendant was collaterally estopped from re-litigating the issue because he had raised the same issue at the preliminary hearing and the trial court had found the statements voluntary and not the product of coercion. The trial judge denied the motion to exclude the statement, explaining, “I have reviewed [the
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