Criminal,
California Supreme Court
May 4, 2021
Death sentence reversed for mom who killed 4 children
The court’s 146-page opinion by Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye concluded that Sandi Dawn Nieves deserves a new penalty determination because the late Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge L. Jeffrey Wiatt gave jurors the impression that he favored the prosecution when he routinely disparaged defense counsel and defense witnesses.
A woman convicted of murdering her four children when she set fire to their Santa Clarita home more than 20 years ago had her death sentence reversed Monday but her first-degree murder convictions upheld by a unanimous California Supreme Court that ruled a pattern of judicial misconduct tilted the jury in the prosecution's favor.
The court's 146-page opinion by Chief Justice
Or access this article for $45
Already a subscriber?
For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
Receive unlimited article access and full access to our archives,
Daily Appellate Report, award winning columns, and our
Verdicts and Settlements.
Or
$895, but save $100 when you subscribe today… Just $795 for the first year!
(Purchase provides 7-day access to this article. Printing, posting or downloading is not allowed.)
Sign In
Enewsletter Sign-up
Related Content
Criminal Law and Procedure
People v. Nieves
Defense expert witness establishing mitigating factors for defendant's mental functioning was improperly excluded during penalty phase since Penal Code Section 190.3 expressly authorizes ...
