People v. Elliott
Nov 01, 2000OUTCOME: Acquittal By Jury Of Murder Liability
The client was charged with 1st degree murder with various gun enhancements, charges that exposed the client to a potential sentence of at least 50 years to life in prison. The prosecution's "low" offe ... r was a plea to murder, with the client accepting a sentence of 25 years to life. We countered with an offer to plead to voluntary manslaughter, a counter-offer that was immediately rejected by the prosecution. The case was eventually heard by a jury convened by the Contra Costa County Superior Court. After hearing all the evidence and arguments of counsel, the jury rejected the prosecution's murder theories and convicted the client of only voluntary manslaughter, with a single gun use enhancement. While the client still could have been sentenced to prison for up to 21 years, the client instead received a reduced sentence of 10 years.
