People v. Steskal

Summary

The California Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court, upholding Maurice Steskal’s death sentence for the murder of Deputy Bradley Riches. The Court rejected Steskal’s claims that the trial court erred in refusing a voluntary manslaughter instruction, abused its discretion in admitting evidentiary items and limiting expert testimony, and that the death penalty violated the Eighth Amendment because of his severe mental illness.