The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the defense’s contention that there was insufficient evidence against William Franklin Hughes to support the jury’s finding of premeditation and deliberation involving the July 14, 2017, killing of Lyndi Fisher.
The appellate court justices found there was “overwhelming evidence” against Hughes, who was convicted in May 2019 of first-degree murder for the 36-year-old woman’s slaying at his home in the 43200 block of Doverwood Court.
“Evidence of motive further supported a finding of premeditation and deliberation, as the jury reasonably could have inferred that appellant was motivated to kill Fisher in retaliation for her perceived role in planting or retrieving a surveillance device in his refrigerator,” the panel’s 71-page ruling states.
The appellate court panel noted that the prosecution had suggested that Fisher may have rejected a sexual advance by Hughes, which might have motivated him to kill her.
Superior Court Judge Carlos Chung — who was called upon after jurors convicted Hughes to determine whether the defendant was sane or insane at the time of the killing — subsequently found that he was sane.
“Substantial evidence supported the trial court’s finding that appellant had failed to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he had been incapable of understanding the wrongfulness of killing Fisher at the time he killed her,” the appellate court panel found.
Hughes first told detectives that an intruder pressed a gun against his eye and commanded him at gunpoint to take a walk. He said he complied by taking a 45-minute walk, and then spent two hours in the house before finding her body in the garage and claimed not to know what happened to her.
In his sixth interview with a forensic psychiatrist, he said he recalled strangling Fisher and had grown suspicious of her because she had looked under the refrigerator, put something in her pocket and that he believed she was there to use a surveillance device to collect evidence against him, according to the ruling.
Hughes — who was arrested the day after the killing — is serving a 55-year-to-life sentence in state prison. But the appellate court panel ordered the case to be sent back to the trial court to allow the judge to determine whether to exercise his discretion to strike an enhancement that added five years to Hughes’ sentence.
Previous related stories:
Lancaster man sentenced for killing appliance repairwoman
Lancaster man convicted of strangling appliance repairwoman
Lancaster man pleads not guilty to murdering appliance repair woman
Woman found dead in Lancaster home
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Alex says
We need to prosecute the parents of this monster for enabling a psychopathic murderer.
Cynthia Clark says
It makes me happy that he cant hurt another. Person.RIP Lyndi you are a sweet sweet person who didnt deserve this….till we meet again fly high with the angels
Joseblasalcala says
Justices live.?
williamisamurderer says
William hughes is trash. There are rumors that his parents allegedly enabled his behavior. Allegedly bought him his own house so he doesn’t flip out in theirs. Do not support them or their business in the AV.
Nope says
He was a grown man who made his own decision. The weight of this tragedy should not be placed on his parents. You’re an idiot.
williamisamurderer II says
This would make sense if they didn’t actively enable him, and not inform the repair company she worked for that he was not okay. Maybe if they did that they would have sent a second technician with her.
Eddie Leimkuehler says
What about him choking his mother that got him his first strike. They supported him with a lawyer in that case. Do your homework [removed].