Overview
- Los Angeles Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli rejected the latest petition Monday, keeping Pearl Fernandez’s life-without-parole sentence in place.
- Fernandez argued for relief under a 2019 law that lets some felony-murder convictions be reexamined and said she was coerced and poorly advised when she pleaded guilty.
- Prosecutor Jonathan Hatami said the law does not fit this case because Fernandez admitted intentional murder with torture rather than a theory that did not require intent.
- This marked her second try after a 2021 denial, and the rules let her file again, a cycle relatives said reopens wounds each time they return to court.
- Separate criminal cases against four county child-welfare workers were dismissed on appeal after judges found they lacked legal custody or control of Gabriel.