People v. Wilson CA4/1 ( 2014 )

Filed 8/20/14 P. v. Wilson CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D065468
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. RIF1101914)
BRANDON RAMSEY WILSON,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Riverside County, Richard T.
Fields, Judge. Affirmed.
Mark L. Christiansen, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Eric A. Swenson, Lynne
McGinnis and Elizabeth M. Carino, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
Brandon Ramsey Wilson appeals a judgment following his jury conviction of first
degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)).1 On appeal, he contends: (1) the evidence
is insufficient to support the jury's finding that the murder was premeditated and
deliberate; and (2) the prosecutor committed prejudicial misconduct during closing
arguments.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In 2011, Wilson was living in a three-bedroom apartment in Moreno Valley with
his girlfriend, Renisha Bruins, her four-year-old son, and her cousin, Shukeem Beard.
Wilson and Bruins shared the master bedroom. Bruins told her friend, Tori Clark, about
an argument she had with Wilson during which she elbowed him and said she wanted to
leave, but he would not let her leave. Wilson grabbed her and she fell and hit her head.
Wilson and Bruins were planning to get married.
On the afternoon of March 26, 2011, Wilson went to Palm Springs with Bruins,
her brother, her grandfather, and Clark. While at a casino, Bruins became irritated at
Wilson because he was drunk and acting silly, but she ignored him. After Wilson calmed
down, Bruins was in a happy mood again.
Shortly before 9:00 p.m., Wilson was dropped off at their apartment and Bruins
went with Clark to a friend's house for a "girls night." At about 9:00 p.m., Beard arrived
home to prepare for work and saw Wilson sleeping on the couch. At about 1:00 a.m. to
1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code.
2
2:00 a.m., Beard came home during a work break and saw Wilson still asleep on the
couch. Without speaking to Wilson, Beard returned to work.
While at her friend's house, Bruins was in a good mood and drinking alcohol. She
spoke positively about Wilson and was video recorded saying, "I love you, Brandon." At
about 2:30 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., Bruins and Clark left their friend's house and Bruins was
dropped off at her apartment.
At about 3:00 a.m. or 3:30 a.m., Rosalba Negrete, a neighbor who lived below
Bruins and Wilson's apartment, was awakened by loud thumping noises emanating from
the apartment above. She heard thumping noises intermittently over a period of about
one hour. She also heard yelling and a loud female voice saying, "No," "Stop," and "Go."
At about 4:00 a.m. to 4:15 a.m., another neighbor, Jonell Hughes, arrived home
after work and heard thumping sounds as she approached the building's outside stairwell.
When she reached the second flight of stairs, she heard loud voices of a man and a
woman coming from apartment 3017 (i.e., Bruins and Wilson's apartment). When she
reached the third flight of stairs, she heard a woman say, "Get off of me," and a man
repeatedly saying, "Shut up." When she reached the third floor landing, she smoked a
cigarette, but did not hear anything more. She entered her apartment and went to bed at
about 5:00 a.m.
At about 5:00 a.m., Wilson called his mother and apparently told her he had
stabbed Bruins. She told him to turn himself in. She called his father, who then called
Wilson. Wilson told his father he was in Rialto, about 30 minutes away, and said he was
on his way to Ontario. Wilson was crying and distraught. His father talked Wilson into
3
coming back and turning himself in. They agreed to meet at a restaurant in Moreno
Valley.
At about 9:00 a.m., Wilson met his parents and cousin, Robert Turner, at the
restaurant. When they went to the police station, it was not open to the public on that
Sunday morning so they went to see their minister. They later returned to the station and
contacted a police officer in the parking lot who helped them enter the station.
At 10:47 a.m., Corporal Brian Wolfe let Wilson, his parents, and his cousin into
the police station. Wilson told him "he had an accident between him and his girlfriend"
and that "it may be serious." Wolfe sent Deputy Matthew Reilly to check on Bruins.
Wilson told Wolfe that Bruins was angry with him and came toward him with a kitchen
knife. She attacked him, they struggled, and he took the knife from her, cutting his hand
in the process, and then stabbed her "a few times." Wilson was arrested and gave police
more information during a subsequent interview.
When Reilly arrived at the apartment, Beard led him to the master bedroom.
Reilly found Bruins's dead body on the bed wrapped in sheets and a blanket. There was
blood on her face and on the blanket, headboard, ceiling, carpet, and all four walls. A
subsequent investigation found a 12-inch knife with a seven-inch blade in the kitchen
sink. An odor of bleach emanated from the sink and the water trapped in the sink
contained a mixture of blood and bleach. Investigators determined that Bruins likely was
moving around during the attack and was stabbed at different locations in the bedroom.
Dr. Christopher Happy performed an autopsy and found Bruins had been stabbed a
total of 13 times. She was stabbed in the neck, four times in the upper extremities, and
4
eight times in the torso, including once in her upper back. She also had defensive
injuries, including scratches and bruises. Happy believed the knife found in the kitchen
sink was consistent with the one used to kill Bruins. Her death was caused by stab
wounds to her neck and torso. He concluded she likely was alive "minutes or at least
seconds" after sustaining those wounds.
An information charged Wilson with one count of murder (§ 187, subd. (a)) and
alleged he committed the murder by using a knife (§§ 12022, subd. (b)(1), 1192.7, subd.
(c)(23)). It also alleged he had one prior strike conviction (§§ 667, subds. (c), (e)(1),
1170.12, subd. (c)(1)), two prior prison terms (§ 667.5, subd. (b)), and a prior serious
felony conviction (§ 667, subd. (a)). At trial, the prosecution presented evidence
substantially as described above. The parties stipulated that Bruins had a blood alcohol
content in excess of 0.12 percent. In his defense, Wilson presented the testimony of a
former girlfriend who said that he never lost his temper and was never violent toward her.
He also presented the expert testimony of Dr. Francisco Gomez, a clinical
neuropsychologist, who testified Wilson had a cognitive disorder that could make it
difficult for him to develop strategies to solve problems. In unexpected or stressful
situations, persons with that disorder act more impulsively and overreact to the situation.
Afterward, those persons would feel guilt and remorse. On cross-examination, Gomez
admitted he had not reviewed the police reports from Wilson's previous robbery and
fraud convictions to determine whether Wilson had acted impulsively in those situations
and had not planned those crimes. Wilson had not reported to him any impulse-control
problems he had experienced in the past. Wilson also presented the testimony of a
5
forensic toxicologist who testified that alcohol can make a person more aggressive and
violent. However, there was no way to tell how Bruins was affected by alcohol. Alcohol
slows a person's reaction time and adversely affects a person's balance and coordination.
The jury found Wilson guilty of first degree murder and found true the knife use
allegation. He admitted all of the prior conviction allegations. The trial court sentenced
him to a total term of 55 years to life in prison. Wilson timely filed a notice of appeal.
DISCUSSION
I
Substantial Evidence to Support Wilson's First Degree Murder Conviction
Wilson contends the evidence is insufficient to support the jury's finding the
murder was premeditated and deliberate and therefore his conviction of first degree
murder must be reversed.
A
When a defendant challenges his or her conviction for insufficient evidence on
appeal, we apply the substantial evidence standard of review. "Under this standard, the
court 'must review the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment below to
determine whether it discloses substantial evidence--that is, evidence which is
reasonable, credible, and of solid value--such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.' [Citations.] The focus of the substantial
evidence test is on the whole record of evidence presented to the trier of fact, rather than
on ' "isolated bits of evidence." ' " (People v. Cuevas (1995) 12 Cal.4th 252, 260-261,
italics added in Cuevas.) We "must presume in support of the judgment the existence of
6
every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence." (People v. Jones (1990)
51 Cal.3d 294, 314.) Furthermore, "[a]lthough we must ensure the evidence is
reasonable, credible, and of solid value, nonetheless it is the exclusive province of the
trial judge or jury to determine the credibility of a witness and the truth or falsity of the
facts on which that determination depends. [Citation.] Thus, if the verdict is supported
by substantial evidence, we must accord due deference to the trier of fact and not
substitute our evaluation of a witness's credibility for that of the fact finder." (Ibid.)
"The standard of review is the same in cases in which the People rely mainly on
circumstantial evidence." (People v. Stanley (1995) 10 Cal.4th 764, 792.)
B
Section 189 defines first degree murder as all "willful, deliberate, and
premeditated killing." However, to prove deliberation and premeditation, "it shall not be
necessary to prove the defendant maturely and meaningfully reflected upon the gravity of
his or her act." (§ 189.) People v. Koontz (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1041, at page 1080, stated:
"A verdict of deliberate and premeditated first degree murder requires more than a
showing of intent to kill. [Citation.] 'Deliberation' refers to careful weighing of
considerations in forming a course of action; 'premeditation' means thought over in
advance." Alternatively stated, " 'premeditated' means 'considered beforehand,' and
'deliberate' means 'formed or arrived at or determined upon as a result of careful thought
and weighing of considerations for and against the proposed course of action.' " (People
v. Mayfield (1997) 14 Cal.4th 668, 767.) Mayfield further stated: "The process of
premeditation and deliberation does not require any extended period of time. 'The true
7
test is not the duration of time as much as it is the extent of the reflection. Thoughts may
follow each other with great rapidity and cold, calculated judgment may be arrived at
quickly . . . .' " (Ibid.) "An intentional killing is premeditated and deliberate if it
occurred as the result of preexisting thought and reflection rather than unconsidered or
rash impulse." (People v. Stitely (2005) 35 Cal.4th 514, 543.) However, "[i]t is well
established that the brutality of a killing cannot in itself support a finding that the killer
acted with premeditation and deliberation." (People v. Anderson (1968) 70 Cal.2d 15,
24.) The question of "how long a thought must be pondered before it can be said to be
premeditated and deliberated" (People v. Bender (1945) 27 Cal.2d 164, 184) is
"fundamentally a question of fact for the jury in each case under proper instructions."
(Ibid.)
In People v. Anderson, supra, 70 Cal.2d 15, the California Supreme Court set forth
certain types of evidence reviewing courts should consider in determining whether there
is substantial evidence to support findings of premeditation and deliberation for first
degree murder, stating:
"The type of evidence which this court has found sufficient to
sustain a finding of premeditation and deliberation falls into three
basic categories: (1) facts about how and what defendant did prior to
the actual killing which show that the defendant was engaged in
activity directed toward, and explicable as intended to result in, the
killing--what may be characterized as 'planning' activity; (2) facts
about the defendant's prior relationship and/or conduct with the
victim from which the jury could reasonably infer a 'motive' to kill
the victim, which inference of motive, together with facts of type (1)
or (3), would in turn support an inference that the killing was the
result of 'a pre-existing reflection' and 'careful thought and weighing
of considerations' rather than 'mere unconsidered or rash impulse
hastily executed' [citation]; (3) facts about the nature of the killing
8
from which the jury could infer that the manner of killing was so
particular and exacting that the defendant must have intentionally
killed according to a 'preconceived design' to take his victim's life in
a particular way for a 'reason' which the jury can reasonably infer
from facts of type (1) or (2)." (Id. at pp. 26-27.)
However, the Anderson factors, although "helpful for purposes of review, are not a sine
qua non to finding first degree premeditated murder, nor are they exclusive." (People v.
Koontz, supra, 27 Cal.4th at p. 1081.) Anderson merely cataloged common factors that
had occurred in prior cases and its factors "do not represent an exhaustive list of evidence
that could sustain a finding of premeditation and deliberation, and the reviewing court
need not accord them any particular weight." (People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149,
1183.)
C
Based on our review of the whole record, we conclude there is substantial
evidence to support the jury's finding that Wilson's murder of Bruins was premeditated
and deliberate. The jury could reasonably infer from the testimony of the two neighbors
that Wilson and Bruins physically struggled over a period of about one hour. The
neighbors heard intermittent thumping noises. One neighbor heard a woman (presumably
Bruins) yell, "No," "Stop," and "Go." Another neighbor heard a woman (presumably
Bruins) yell, "Get off of me," and a man (presumably Wilson) repeatedly say, "Shut up."
Bruins was stabbed a total of 13 times, including once in the back, with a kitchen knife.
The jury could reasonably infer from the evidence that Wilson went to the kitchen to get
that knife, returned to the bedroom, and then used the knife to repeatedly stab Bruins as
she moved defensively around the bedroom. It could also infer Wilson showed a
9
consciousness of guilt when he attempted to cover up his crime by wrapping Bruins's
body in sheets and a blanket and washing off the knife with bleach in the kitchen sink and
thereafter fleeing the scene of the crime.
The evidence supports an inference that Wilson went to the kitchen to obtain the
knife and then returned to the bedroom to viciously attack Bruins, thereby supporting the
additional inference that he planned the attack and deliberately murdered her with
premeditation. (Cf. People v. Perez (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1117, 1126 [planning activity was
shown by defendant's obtaining knife from kitchen before attacking the victim with it].)
Those inferences discredit Wilson's claims that Bruins attacked him with the knife and/or
that he acted impulsively when he stabbed her. Likewise, the jury could reasonably
disregard, as not credible or persuasive, Gomez's uncontradicted expert testimony
regarding Wilson's cognitive impairment and probable impulsive behavior.
The evidence showing the manner of the killing also supported a reasonable
inference that Wilson killed Bruin with premeditation and deliberation. "[T]he method of
killing alone can sometimes support a conclusion that the evidence sufficed for a finding
of premeditated, deliberate murder." (People v. Memro (1995) 11 Cal.4th 786, 863-864;
see also People v. Perez, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 1127 [manner of killing was indicative of
premeditation and deliberation].) Most of Bruins's stab wounds were to the left side of
her torso, supporting a reasonable inference Wilson was aiming for her heart and
therefore deliberately intending to kill her. The stab wound to her upper back supports a
reasonable inference that Wilson stabbed Bruins as she tried to escape his attack and
contradicted Wilson's version that Bruins attacked him with the knife. Finally, the
10
number of stab wounds, a total of 13, supports a reasonable inference that Wilson
murdered Bruins with premeditation and deliberation and did not accidentally or
impulsively stab her while defending against her attack on him. (Cf. People v. San
Nicolas (2004) 34 Cal.4th 614, 658 [jury could conclude defendant intended to kill victim
based on "sheer number of wounds on [her] body, many of which individually would
have been fatal"]; People v. Pride (1992) 3 Cal.4th 195, 247 ["A violent and bloody death
sustained as a result of multiple stab wounds can be consistent with a finding of
premeditation."].)
The absence of strong evidence of Wilson's motive in killing Bruins does not
refute the jury's finding of premeditation and deliberation. (People v. Whisenhunt (2008)
44 Cal.4th 174, 202.) Although the prosecutor argued in closing that Wilson killed
Bruins so he, as a parolee who had just committed another crime (e.g., assault), would not
go back to prison, there is substantial evidence to support the jury's finding of
premeditation and deliberation even if it did not believe the prosecutor's proffered motive
for Wilson's killing of Bruins. The evidence discussed above showing Wilson's planning
of the killing, the neighbors' testimony regarding the one-hour struggle, and the vicious
manner in which he repeatedly stabbed Bruins over a period of time (as shown, in part,
by the blood found throughout the bedroom), constitutes substantial evidence to support
the jury's finding of premeditation and deliberation. (People v. Perez, supra, 2 Cal.4th at
pp. 1129-1130 [defendant's planning conduct, together with manner of killing, supported
jury's reasonable inference of premeditation and deliberation].) The jury could have
reasonably inferred Wilson had an opportunity to reflect on his decision to kill Bruins
11
after she pleaded with him to stop and did so with careful thought and weighing of the
considerations and did not kill her based on an unconsidered or rash impulse. (People v.
Stitely, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 543; People v. Mayfield, supra, 14 Cal.4th at p. 767.)
Wilson has not carried his burden on appeal to show the evidence is insufficient to
support his conviction of first degree murder.
II
Prosecutor's Closing Arguments
Wilson contends the prosecutor committed prejudicial misconduct during closing
arguments. He argues the prosecutor distorted the reasonable doubt burden of proof and
improperly asked the jury to consider matters outside of the evidence.
A
Before the parties' closing arguments, the trial court instructed the jury on the
reasonable doubt burden of proof, stating, "[p]roof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof
that leaves you with an abiding conviction that the charge is true." During her closing
arguments, the prosecutor extensively discussed the evidence showing Wilson's guilt of
first degree murder. Wilson's counsel then presented her opposing closing arguments. In
rebuttal, the prosecutor argued:
"You know in order for you to find the defendant guilty of murder,
whether you decide it's first or second [degree], you have to have an
abiding conviction of the truth. You have to get up tomorrow and
know I gave [Bruins] justice. I did the right thing. Next week you'll
know that you gave this family, you gave [Bruins] justice." (Italics
added.)
12
The trial court overruled Wilson's objection to that argument as improper. The
prosecutor then continued, stating:
"Justice. This is what it's all about. The defendant has had his day
in court. He . . . has exercised his right to a trial. That doesn't mean
there's something wrong with this case. That abiding conviction[]
will lead you in a year from now to say I did the right thing . . .
during that trial.
"This girl deserved justice. And that man deserves to be called what
he is. He's a cold-blooded murderer. That's what he is.
"And I ask you all to follow the evidence where it leads you. Use
your common sense and let him know that what he did to that
woman was wrong. And it's cold-blooded murder." (Italics added.)
After the jury retired to begin deliberations, the trial court and counsel discussed
the court's ruling on Wilson's objection to the prosecutor's closing argument regarding an
abiding conviction of the truth and justice for Bruins and her family, as follows:
"THE COURT: You can't argue just one side justice. That would
be like saying you can't argue your side of justice before the
evidence.
"[Wilson's counsel]: I believe it goes to justice for the victim but not
for the family. It's justice for the victim. I don't believe it extends to
the family.
"THE COURT: I think the justice is the People of the State of
California, which includes the family. . . . [B]oth sides are entitled
to justice. . . . It is certainly not improper for you to say give my
client justice. And I don't think it's improper for the People to say
give [Bruins] justice.
"It wasn't in the context of anything but in light of the evidence. We
had all of the argument regarding the evidence on the case, so it
wasn't make up your own rules and convict the defendant. It was
he's guilty because of all of this argument he [sic] had regarding
actual evidence. All of these things.
13
"And after we had an hour, probably an hour and a half total of
argument, then she says give them justice. Well, that's in light of all
of the evidence. She didn't say ignore the evidence and convict him
anyway. She said give them justice. I don't think it's improper for
either side to say give my side justice. Give my side justice.
"In light of the evidence, I can't imagine it would be any more
inappropriate for you to say give the defendant justice. And she says
give my side justice. Give the family justice. I think if I were one of
the family members, and I believed in light of all of the evidence . . .
as a parent I'd want justice.
"If the evidence shows that my kid was killed unlawfully, why is it
improper to say give the family justice in light of the evidence?
"It might be improper . . . to say we really can't prove it but convict
him anyway, so they have some skewed sense of peace. But that
didn't happen. The entire argument was in light of all the evidence.
"We had lengthy [arguments]. So, . . . in light of the fact the People
believe they have shown, the evidence demonstrates the defendant's
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, in light of that fact give him justice.
I just don't know what is wrong with that.
"I don't know what would be wrong with you saying the same thing.
If you were arguing in light of the fact the People cannot prove the
case beyond a reasonable doubt, please give my client justice.
"So that's the Court's view of it."
The jury returned a verdict finding Wilson guilty of first degree murder.
B
A defendant generally may not complain on appeal of prosecutorial misconduct
unless he or she timely objected below on the same ground and requested the jury be
admonished to disregard the impropriety. (People v. Samayoa (1997) 15 Cal.4th 795,
841.) Under the federal Constitution, a prosecutor commits misconduct when his or her
behavior comprises a pattern of conduct so egregious that it infects the trial with such
14
unfairness as to make the conviction a denial of due process. (People v. Gionis (1995) 9
Cal.4th 1196, 1214.) If the prosecutor's conduct does not render a criminal trial
fundamentally unfair under the federal standard, that conduct is prosecutorial misconduct
under California law only if it involves the use of deceptive or reprehensible methods to
attempt to persuade either the court or the jury. (People v. Ochoa (1998) 19 Cal.4th 353,
427.)
Although a prosecutor is given wide latitude in vigorously arguing the People's
case, the prosecutor may not misstate the law. (People v. Bell (1989) 49 Cal.3d 502, 538
(Bell); People v. Bandhauer (1967) 66 Cal.2d 524, 529.) The prosecutor "has the right to
fully state his views as to what the evidence shows and to urge whatever conclusions he
deems proper. Opposing counsel may not complain on appeal if the reasoning is faulty or
the conclusions are illogical because these are matters for the jury to determine." (People
v. Thomas (1992) 2 Cal.4th 489, 526.) "It has long been settled that appeals to the
sympathy or passions of the jury are inappropriate at the guilt phase of a criminal trial.
[Citations.] We recognize that the prosecutor 'may vigorously argue his case and is not
limited to "Chesterfieldian politeness" ' [citations], but the bounds of vigorous argument
do not permit appeals to sympathy or passion such as that presented here." (People v.
Fields (1983) 35 Cal.3d 329, 362-363, fn. omitted.)
"[W]hen the claim focuses upon comments made by the prosecutor before the
jury, the question is whether there is a reasonable likelihood that the jury construed or
applied any of the complained-of remarks in an objectionable fashion." (People v.
Samayoa, supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 841.) Even if an error could not be cured by an
15
admonition to the jury, reversal of a defendant's conviction is warranted only if on the
whole record the error resulted in a miscarriage of justice. (Bell, supra, 49 Cal.3d at
p. 535.)
C
Wilson asserts the prosecutor's closing argument in rebuttal distorted the
reasonable doubt burden of proof because she argued the jurors must have as an abiding
conviction that Bruins's family was given justice rather than an abiding conviction of the
truth. We disagree with the premise of Wilson's argument. Although the prosecutor
referred to justice for Bruins and her family, she did not argue, either expressly or
implicitly, that the abiding conviction aspect of the reasonable doubt burden of proof
meant the jurors need only have an abiding conviction that Bruins's family was given
justice. Although the prosecutor referred to the jurors' giving Bruins and her family
"justice" and knowing they did the "right thing," her argument could not reasonably be
interpreted as suggesting the jury could convict Wilson without proof of his guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt.
Furthermore, before closing arguments the trial court instructed the jurors on the
reasonable doubt burden of proof, stating that "[p]roof beyond a reasonable doubt is
proof that leaves you with an abiding conviction that the charge is true." In her closing
argument, the prosecutor referred to that burden of proof, stating, "you have to have an
abiding conviction of the truth." The fact that the prosecutor argued the jurors would
then know they gave Bruins and her family justice did not lower that burden of proof.
Rather, her argument explained that if the jurors properly applied the reasonable doubt
16
burden of proof, they would then know afterward (e.g., a week or year later) they gave
Bruins and her family justice and did the right thing.
In any event, to the extent there was any ambiguity in the prosecutor's argument
regarding the "abiding conviction" requirement, the trial court correctly instructed the
jury with CALCRIM No. 220 on the reasonable doubt standard of proof and further
instructed the jury that "[y]ou must follow the law as I explain it to you . . . . [and] [i]f
you believe that the attorneys' comments on the law conflict with my instructions, you
must follow my instructions." There is no reasonable likelihood the jurors understood, or
applied, the prosecutor's closing argument regarding the abiding conviction requirement
in the manner Wilson asserts. The prosecutor did not err.
D
Wilson also asserts the prosecutor's closing argument improperly appealed to the
passions of the jurors. He cites People v. Vance (2010) 188 Cal.App.4th 1182 (Vance), in
which the court stated it is misconduct for a prosecutor to appeal to the passions of the
jurors by asking them to imagine the suffering of the victim. (Id. at p. 1192.) Vance
further stated:
"It is equally established that it is misconduct for a prosecutor to
argue that the jury in a noncapital case―or in the guilt phase of a
capital case―should consider the impact of the crime on the victim's
family. [Citations.] The justification for both of these exclusionary
policies is that they deal with subjects that are inherently emotional,
possessing an unusually potent power to sway juries, and that their
use must therefore be rigidly confined and controlled . . . ." (Vance,
supra, 188 Cal.App.4th at p. 1193.)
17
Wilson asserts that by arguing the jurors should consider justice for Bruins and her
family, the prosecutor improperly argued the jurors should consider the impact of the
crime on Bruins and her family and therefore improperly appealed to their passions rather
than their impartial and objective judgment based on the evidence.
We conclude the prosecutor's arguments improperly appealed to the passions of
the jurors by asking them to give justice to Bruins and her family. By so doing, the
prosecutor, in effect, asked the jurors to consider the impact of the crime on Bruins's
family. (Cf. Vance, supra, 188 Cal.App.4th at p. 1193.) In People v. Medina (1995) 11
Cal.4th 694, the California Supreme Court appeared to implicitly hold a prosecutor's
argument that the jurors should "do justice" for the victim is an improper appeal to the
jurors' passions. (Id. at p. 759.) Applying the California standard for prosecutorial
misconduct, we conclude the prosecutor in this case used deceptive or reprehensible
methods to attempt to persuade the jurors. (People v. Ochoa, supra, 19 Cal.4th at
p. 427.)
However, although we conclude the prosecutor's arguments referring to justice for
Bruins and her family improperly appealed to the jurors' passions, we, like Medina,
nevertheless conclude that error was harmless under California law. (People v. Medina,
supra, 11 Cal.4th at p. 760.) Based on our review of the entire record in this case, we
conclude there is no reasonable probability that the "prosecutor's brief and isolated
comments could have influenced the jury's guilt determination." (Ibid.) The trial court
instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 220 on the reasonable doubt burden of proof and
that it "must impartially compare and consider all the evidence that was received
18
throughout the entire trial." It also instructed the jury with CALCRIM No. 200, stating:
"Do not let bias, sympathy, prejudice, or public opinion influence your decision," and if
the attorneys' comments conflict with the court's instructions, "you must follow my
instructions." We presume the jurors understood and followed the court's instructions.
(People v. Sanchez (2001) 26 Cal.4th 834, 852.) Given those and other instructions and
the overwhelming evidence, discussed above, supporting Wilson's guilt of first degree
murder, we conclude there is no reasonable probability the prosecutor's brief arguments
referring to justice for Bruins and her family could have influenced the jury's
determination of Wilson's guilt. (Medina, at p. 760.) Alternatively stated, there is no
reasonable probability the prosecutor's appeal to the jurors' sympathy or passions for
Bruins or her family affected the verdict. (People v. Fields, supra, 35 Cal.3d at p. 363;
People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836; People v. Pensinger (1991) 52 Cal.3d 1210,
1250.) We conclude any prosecutorial error did not result in a miscarriage of justice.
(Bell, supra, 49 Cal.3d at p. 535.) The prosecutor's error in so arguing was harmless
under California law and does not require reversal of Wilson's conviction of first degree
murder. Vance and the other cases cited by Wilson are factually inapposite and do not
persuade us to reach a contrary conclusion.
Furthermore, to the extent Wilson asserts the prosecutor's arguments require
reversal under the federal standard for prosecutorial misconduct, we disagree. Although
we concluded above the prosecutor's arguments constituted misconduct under the
California standard, we conclude that under the federal standard the prosecutor's brief and
isolated comments regarding justice for Bruins and her family did not constitute a " 'a
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pattern of conduct "so egregious that it infect[ed] the trial with such unfairness as to make
the conviction a denial of due process." ' " (People v. Gionis, supra, 9 Cal.4th at
p. 1214.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
McDONALD, J.
WE CONCUR:
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
IRION, J.
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