DocketNumber： S081700
Judges： Chin, Kennard, Liu
Filed Date： 8/26/2013
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 11/3/2024
Opinion
Following a mistrial,
Appeal to this court is automatic. (§ 1239, subd. (b).) We affirm the judgment.
I. Facts
On May 20, 1997, defendant entered Alicia Manning’s apartment and raped and killed her. He then stole Manning’s car and set it on fire. Defendant told the police he had had consensual sex with Manning on the night of her murder, but denied killing her. At trial, defendant argued Manning’s boyfriend killed her.
A. Guilt Phase
1. Prosecution Evidence
a. Alicia Manning
In 1997, Alicia Manning was a college senior living in a Bakersfield apartment with her friend and fellow student, Thea Bucholz. Manning had been seriously dating her boyfriend, Charles Hill, for a year, and had known him for over three years. Hill, who was not in school and did not have a job or a working vehicle, lived in Tulare, a town approximately an hour’s drive from Bakersfield. At trial, two unsent letters written by Manning shortly before her death were introduced into evidence: one was addressed to “Charles sweetheart,” and described her love for him; the other was addressed to a friend and discussed her postgraduation plans with Hill.
In April 1997, Bucholz met defendant through a mutual friend. Defendant and Bucholz became fast friends, and socialized often. Defendant sought a romantic relationship with Bucholz, which she refused, but they remained friends. Defendant, who was unemployed and did not have a car, lived with . his girlfriend, Zenobia Findley, and her brother in an apartment less than a mile away from Bucholz and Manning’s apartment.
About a week after Bucholz met defendant, she introduced him to Manning. Manning was in the apartment during three of defendant’s visits. Throughout
During this time, Findley suspected defendant had become romantically involved with Bucholz and called the women’s apartment. Manning answered the phone and during the ensuing conversation Findley threatened her. Manning reported the call to police.
Around May 16, Manning and Hill discussed ending their relationship because she felt he spent too much time with his friends, and she also feared he might have given her a sexually transmitted disease. Carolyn Krone, an associate director of the student health center at Manning’s university, later told Manning that testing indicated that she did not have a sexually transmitted disease.
On May 19, Manning confronted defendant and Bucholz about Findley’s threatening phone call and told them she had called the police. Manning was furious and told defendant and Bucholz to tell Findley to stop calling the apartment.
That evening, Manning, Hill, and Hill’s father went out to dinner. Hill drove Manning back to her apartment in her car, but did not park in the space closest to her apartment. Manning and Hill had intended to have sex but did not because he was feeling ill. Hill was picked up by his father at Manning’s apartment around 10:00 p.m., and Bucholz returned soon thereafter. The women stayed up talking, and Manning told Bucholz that she had concerns whether Hill was “the right guy for her.” No one else visited the apartment that night.
On May 20, around 3:00 p.m., Manning came home from class and Bucholz soon left to go to her class. Defendant telephonically paged Bucholz around 6:15 p.m. When Bucholz called defendant back, he asked if they could meet up later. Bucholz told him to page her around 9:30 p.m., but he never did.
At some point that afternoon, Hill visited the house of a nearby friend, Pat McCarthy, in Tulare. Hill socialized with McCarthy until around 1:00 a.m., and then walked home. Hill spoke with Manning on the telephone around 5:30 p.m. McCarthy could not say if Hill had been at his house the entire time, but he did not remember Hill being gone for more than 20 minutes at any point. According to Hill, 10 to 15 other people came and went from McCarthy’s house that day; McCarthy, however, did not recall anyone other than Hill at his house.
Around 10:00 p.m., James Ave, one of Manning’s neighbors who worked as an athletic trainer at her university, noticed her car was parked in the space closest to her apartment, and that the interior dome light was on. Another neighbor, whose apartment shared an exterior staircase and landing with Manning’s, heard someone go up and down the staircase about three times, but did not otherwise hear anything unusual. Around 10:10 p.m., this neighbor left his apartment and saw someone leaving Manning’s apartment. The neighbor also saw a television and portable stereo in Manning’s car.
Around 10:50 p.m., Findley called her apartment; defendant answered and asked her why she had not yet returned. When she arrived at her apartment around 11:00 p.m., defendant was there. There was nothing unusual about defendant’s demeanor or appearance.
Around 11:00 p.m., firefighters responded to a reported vehicle fire less than a third of a mile away from defendant’s apartment. By the time the firefighters arrived at the vehicle, later determined to be Manning’s, the fire had been put out. An arson investigator concluded the fire had been intentionally set by using rubbing alcohol as an accelerant. No usable latent fingerprints were found inside the vehicle. A fingerprint obtained from the outside of the vehicle did not match defendant’s.
Around midnight, Bakersfield Police Officer Mike Golleher went to Manning’s apartment and knocked on the door, but received no answer. Another officer attempted to call the apartment, but the line was busy.
Around 1:30 a.m. on May 21, Bucholz returned to the apartment. She noticed the front door was unlocked and the blinds covering a sliding glass door were open, which was unusual. The television was not in its usual place, and there were items scattered around the living room. Bucholz later determined that the television, a malfunctioning videocassette recorder, and a portable stereo were missing from the apartment.
Bucholz attempted to enter the bedroom, but the door was partially blocked by a fan. Bucholz turned on the light and saw Manning, nude from the waist down, lying facedown on her bed in a pool of blood. Bucholz called out Manning’s name, but she did not respond.
Bucholz went to call 9-1-1, but the telephone was not in its usual place in the dining room. She found the telephone with its receiver off the hook on the
Defendant paged Bucholz around 4:00 a.m., which was an unusual time for him to page her. She told him it was not a good time to talk, but they spoke later that morning and she told him the police would probably be contacting him because she had given them his name. Defendant became “kind of quiet” after Bucholz said this. Bucholz asked defendant where he had been that night, and he said he was with Findley watching movies and eating pizza. Bucholz thought defendant did not sound like himself.
Around 5:00 a.m., police officers went to Hill’s house and told him that Manning had been murdered. Hill started to cry and left the room. The police returned that evening, and saw no visible injuries on Hill’s hands, arms, head, or neck.
Crime scene technicians collected physical evidence and took photographs at the women’s apartment. There was no evidence of a break-in at any of the apartment’s points of entry. There were no usable fingerprints inside the apartment, on the outside doorknob, or on the exterior staircase’s hand railing.
Near where the telephone was usually kept was a note that read, “Will called at 6:15 p.m., 9:00 p.m., and at 9:30 p.m.” On a microcassette tape located next to the answering machine was a message from defendant to the effect of “If someone calls looking for [Bucholz’s] pager’s number, don’t give it to her, it’s my girlfriend, she’s trippin’.”
On the living room floor was a steak knife partially covered by a bloody T-shirt. The blood pattern indicated the T-shirt had been used to wipe the knife’s blade. The blood on the knife and T-shirt was consistent with Manning’s. Blood on a hand towel found in the living room was also consistent with Manning’s:
Near Manning’s body was a pair of shorts, which tested negative for blood and semen. Also in the bedroom was a pair of white panties. There was a bloody sanitary napkin inside the panties, and there was blood on the edge of the panties. The panties and napkin tested negative for semen. Neither the panties nor the shorts were tom.
Underneath the shorts were a bloodstained note pad, two broken bottlenecks, and a shard of glass. Several other shards of glass were found near Manning’s head and under her body. A large drinking glass missing its base was found in a pile of clothes near Manning, and the broken base was also
Blood had pooled around Manning’s head, and there was spattered blood on the walls. There were also blood smears on Manning’s buttocks, one of her thighs, and her feet.
Manning’s body lay on a blanket, and a semen stain was found on it near her vagina. Semen was also located on the side of a comforter facing away from Manning’s body.
Oral, vaginal, and anal swabs were collected from Manning’s body. A sample of urine that had pooled between Manning’s legs was also collected. The vaginal swabs and urine sample tested positive for the presence of semen. The anal swabs also tested positive for semen but contained relatively few sperm, and it was possible that semen had drained from Manning’s vagina into her anus.
Head and pubic hair samples were also collected from Manning’s body, but all recovered hairs were consistent with her own. Her nails were scraped, but the scrapings were not analyzed. Manning’s left fist contained head hair that was consistent with her own and inconsistent with defendant’s, but it was not further analyzed.
On May 22, police officers contacted defendant at his apartment. Defendant told them he was at his apartment on the night of Manning’s murder. Defendant said he was last in the women’s apartment with Bucholz on the morning of the day before Manning’s murder, and specifically denied being in their apartment on the night of the murder. He admitted he had called the apartment several times that night. Defendant voluntarily removed his shirt, revealing no visible injuries.
On May 30, Detective Richard Herman of the Bakersfield Police Department drove defendant to a laboratory so his blood could be drawn for DNA analysis. Defendant repeatedly asked Detective Herman about the physical evidence found at the crime scene, and specifically asked if the police had found blood belonging to the suspect. Defendant became extremely nervous when Detective Herman informed him that DNA evidence had been collected from the crime scene. On the drive home, Detective Herman asked defendant if he had ever had sex with Manning. Defendant hesitated, and then said they had had sex twice: once in April in Manning’s bedroom, and again in the living room the night before she was murdered. Defendant stated both encounters were consensual. Detective Herman asked defendant, why he had previously denied having a relationship with Manning, and he said he did not “want to be involved.”
A detective told defendant the DNA analysis would be able to determine when the semen had been deposited. Defendant then said Manning invited him to come to her apartment on the night she was murdered. Defendant said he waited for Findley to come home from work, left his apartment after she left, and then went to Manning’s apartment. Defendant said he had sex with Manning in her bedroom. Defendant said he had worn a condom, took it off before ejaculating, and then flushed it down the toilet. Defendant said the sex was consensual, and denied killing Manning. When asked why his story kept changing, defendant said, “I’m conniving just like you’re conniving, but I didn’t kill the bitch.”
Around July 1, police investigators spoke to defendant’s friend, Anthony Denweed, and Denweed’s girlfriend, Arlene Holiday. Holiday told the police that defendant tried to sell Denweed a television after Manning’s murder, but at trial she testified she told the investigator that defendant attempted to sell the television before the murder. Denweed denied that defendant had ever tried to sell him a television, and denied telling Holiday about such a sale.
In 1999, a police investigator spoke to an acquaintance of defendant’s, Debra Cain, who, at the time of Manning’s murder, lived across the street from defendant. Cain told the investigator that defendant tried to sell her a malfunctioning videocassette recorder in May or June of 1997, but at trial she testified the attempted sale occurred before Manning’s murder.
The urine sample, the vaginal and anal swabs, portions of the comforter, and fibers from the blanket were sent to Cellmark Diagnostics to be compared with blood samples obtained from defendant, Manning, Hill, and two of Hill’s friends. A deputy laboratory director of Cellmark testified about the results of the DNA testing performed. Based on the results of a polymerase chain reaction process, defendant was the only person who could not be excluded as the source of the sperm on the vaginal swabs. The sperm sample was consistent with defendant’s DNA to a statistical frequency of one in 410
Hill and his two friends were excluded as sources of the sperm on the anal swabs, but the amount of sperm was so low that defendant could neither be excluded nor included as the source. Hill was the only one who could not be excluded as the source of the sperm found on the comforter.
An autopsy revealed that Manning had died due to extreme blood loss that occurred in a matter of minutes. She had suffered blunt force trauma to four distinct areas along the left side of her head. The presence of glass shards under her scalp indicated these injuries were caused by a heavy glass object. These injuries could have rendered her unconscious or killed her.
Manning also had been stabbed at least 57 times in the neck, and there were additional stab or slice wounds on her right cheek, left arm, and the left side of her abdomen. There were also a few scrape marks on her left elbow and the left side of her chest and abdomen, and some cuts on her left hand were consistent with being defensive wounds. Some of the stab wounds on Manning’s neck appeared to have been caused by a knife consistent with the two-pronged knife found in her bedroom. Manning was likely alive but not necessarily conscious when the blunt force trauma and stab wounds were inflicted to her head and neck. The stabbings were consistent with a “rage killing,” that is, a passionate murder, which more often than not involves people who “know each other.”
Manning did not suffer any vaginal trauma, which is not uncommon even when a sexual assault has occurred. She did suffer anal trauma consisting of three small contusions or bruises inflicted around the time of her death. These bruises were consistent with anal penetration by an object the size of an adult penis, and would have not been present unless there was such penetration.
Bree Torigiani and her brother lived in a condominium in Bakersfield. Around 1:00 a.m. on June 11, 1997, Torigiani arrived home and noticed the kitchen window was open and the screen had been removed. Her videocassette recorder was missing, and the contents of a tin container were spread out over the living room floor. Torigiani heard someone inside the residence. She called out her brother’s name, and defendant ran down the hallway and out the front door carrying a suitcase that had been under Torigiani’s bed.
Torigiani called 9-1-1 and reported the burglary, and a police officer spotted defendant, still carrying Torigiani’s suitcase, near defendant’s apartment. Defendant dropped the suitcase and attempted to run away, but was apprehended. The officer searched defendant, and found several pieces of jewelry and a “Walkman-type radio,” all of which belonged to Torigiani. The suitcase contained Torigiani’s videocassette recorder and her camera.
2. Defense Evidence
Teodula Ruiz lived in the same apartment complex as Manning. In the hours after Manning’s murder, the police asked Ruiz if she had seen anyone driving Manning’s car, and she said she had not. Later that day, Ruiz recalled having seen a Caucasian man park Manning’s car in the space closest to Manning’s apartment around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. on the day of Manning’s murder. Ruiz saw no one else in the car. A few days later, a detective showed Ruiz a photographic lineup from which she identified Manning’s boyfriend Hill as the driver. Ruiz told the detective she was unsure if she saw the car on the night of Manning’s murder or on the night prior, but leaned towards the night of the murder. At trial, Ruiz testified she saw Manning’s car on the night of the murder.
Lori Hiler also lived in Manning’s apartment complex. Around 10:00 p.m. on the night of the murder in front of Manning’s apartment, Hiler saw someone who looked like Hill carrying a television set. Hiler also saw that the door to Manning’s car was slightly open and the dome light was on. A detective showed Hiler a photographic lineup from which she identified Hill as the person whom she had seen carrying the television set. Hiler later told the detective, however, she was not really sure Hill was the person she had seen, or if she just picked him because his picture had been in the newspaper. At trial, Hiler testified she was not sure who she saw.
Also on the night of Manning’s murder, Christopher Bourgoine heard a “poof’ noise, looked around, and saw Manning’s car on fire. Bourgoine grabbed his fire extinguisher and put out the fire. Bourgoine testified that a
Marvin Ament, a pediatric gastroenterologist, reviewed microscopic slides taken during Manning’s autopsy, the forensic pathologist’s testimony, and a portion of the transcript of defendant’s first trial. Dr. Ament did not see any anal injuries on the slides he examined, and he believed Manning had not been sodomized.
William Stanley, an obstetrician/gynecologist and infertility specialist who had performed 10 to 12 rape examinations about 10 years before the trial, reviewed the autopsy report, crime scene photographs, a portion of the transcript of defendant’s first trial, and a medical report. Dr. Stanley saw no evidence indicating Manning had nonconsensual sex. Dr. Stanley testified that medical studies indicated vaginal injuries occurred in 30 to 98 percent of rape cases, but he conceded that in some rape cases there were no injuries. On cross-examination, Dr. Stanley testified that medical studies indicated 80 percent of sexual assault victims suffer bodily injuries, such as bruises, scratches, scrapes, cut or stab wounds, or injuries caused by being bludgeoned.
3. Rebuttal Evidence
A detective testified he twice spoke on the telephone with Hill’s friend, McCarthy, who confirmed Hill was with him on the night of Manning’s murder. The detective told McCarthy he could get in trouble for supplying Hill with a false alibi, and McCarthy responded, “I don’t have to worry about that because [Hill] was here and did not leave and could not have been in Bakersfield on [the night of Manning’s murder].”
B. Penalty Phase
1. Prosecution Evidence
a. Victim impact evidence
Manning’s father testified about her aspirations, their family life, and how her death affected them. Manning was a loving, loyal, caring person who went out of her way to help others without expecting anything in return. She was close to her two younger brothers, and her absence caused a “tremendous void” in the family. Her death caused her mother to have nightmares and filled her father with anger.
Defendant had been convicted of burglary in 1990 and possession of cocaine in 1988 and 1995.
c. Prior uncharged offense
On February 4, 1997, Beatrice Thompson was leaving a store when defendant approached her and demanded her purse. Thompson refused, so defendant snatched the purse with so much force its strap broke.
2. Defense Evidence
Defendant was bom January 9, 1969, the youngest of six children. Shortly after he was bom, his father, a “hustler” and pimp, was killed by a woman with whom he was having an affair. Defendant’s mother, Jerlene Harris, stayed home to take care of her children, but eventually went back to work and got off welfare.
• Defendant lived with his family until he moved in with his girlfriend Findley, but moved back home whenever he and Findley fought, which was often. Defendant had many girlfriends and argued with all of them, but was never physically violent toward any of them. Various family members and friends also testified about defendant’s nonviolent nature.
Defendant’s sister, Delora Harris, helped raise him. She recalled that she once went to check on him, and discovered the babysitter beating him. Defendant often came home from the babysitter very hungry even though Jerlene had prepared food for him. When Delora attended junior college in another city, defendant begged her not to go. Delora regularly returned to Bakersfield, and took him back with her to school.
Defendant’s siblings first introduced him to marijuana when he was five years old. A family member introduced defendant to crack cocaine when he was 16 or 17 years old.
Defendant was also close to Delora’s daughter, Dracena Smith. Smith recalled as a child jumping off the top bunk of bunk beds and cutting her head open. Defendant attempted to help her, but fainted at the sight of her blood. Smith dated one of defendant’s friends, who had introduced her to crack cocaine. When defendant found out, he counseled Smith on the dangers of using crack cocaine, so she stopped. Smith testified defendant always wanted to be loved, and if the woman he was dating was not available, he would seek attention from other women.
Cecil Whiting, a clinical psychologist, examined defendant and interviewed his family members. As a child, defendant had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and he continued to have some characteristics of the disorder as an adult. According to Dr. Whiting, defendant did not have any significant problems with general cognition, thinking, or applying good judgment, nor with his emotional state, verbal abilities, or short-term memory. Dr. Whiting found that defendant’s long-term memory, ability to concentrate, and ability to hear and understand others were mildly impaired, and that he had some minor learning disabilities. Defendant had a fear of the dark and of blood. Dr. Whiting believed defendant’s talkative and friendly nature was a form of compensation for the psychological pain of his past and that his being raised by his mother and siblings led to his tendency to form relationships with dominating women. Dr. Whiting testified that in stressful situations defendant might use harsh language. In Dr. Whiting’s opinion, defendant’s personality and psychological characteristics were inconsistent with others convicted of similar crimes.
James Park, an administrator for the former Department of Corrections, testified as an expert in prison classifications and operations. According to Park, when defendant previously was in prison, he had only a few discipline problems, and was neither a model prisoner nor a problem prisoner. Defendant had an above-average work record and attended Narcotics Anonymous. Defendant had some minor rules infractions, but was not physically violent. Park believed defendant would adequately adjust to prison life.
II. Discussion
A. Pretrial Claims
1. Change of Venue
Before jury selection, defendant twice moved unsuccessfully for a change of venue, and he unsuccessfully renewed this motion after the jury had been selected. Defendant contends the trial court prejudicially erred by denying the motions.
On appeal, the defendant must show both error and prejudice, that is, “ ‘at the time of the motion it was reasonably likely that a fair trial could not be had in the county, and that it was reasonably likely that a fair trial was not had. [Citations.]’ [Citation], Although we will sustain the trial court’s determination of the relevant facts if supported by substantial evidence, ‘ “[w]e independently review the court’s ultimate determination of the reasonable likelihood of an unfair trial.” ’ [Citation.]” (Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 21.)
In his first motion, defendant contended prejudicial publicity had saturated Kern County and prevented him from receiving a fair trial. Defendant argued the extensive media coverage portrayed him in sensational and negative terms, and Manning in a sympathetic light. He also argued that because a majority of the Kem County residents lived in the greater Bakersfield area, most of them had been exposed to the media coverage. Defendant also claimed state legislators “halt[ed] the government” to remember Manning, which implied his case had political overtones.
At the hearing on his first motion, defendant presented testimony by Edward J. Bronson, a California State University, Chico, professor who
Dr. Bronson reviewed the media coverage of defendant’s case. From the date of Manning’s murder in May 1997 to mid-April 1999, the only local newspaper, The Bakersfield Californian, published 48 articles about the case. Forty-three of those articles were published before or during defendant’s first trial, which ended in a mistrial in December 1998. Local television stations aired 294 reports about Manning’s murder, most during defendant’s first trial.
Dr. Bronson believed the newspaper coverage of the crime was inflammatory and likely to prejudice the community from which the venire would be drawn, citing the articles’ use of language such as “[bjrutal, grisly, ghastly, viciousness, stuff of nightmares, horribly, shocked, traumatized, anger, terrible tragedy, [and] mystery.” Dr. Bronson also testified about the “salience” of the case, that is, the extent to which the case had “grab[bed]” the community. In Dr. Bronson’s opinion, the case “caught the community’s attention” due to the “viciousness” of the crime and Manning’s “apparent innocence.” Dr. Bronson testified the newspaper articles highlighted that defendant was African-American and Manning was Caucasian, which was a “particularly dangerous” form of pretrial “publicity” in a case in which the defendant claimed the victim consented to the sexual acts.
Dr. Bronson also testified about the extensive coverage of defendant’s first trial having ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked 11 to one, a fact that would be inadmissible at his second trial. Dr. Bronson believed the news coverage implied that the holdout juror—who was the only African-American juror—was rigid, irrational, and irresponsible. According to Dr. Bronson, the newspaper articles repeatedly quoted police sources expressing confidence that defendant “was the right guy” and stating that he had declined three requests to be interviewed, all of which created the appearance that he was guilty.
Dr. Bronson also designed a telephone public opinion survey that was administered to 400 Kern County residents in February 1999. Seventy-two percent of the survey participants knew of the case. Of those who recognized the case, 55 percent said defendant was definitely or probably guilty of murder, and 45 percent said he should receive the death penalty. Of those who recognized the case, 81 percent knew defendant’s and Manning’s races, 70 percent knew he was accused of raping and sodomizing her and that he claimed the sex was consensual, 64 percent knew he claimed that Hill killed
Acknowledging that the case was “as serious as a case can get” because defendant was facing the death penalty, and that the “substantial” media coverage referred to the brutal nature of the crime and its “sexual overlay,” the trial court nevertheless denied the motion to change venue. It noted the media had prominently covered defendant’s claim that Hill killed Manning, and also had reported that a similar crime had been committed while defendant was in custody. The court noted that, in addition to presenting an alternative to the prosecutor’s theory of the case, the newspaper interviewed the holdout juror from defendant’s first trial, who explained he had not been convinced of the prosecutor’s case beyond a reasonable doubt; the court implicitly rejected defendant’s contention that the coverage depicted this juror’s vote as irrational. In the court’s view, the media coverage was “pretty evenhanded” overall.
The trial court declined to find the telephonic survey compelling, given its failure to adequately canvass some of the outlying towns from which the venire would be drawn. Moreover, the court noted the survey participants’ level of prejudgment was “not a tremendous increase” over the figure of “between 28 and 40 percent” of people who believe that any criminal defendant is “probably guilty.”
With respect to the community status of defendant and Manning, the trial court observed defendant was a lifelong resident of the county, while Manning had come from another state to attend college and intended to leave after graduation. The court acknowledged that the media coverage portrayed Manning in a very sympathetic light, but found defendant had not been “demonized.” The court found that in 1997 the California Assembly had adjourned in honor of Manning’s memory, but there were was no significant political overtones in the act.
The trial court concluded defendant had failed to show a reasonable likelihood that he would be unable to receive a fair trial in Kern County.
On May 25, 1999, defendant renewed his motion for change of venue. The sole contention supporting the renewed motion concerned an article published in that day’s edition of The Bakersfield Californian reporting that another inmate claimed defendant had “all but confessed” to killing Manning. In denying the second motion, the trial court found the information in the article was not significantly different from that in past articles, and also noted the article reported that defendant denied making such an admission.
Although defendant moved for change of venue three times, the last two motions did not significantly alter the information presented to the trial court with the first motion. Therefore, our analysis of the court’s rulings is the same for all three motions.
Regarding the first factor in the legal analysis—the nature and gravity of the crimes—the trial court acknowledged the seriousness of the charged offenses. Even in a capital case, however, this factor standing alone does not compel change of venue. (See Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at pp. 21-22; People v. Ramirez (2006) 39 Cal.4th 398, 434 [46 Cal.Rptr.3d 677, 139 P.3d 64] (Ramirez).) Defendant acknowledges the court discussed the gravity of the crimes, but contends it failed to evaluate the nature of the crimes. Not so. The court explicitly recognized the case involved both murder and rape charges. To the extent defendant contends the court failed to account for the cross-racial nature of the crimes, the record contradicts that claim. Moreover, we have said in another case that “[ajlthough some prejudice may have arisen from the racial difference between defendant and . . . the victims, ‘[tjhis element of possible prejudice presumably would follow the case to any other venue . . . .’ [Citations.]” (People v. Lewis (2008) 43 Cal.4th 415, 448 [75 Cal.Rptr.3d 588, 181 P.3d 947] (Lewis).) In any event, “the sensationalism inherent in all capital murder cases will not in and of itself necessitate a change of venue.” (People v. Adcox (1988) 47 Cal.3d 207, 231 [253 Cal.Rptr. 55, 763 P.2d 906].)
As to the second factor—the nature and extent of the media coverage—the trial court found the local news coverage to be “substantial.” Heavy media coverage may weigh in favor of a change of venue, but does not necessarily compel it. (Ramirez, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 434 [affirming denial of change of venue in a serial murder case when the trial court described the media coverage as “ ‘saturation’ ”].) “ ‘When pretrial publicity is at issue, “primary reliance on the judgment of the trial court makes [especially] good sense” because the judge “sits in the locale where the publicity is said to have had its effect” and may base [the] evaluation on [the judge’s] “own perception of the depth and extent of news stories that might influence a juror.” ’ [Citation.]” (Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 24.) We do not doubt the court’s finding that there was substantial pretrial publicity, given that 72 percent of the participants in defendant’s telephonic survey recognized his case. Moreover, of those who recognized the case, 55 percent said defendant was definitely or probably guilty of murder and 45 percent said he should
Defendant contends the publicity was “unbalanced in the extreme,” and that the record does not support the trial court’s finding that it was “pretty evenhanded.” He complains that the coverage did not merely report on the facts of the case, but also employed inflammatory or inaccurate language, contained material inadmissible in court, and created a presumption of guilt. The bulk of the coverage, however, was framed in neutral terms, contained little inadmissible or prejudicial material, reported defendant’s theory that he did not kill Manning, and was not otherwise an attempt to convict him in the media. (See Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at pp. 22-23; People v. Prince (2007) 40 Cal.4th 1179, 1218-1219 [57 Cal.Rptr.3d 543, 156 P.3d 1015] (Prince).) Media coverage is not biased or inflammatory simply because it recounts the inherently disturbing circumstances of the case. (People v. Panah (2005) 35 Cal.4th 395, 448 [25 Cal.Rptr.3d 672, 107 P.3d 790] (Panah).)
We acknowledge that continuous and extensive factual accounts may be potentially prejudicial. (See Williams v. Superior Court (1983) 34 Cal.3d 584, 590 [194 Cal.Rptr. 492, 668 P.2d 799].) In Williams, petitioner and his brother were charged with the murder, rape, burglary, kidnapping, kidnapping for robbery, and robbery of a young Caucasian woman. (Id. at p. 587.) The petitioner’s brother was tried first, convicted on all counts, and sentenced to death. (Ibid.) The newspaper coverage during the petitioner’s proceedings, while accurate, was capable of eliciting a hostile response from the reader. We cited a newspaper article that quoted the prosecutor during the brother’s trial as having said, “ ‘ “[the] defendant took upon himself to take Heather Mead’s virginity, her property and her life to satisfy his own lust and greed (Id. at p. 591.) In addition, a newspaper article about the brother’s trial quoted the criminalist’s testimony that hairs found at the crime
Most of the publicity about which defendant complains was disseminated between the time of Manning’s murder in May 1997 and his first trial, which ended in December 1998; defendant was not retried until June 1999. Dr. Bronson testified that people tend to remember information that was first received, which, in his opinion in this case, created the presumption that defendant was guilty. We have held, however, “[t]he passage of time ordinarily blunts the prejudicial impact of widespread publicity. [Citations.]” (Prince, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 1214; see Panah, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 448.) Dr. Bronson acknowledged that newspaper coverage was heaviest immediately after Manning’s murder and diminished over time, but noted that the opposite was true for television coverage because so many stories were aired during defendant’s first trial. In addition, as defendant argued in his second and third motions for change of venue, the coverage of his case continued until the start of his second trial, and many prospective jurors were aware of his case. Based on this, defendant contends the extensive television coverage of his first trial not only reignited the public’s interest in his case, but also provided potential jurors with arguably prejudicial information, such as his first trial’s having ended in an 11-to-one hung jury in favor of guilt. But, as the trial court noted, during defendant’s first trial there was “substantial coverage” of his theory that Hill killed Manning, and in a published interview the holdout juror from the first trial explained he felt the prosecution had not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Even if media coverage kept defendant’s case in the public eye until the start of his second trial, defendant
With respect to the third factor—the size of the community—this factor did not support a change of venue. In 1999, Kern County had a population of 648,400, ranking it 14th out of California’s 58 counties in population size. We do not find persuasive defendant’s reliance on Steffen v. Municipal Court (1978) 80 Cal.App.3d 623 [145 Cal.Rptr. 782], in which the Court of Appeal granted a petition for writ of mandate directing the trial court to grant the petitioners’ motion for change of venue filed in San Mateo County, which at the time had a population of 575,000. In that case, the petitioners had been charged with misdemeanor solicitation of an act of prostitution at the theater where they worked. (Id. at p. 625.) In granting the petition, the Court of Appeal based its decision on the long-term negative publicity that caused the theater to develop a reputation as a place frequented by prostitutes; the size of the county did not figure into its analysis. (Id. at pp. 626-627.) Conversely, the Attorney General cites several capital cases in which motions for change of venue were denied in smaller counties. (See, e.g., People v. Vieira (2005) 35 Cal.4th 264, 280-283 [25 Cal.Rptr.3d 337, 106 P.3d 990] [Stanislaus County, population 370,000]; People v. Weaver (2001) 26 Cal.4th 876, 905 [111 Cal.Rptr.2d 2, 29 P.3d 103] (Weaver) [Kern County, population exceeding 450,000]; People v. Hayes (1999) 21 Cal.4th 1211, 1250-1251 [91 Cal.Rptr.2d 211, 989 P.2d 645] [Santa Cruz County, population under 200,000]; see also Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 839 [Kern County, population of 543,477].)
Weaver is particularly instructive. There, we affirmed the denial of a change of venue from Kern County when it was less populous than during defendant’s trial. We described the county’s “moderate size” to be a “relatively neutral” factor, noting the key consideration was whether the size of the population diluted the effect of adverse publicity. (Weaver, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 905; see Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 839.) As we have explained, the media coverage in this case was not so extensive and negative as to require us to presume prejudice (see Lewis, supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 450), and the size of the county supported the conclusion that an unbiased jury could likely be found.
The fourth factor—community status of the defendant, meaning whether the defendant was known to the public before the crime—did not weigh heavily either for or against a change of venue. (Ramirez, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 434; see Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 23.) Although defendant was a lifelong resident of the community, there was no evidence that he or his family were known to the public before his arrest.
We are mindful that defendant was an African-American in a predominately Caucasian community and that, after the murder had been committed,
Moreover, any possible racial prejudice presumably would follow the case to any other venue. (See Prince, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 1214.) Defendant contends such reasoning eliminates possible racial prejudice as a factor when determining whether to change venue. Other than Dr. Bronson’s concerns about the racial overtones of the case, however, there is no evidence in the record that race relations in Kern County were significantly different from those in other counties.
Finally, the fifth factor—prominence of the victim, meaning whether the victim was known to the public before the crime—did not support a change of venue. (Ramirez, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 434; see Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at pp. 23-24.) Manning was not known to the public before her murder, and she did not have long or extensive ties to the community. Rather, she came from another state to Bakersfield to attend college there, and she intended to move away after her anticipated impending graduation. Manning came to the public’s attention only because she was a murder victim.
Nonetheless, as the trial court noted, the California State Assembly had adjourned in honor of Manning’s memory. A newspaper article also reported that, due to her father’s military service, Manning qualified to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery and was interred there. Even were we to assume this evidence implied Manning or her family occupied positions of prominence, nothing in the record suggests these factors influenced the jury pool. (See Panah, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 449; cf. People v. Williams, supra, 48 Cal.3d at pp. 1126-1131 [substantial number of prospective jurors knew the victim, her family, potential witnesses, or someone associated with the prosecution].)
Defendant contends the local newspaper’s extensive coverage of Manning’s murder humanized her and made her seem part of everybody’s family. But as we have said in other cases, any features of the case that gave the victim prominence in the wake of the crimes would inevitably have become apparent no matter in which venue defendant was tried. (See, e.g., Prince, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 1214.)
In addition, defendant contends the trial court improperly prevented Dr. Bronson from opining whether pretrial publicity had so affected public
Defendant is correct that, in determining whether there is a reasonable likelihood that a defendant can receive a fair and impartial trial in the venue, the trial court may rely on evidence such as “qualified public opinion surveys or opinion testimony offered by individuals, or on the court’s own evaluation of the nature, frequency, and timing of the material involved.” (Maine v. Superior Court (1968) 68 Cal.2d 375, 383 [66 Cal.Rptr. 724, 438 P.2d 372], italics added.) We primarily rely, however, on the trial court’s judgment for these matters (Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 24), especially when determining the ultimate issue of the venue’s fairness and impartiality. (See ante, at pp. 824-825.) Even assuming the trial court erred in excluding Dr. Bronson’s proffered testimony, based on our consideration of the evidence in total (including Dr. Bronson’s testimony), we agree with the trial court’s conclusion that defendant failed to demonstrate there was a reasonable likelihood that he could not receive a fair and impartial trial in the venue. (See Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 24.)
Defendant also fails to demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that he was prejudiced, that is, that he did not in fact receive a fair and impartial trial. (See Proctor, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p. 523.) With respect to this second part of the showing, we examine the voir dire of the jurors to determine whether the pretrial publicity had a prejudicial effect on the jury. (Id. at p. 524.) Among the 12 seated jurors at defendant’s trial, two knew nothing about his case and the remaining 10 recognized the case but remembered few specifics. That most of the seated jurors had some prior knowledge of the case does not compel a change of venue. (See Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 31 [“ ‘The relevant question is not whether the community remembered the case, but whether the jurors . . . had such fixed opinions that they could not judge impartially the guilt of the defendant.’ [Citation.]”]; Rountree, supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 840 [eight of the 12 jurors had heard something about the case].) On appeal, defendant does not challenge any of the responses of the seated
Accordingly, the trial court properly denied defendant’s motions for change of venue.
2. Jury Selection
a. Manner of conducting voir dire
Defendant contends the trial court violated his right to a fair trial by limiting race-related questions in the juror questionnaire and in individualized voir dire. As we will explain, neither of these contentions has merit.
(1) Adequacy of questioning on potential racial bias
As noted, defendant’s first trial ended in a mistrial, with a holdout juror who was the lone African-American. In preparation for the second trial, defendant submitted to the trial court a proposed juror questionnaire that contained 14 questions regarding racial bias. The trial court rejected five of defendant’s proposed questions on racial bias and permitted nine to remain.
A defendant is entitled to question prospective jurors on the issue of possible racial bias. (People v. Taylor (2010) 48 Cal.4th 574, 608 [108 Cal.Rptr.3d 87, 229 P.3d 12] (Taylor).) A trial court, however, has wide discretion in deciding what questions should be asked on voir dire to determine potential jurors’ biases. (Ibid.) “It abuses that discretion if its failure to ask questions renders the defendant’s trial ‘ “fundamentally unfair” ’ or ‘ “ ‘if the questioning is not reasonably sufficient to test the jury for bias or partiality.’ ” ’ ” (Ibid:, see Code Civ. Proc., § 223.)
The trial court here permitted nine questions on racial bias. For the five questions it did reject, the court explained those questions duplicated other questions, sought information on a “collateral” issue, or were phrased in a biased or nonneutral manner. In light of the nine questions the court did
To the extent defendant contends the trial court erred by not allowing a juror from his first trial to testify about that jury’s deliberations, and even if we assume such evidence would be admissible (see Evid. Code, § 1150), such testimony would not have been helpful in determining possible racial bias in the second trial’s venire. Thus, on the record before us, we conclude the court’s inquiry into possible racial bias was sufficient.
(2) Denial of motion for individual sequestered voir dire
Defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to allow counsel to conduct voir dire of each prospective juror individually and separately from the other prospective jurors. He argued individual voir dire was necessary because the cross-racial nature of the case was likely to evoke racial biases. The court denied the request to conduct sequestered voir dire on any issue, stating it did not believe race was “a huge issue in this case.” We review the denial of a defendant’s motion for individual sequestered voir dire for abuse of discretion. (Famalaro, supra, 52 Cal.4th at p. 34.)
Individual sequestered voir dire is not constitutionally required, even in a capital case. (See Taylor, supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 606.) Moreover, section 223 of the Code of Civil Procedure states, in pertinent part, that “[v]oir dire of any prospective jurors shall, where practicable, occur in the presence of the other jurors . . . .” Group voir dire may be impracticable when it is shown to result in actual, rather than merely potential, bias. (Taylor, supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 606.) Defendant does not suggest that either the trial court’s comments or the responses of other prospective jurors influenced any prospective juror. Rather, he contends the nature of group voir dire coerced the prospective jurors into giving “socially acceptable answers,” and not giving honest answers about their actual biases. Although prospective jurors may have been influenced by others’ responses, and by having to respond in front of others, this is, at most, potential rather than actual bias. (Lewis, supra, 43 Cal.4th at pp. 494-495.) Moreover, prospective jurors individually completed the written questionnaires, and the court indicated it would question prospective jurors individually about their views on the death penalty; it added, however, that any “sensitive” matter could also be discussed “in confidence.” Thus, defendant could have asked to examine a prospective juror’s possible racial biases privately. Defendant did not make such a request. Accordingly, on the
b. Batson/Wheeler challenge
Defendant contends the prosecutor improperly exercised peremptory challenges against two African-American prospective jurors, H.C. and K.P., on the basis of race. (Batson v. Kentucky (1986) 476 U.S. 79 [90 L.Ed.2d 69, 106 S.Ct. 1712] (Batson); People v. Wheeler (1978) 22 Cal.3d 258 [148 Cal.Rptr. 890, 583 P.2d 748] (Wheeler), overruled in part in Johnson v. California (2005) 545 U.S. 162 [162 L.Ed.2d 129, 125 S.Ct. 2410] (Johnson).)
The applicable law is settled. “Under Wheeler, ‘ “[a] prosecutor’s use of peremptory challenges to strike prospective jurors on the basis of group bias—that is, bias against ‘members of an identifiable group distinguished on racial, religious, ethnic, or similar grounds’—violates the right of a criminal defendant to trial by a jury drawn from a representative cross-section of the community under article I, section 16 of the state Constitution. [Citations.]” ’ [Citation.] Such a practice also violates the defendant’s right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. [Citations.]
“In ruling on a motion challenging the exercise of peremptory strikes, the trial court follows a three-step procedure. ‘First, the defendant must make out a prima facie case “by showing that the totality of the relevant facts gives rise to an inference of discriminatory purpose.” [Citation.] Second, once the defendant has made out a prima facie case, the “burden shifts to the State to explain adequately the racial exclusion” by offering permissible race-neutral justifications for the strikes. [Citations.] Third, “[i]f a race-neutral explanation is tendered, the trial court must then decide . . . whether the opponent of the strike has proved purposeful racial discrimination.” [Citation.]’ ([Johnson, supra, 545 U.S. at p. 168], fn. omitted.)” (People v. Streeter (2012) 54 Cal.4th 205, 221 [142 Cal.Rptr.3d 481, 278 P.3d 754] (Streeter).) The United States Supreme Court did not intend a movant’s burden at the first, prima facie, stage “to be so onerous that a defendant would have to persuade the judge—on the basis of all the facts, some of which are impossible for the defendant to know with certainty—that the challenge was more likely than not the product of purposeful discrimination. Instead, a defendant satisfies the requirements of Batson’s first step by producing evidence sufficient to permit the trial judge to draw an inference that discrimination has occurred.” (Johnson, supra, 545 U.S. at p. 170.)
Without expressly stating the standard it was employing, the trial court denied the motion, finding defendant had failed to make a prima facie showing. The prosecutor declined the trial court’s invitation to state his reasons for excusing H.C. and K.P., but noted that roughly five percent of the population in Kern County was African-American. The prosecutor also stated that the trial court and the attorneys were “all aware” that the holdout juror from defendant’s first trial was African-American, but noted this juror had voted to convict defendant of the Torigiani burglary. One African-American woman ultimately served on defendant’s jury.
Although the trial court did not articulate the standard it was using, we will assume it used the wrong one, that is, whether defendant established a “ ‘strong likelihood’ ” that a juror was peremptorily challenged on the basis of race. (Streeter, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 222 [articulating the standard under Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at p. 280].) After defendant’s trial, the high court disapproved of that standard for the purposes of establishing a prima facie showing. (Johnson, supra, 545 U.S. at pp. 166-168.) Instead, a defendant has the burden of showing that the circumstances of the case raise an inference that the prosecutor excluded a prospective juror based on race. (Batson, supra, 476 U.S. at p. 96.) Regardless of which standard the trial court used, we independently review the record and apply the standard required by the high court. (People v. Bell (2007) 40 Cal.4th 582, 597 [54 Cal.Rptr.3d 453, 151 P.3d 292] (Bell).)
Although a prima facie showing may be made from any evidence in the record, we have noted “certain types of evidence that will be relevant for
Defendant’s motion primarily relied on the relative dearth of African-American prospective jurors, and the fact that the prosecutor exercised peremptory challenges against the two who had been called to the jury box at the time he made his motion. This numerical showing alone, however, falls short of a prima facie showing (see Streeter, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 223, and cases cited therein) because the small number of African-Americans in the jury pool makes “drawing an inference of discrimination from this fact alone impossible.” (Bell, supra, 40 Cal.4th at pp. 597-598 [no inference of discrimination when prosecutor excused two of the three African-American women on the panel]; see People v. Bonilla (2007) 41 Cal.4th 313, 343 [60 Cal.Rptr.3d 209, 160 P.3d 84] [“ ' “As a practical matter ... the challenge of one or two jurors can rarely suggest a pattern of impermissible exclusion.” ’ [Citations.]”].)
Defendant fails to demonstrate that the totality of relevant facts give rise to an inference of discriminatory purpose as the record also shows apparent race-neutral reasons for the prosecutor’s excusáis of Prospective Jurors H.C. and K.P. H.C. was the head basketball coach at the university Manning attended and knew eight of- the potential witnesses because they too worked at the university; he knew James Ave and Carolyn Krone, both of whom testified at defendant’s trial. No other prospective juror knew eight potential witnesses, and the prosecutor could have reasonably been concerned that H.C. was potentially too closely connected to the case to sit as an impartial juror. Although the record indicates Ave and Krone testified about relatively minor, uncontested matters, the prosecutor may have been concerned about the expected testimony of the six other potential witnesses that H.C. knew. Moreover, on his juror questionnaire, H.C. expressed support for the death penalty, but also indicated that he or someone close to him had had a bad experience with someone of another race; he or someone close to
With respect to K.P., she stated that her adolescent brother had been charged with selling marijuana (a felony; see Health & Saf. Code, § 11360, subd. (a)) and thus had a case pending in the Kern County juvenile court system at the time of defendant’s trial. Although on voir dire K.P. stated that her brother’s case would not affect how she viewed defendant’s case, the prosecutor could reasonably have been concerned that a person might be biased against the prosecution and law enforcement agencies that were currently prosecuting her brother. (See, e.g., People v. Booker (2011) 51 Cal.4th 141, 167, fn. 13 [119 Cal.Rptr.3d 722, 245 P.3d 366] [family member’s negative experience with the criminal justice system is a race-neutral reason for a peremptory challenge].) K.P. also explained that jury service would force her to drop some of her summer school classes, which she feared would interfere with her ability to transfer to a four-year college. The prosecutor also reasonably could have concluded that KJP.’s concerns about completing her education might impair her ability to focus on the case and serve as an impartial juror.
For the first time on appeal, defendant asks us to conduct a comparative analysis of the prospective jurors’ responses on the jury questionnaire and during voir dire. When a trial court has found no prima facie showing, and the prosecutor has declined to state reasons for the excusáis, we have declined to conduct a comparative juror analysis. (Streeter, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 226, fn. 5; but see U.S. v. Collins (9th Cir. 2009) 551 F.3d 914 [comparative juror analysis employed for first-stage Batson case].) Justice Liu’s concurring opinion argues that we must conduct a comparative juror analysis in this situation. But even if we were to do so, a comparative juror analysis does not aid defendant because the record fails to show that any seated or alternate juror personally knew eight potential witnesses, as H.C. did. Detective Herman, the detective to whom defendant first admitted to having sex with Manning, was the father of a friend of one of the seated jurors, but this juror had never met Detective Herman. Similarly, another seated juror recognized the prosecutor but did not know him, knew two people employed by local law enforcement agencies, and had a working relationship with three people in the prosecutor’s office because his employer had an “automation” contract with the prosecutor’s office. This juror, however, did not know anyone associated with this case. Alternate Juror R.C. worked at the Kern County jail as a registered nurse, his wife was a court reporter, and his brother was a deputy sheriff. R.C. knew one of the potential witnesses, an inmate, through his work. R.C. heard a detention officer refer to
In any event, that other prospective or seated jurors who were not peremptorily challenged also may have had possible biases similar to H.C.’s is not determinative because the combination of H.C.’s potential biases made him sufficiently different from other jurors who had been evaluated at the time the prosecutor excused him. (See People v. Mai (2013) 57 Cal.4th 986, 1050-1051 [affirming prosecutor’s use of a peremptory challenge because a prospective juror’s age, familial status, and death penalty views, when considered together, made her unique among the jurors evaluated up to that point].) No other seated or prospective juror knew so many potential witnesses and expressed doubt about his or her own ability to remain objective.
With respect to K.R, four seated jurors either had suffered a misdemeanor conviction or were close to someone who had suffered one; three of these convictions occurred in Kern County. Another juror had suffered a misdemeanor conviction in Kern County and had a best friend who had suffered a felony drug conviction in Kern County. The brother of one seated juror had been convicted of child molestation and was in prison. Unlike KJP.’s brother’s case, however, none of these was pending in the very county where defendant was being tried. K.R also expressed concern that jury service would hinder her ability to transfer to a four-year college. In Snyder v. Louisiana (2008) 552 U.S. 472, 483-484 [170 L.Ed.2d 175, 128 S.Ct. 1203], among the prosecutor’s justifications for peremptorily challenging an African-American prospective juror was the concern that he might be inclined to favor a lesser sentence to lessen the trial’s impact on his graduation requirements. The high court rejected this justification, in part, because the trial court had learned from the prospective juror’s university that jury service would not significantly interfere with his education requirements; the prosecutor also had accepted two Caucasian jurors who had at least as serious hardships as the challenged prospective juror. (Ibid.) Although the trial court here had some personal knowledge of the local colleges, unlike in Snyder, K.P. did not receive assurances that jury service would not interfere with her education plans. Justice Liu’s concurring opinion notes (conc. opn. of Liu, J., post, at p. 878) a seated juror also explained that jury service would interfere with her ability to take summer school classes, but this juror was not trying to transfer to another college and she “probably” could take any missed classes during the néxt school year. The concurring opinion also notes (conc. opn. of Liu, J., post, at p. 878) one seated juror was the sole manager of an American Legion post who had expressed concern about his ability to find someone to replace him for the full length of the trial, but this juror was a volunteer and thus would not have suffered any economic hardship by serving on the jury;
In response to the general comments in Justice Liu’s concurring opinion about this court’s Batson/Wheeler jurisprudence, and his suggestion that trial judges and appellate courts, or at least this court, have not adequately addressed racial discrimination that is occurring during jury selection in California’s courts, it is true that this court has rejected most claims of Batson/Wheeler error during the last two decades. We note, however, that trial court rulings sustaining a Batson/Wheeler objection rarely if ever see appellate review or even mention in an appellate opinion; only trial court rulings finding no improper use of peremptory challenges are reviewed in appellate opinions. As the high court observed in Batson, “We have confidence that trial judges, experienced in supervising voir dire, will be able to decide if the circumstances concerning the prosecutor’s use of peremptory challenges creates a prima facie case of discrimination against black jurors.” (Batson, supra, 476 U.S. at p. 97.) Each case raising a Batson/Wheeler issue is considered on its own merits. As here, we have carefully reviewed the record and considered the question closely in every case before us raising this issue.
Because defendant failed to meet his burden in establishing a prima facie showing of group discrimination, the trial court properly denied his Wheeler motion.
c. Denial of challenge for cause
Defendant contends the trial court erroneously denied his challenge for cause against R.C., a nurse at the Kern County jail who served as an alternate juror.
R.C. stated if he served on the jury, it would not be a problem for him to vote not guilty and resume working at the jail. Defendant moved to excuse for cause, arguing that if R.C. voted not guilty, he would be returning to a “hostile work environment,” and therefore would be biased toward the prosecution. The trial court denied defendant’s motion, stating, “I have to make this call based upon what he has told us. He has told us he can be fair.”
R.C. was seated as an alternate juror. Defendant did not exercise a peremptory challenge against R.C., or exhaust all of his peremptory challenges for the alternate jurors, and he did not express dissatisfaction with the panel of alternate jurors. R.C. never served as a juror during defendant’s trial.
Defendant contends his claim is not forfeited because he intentionally did not exercise his last peremptory challenge when selecting the jury and expressed dissatisfaction with the seated jury. Defendant also claims the trial court improperly rehabilitated prospective jurors who would otherwise have been excused for cause, which he asserts justified his decision to not exhaust his peremptory challenges when selecting the jury.
B. Guilt Phase
1. Admission of DNA Evidence
Citing Crawford v. Washington (2004) 541 U.S. 36 [158 L.Ed.2d 177, 124 S.Ct. 1354] (Crawford), defendant contends he was denied his federal constitutional right to confront the individual who determined the statistical frequency that his DNA was consistent with the samples recovered from the crime scene. As noted, a deputy director for the laboratory that analyzed the DNA samples testified at defendant’s trial; this witness had not personally performed the DNA analysis.
The Sixth Amendment to the federal Constitution guarantees a defendant’s right to confront adverse witnesses. (See People v. Lopez (2012)
The Attorney General contends defendant forfeited this claim by failing to object at trial. (See People v. Livingston (2012) 53 Cal.4th 1145, 1160-1161 [140 Cal.Rptr.3d 139, 274 P.3d 1132] (Livingston); Evid. Code, § 353.) Crawford, which was a dramatic departure from prior confrontation clause case law, was decided after defendant’s 1999 trial, and defendant’s failure to object is excusable because defense counsel could not reasonably have been expected to anticipate this change in the law. (People v. Pearson (2013) 56 Cal.4th 393, 461-462 [154 Cal.Rptr.3d 541, 297 P.3d 793].)
We need not address the merits of the claim because, even if there was error, it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. (See Delaware v. Van Arsdall (1986) 475 U.S. 673, 681-684 [89 L.Ed.2d 674, 106 S.Ct. 1431]; Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24 [17 L.Ed.2d 705, 87 S.Ct. 824].) Defendant admitted that he had sex with Manning on the night of her murder. The DNA analysis only confirmed what defendant had already admitted. The primary issue at trial was whether the sex was consensual, and the DNA analysis provided no insight as to this issue; defendant therefore could not have been harmed by any presumed prejudice.
2. , Admission of Torigiani Burglary
Defendant contends the trial court erred by admitting during his second trial evidence of the burglary of Bree Torigiani’s condominium. As noted, the jury in defendant’s first trial found him guilty of this crime.
Before the start of defendant’s second trial, the prosecutor requested the trial court to determine whether he could introduce evidence of the Torigiani burglary. The prosecutor noted the similarities between the crimes: similar dwellings in close proximity to each other and to defendant’s apartment; the crimes were committed in the evening, within three weeks of each other; similar items were taken; the victims were women; and the perpetrators
Character evidence, sometimes described as evidence of propensity or disposition to engage in a specific conduct, is generally inadmissible to prove a person’s conduct on a specified occasion. (Evid. Code, § 1101, subd. (a).) Evidence that a person committed a crime, civil wrong, or other act may be admitted, however, not to prove a person’s predisposition to commit such an act, but rather to prove some other material fact, such as that person’s intent or identity. (Id., § 1101, subd. (b).) We review the trial court’s decision whether to admit evidence, including evidence of the commission of other crimes, for abuse of discretion. (See People v. Jones (2011) 51 Cal.4th 346, 371 [121 Cal.Rptr.3d 1, 247 P.3d 82] (Jones).)
“The least degree of similarity (between the uncharged act and the charged offense) is required in order to prove intent. [Citation.] ‘[T]he recurrence of a similar result. . . tends (increasingly with each instance) to negative accident or inadvertence or self-defense or good faith or other innocent mental state, and tends to establish . . . the presence of the normal, i.e., criminal, intent accompanying such an act... .’ [Citation.] In order to be admissible to prove intent, the uncharged misconduct must be sufficiently similar to support the inference that the defendant ‘ “probably harbor[ed] the same intent in each instance.” [Citations.]’ [Citation.]” (People v. Ewoldt (1994) 7 Cal.4th 380, 402 [27 Cal.Rptr.2d 646, 867 P.2d 757].) “The greatest degree of similarity is required for evidence of uncharged misconduct to be relevant to prove identity. For identity to be established, the uncharged misconduct and the charged offense must share common features that are sufficiently distinctive so as to support the inference that the same person committed both acts. [Citation.] ‘The pattern and characteristics of the crimes must be so unusual and distinctive as to be like a signature.’ [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 403.)
Defendant first contends there were insufficient similarities to link the Torigiani burglary with his intent when he entered Manning’s apartment.
We see no abuse of discretion. Although the crimes were not identical, they were sufficiently similar. In both cases, defendant entered a woman’s dwelling within walking distance of his own apartment at night, and stole several items. That defendant committed the Torigiani burglary supports the reasonable inference that he also intended to steal from Manning’s apartment. Although the jury ultimately did not convict defendant of burglarizing Manning’s apartment, this does not lead to the conclusion that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing the introduction of the evidence.
Defendant next contends the court abused its discretion in not finding the evidence unduly prejudicial. (See Evid. Code, § 352.) We disagree. The facts of the Torigiani burglary were not particularly inflammatory when compared to Manning’s rape and murder. Moreover, the trial court instructed the jury on the limited purpose of this evidence, and we presume it followed the instruction. (See Jones, supra, 51 Cal.4th at p. 371.)
Defendant also contends the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the jury to consider the Torigiani burglary as evidence of the identity of the person who burglarized Manning’s apartment. Even assuming the court did abuse its discretion in permitting the jury to consider the Torigiani burglary for this additional purpose, any such error was harmless. (See People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836 [299 P.2d 243] (Watson).) Defendant admitted to being in Manning’s apartment on the night she was murdered, and there was sufficient evidence to support his convictions for rape and murder. Moreover, the jury did not convict defendant of the burglary of Manning’s apartment, and thus evidence of the Torigiani burglary could not have prejudiced him with respect to this count.
3. Admission of Manning’s Letters
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in admitting into evidence two undated letters written by Manning. As noted, one letter was addressed to “Charles sweetheart,” and described her love for Hill; the other was addressed to a friend and discussed her postgraduation plans with Hill.
Defendant first contends these letters were irrelevant. In the absence of a contrary rule, all relevant evidence is admissible. (Evid. Code, § 351.) Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to prove or disprove a contested
Defendant further contends the letters were unreliable hearsay. Manning’s letters were out-of-court statements, but “an out-of-court statement is hearsay only when it is ‘offered to prove the truth of the matter stated.’ (Evid. Code, § 1200.)” (People v. Jurado (2006) 38 Cal.4th 72, 117 [41 Cal.Rptr.3d 319, 131 P.3d 400] (Jurado).) Much of what Manning wrote, such as her future plans, was not hearsay in the first place because the statements were offered solely as circumstantial evidence of her then state of mind, specifically, her feelings for Hill, and were not offered to prove the truth of what she wrote. (See People v. Riccardi (2012) 54 Cal.4th 758, 822-823 [144 Cal.Rptr.3d 84, 281 P.3d 1] (Riccardi) [distinguishing between “statements that were admissible as hearsay under Evidence Code section 1250, and statements that were nonhearsay”]; People v. Ortiz (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 377, 389 [44 Cal.Rptr.2d 914] (Ortiz).) Thus, such statements were properly admitted.
On the other hand, other statements in Manning’s letters, such as “I love you,” were introduced for the truth of what she wrote, and thus were hearsay. (See Evid. Code, § 1200; see also Jurado, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 129 [“assertions and descriptions of [defendant declarant’s] own feelings and other mental states, were hearsay”].) These statements, however, were admissible under the Evidence Code section 1250’s state-of-mind exception; as discussed above, the victim’s state of mind was at issue. (See Ortiz, supra, 38 Cal.App.4th at p. 389.)
Defendant nonetheless contends Manning’s letters were not a trustworthy representation of her state of mind on the night of her murder. A hearsay statement that would otherwise be admissible under the state-of-mind exception (Evid. Code, § 1250, subd. (a)(1)) is inadmissible if made under circumstances that indicate the statement’s lack of trustworthiness (id.,
Therefore, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Manning’s letters into evidence.
4. Ruling on Admission of Blood Evidence
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion by indicating it would allow the prosecutor to introduce blood evidence that arguably linked him to Manning’s murder. Prior to the start of defendant’s second trial, he successfully moved to limit the testimony about a bloodstain found on one of his shoes in his closet: the trial court ruled the only evidence with respect to the bloodstain it would allow to be introduced was that defendant and Manning had been excluded as primary donors.
Evidence Code section 352 provides that a court “in its discretion may exclude evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will (a) necessitate undue consumption of time or (b) create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the jury.” We review a trial court’s ruling under this section for abuse of discretion. (See People v. Valdez (2012) 55 Cal.4th 82, 133 [144 Cal.Rptr.3d 865, 281 P.3d 924] (Valdez).)
Defendant first contends the trial court erred because the record does not affirmatively show that it weighed the prejudice of the evidence against its probative value. A trial court’s weighing, however, may “be inferred from the record despite the absence of an express statement by the trial court.” (Prince, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 1237.) The record indicates the court understood defendant’s objection was based on section 352 of the Evidence Code, and its earlier ruling excluding much of the evidence about the blood on his shoe demonstrates that it understood its duty to exclude confusing or unduly prejudicial evidence. Although the court did not expressly state that it weighed the evidence, from its mling we may infer it did and determined that, in light of the evidence about the lack of blood on his shirt, the probative value of evidence of blood on his shoe outweighed any undue prejudice.
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in ruling that evidence about the lack of blood on his shirt “open[ed] the door” to inquiring about the blood on his shoe, as neither he nor Manning was the primary donor of the blood on his shoe. Moreover, defendant observes, there was no evidence he wore that particular shoe on the night of the murder.
The DNA analysis undisputedly excluded defendant and Manning as primary donors of the blood found on the shoe. But the evidence did not exclude either of them as possible secondary donors. In People v. Burgener (1986) 41 Cal.3d 505, 526-527 [224 Cal.Rptr. 112, 714 P.2d 1251], overruled in part on other grounds in People v. Reyes (1998) 19 Cal.4th 743 [80 Cal.Rptr.2d 734, 968 P.2d 445], we held that evidence of a substance that might have been human blood on the defendant’s shoe at the time of his arrest tended to prove that he had previously been at a bloody scene, and thus was relevant. Similarly, evidence that a bloodstain on defendant’s shoe may have come from more than one donor, and that neither defendant nor
We see no abuse of discretion. Even if we assume the ruling constituted an abuse of discretion, it was harmless. (See Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836.)
5. Exclusion of Evidence of Manning’s Relationship with Hill
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in excluding evidence of problems in Manning and Hill’s relationship. At his first trial, defendant attempted to cross-examine Bucholz about whether Manning had expressed any opinions about Hill’s association with one of his friends, but the court sustained the prosecutor’s relevance objection. Outside the jury’s presence, the court ruled defendant could inquire whether Manning had expressed any doubts about the relationship, but barred testimony about the specific reasons why Manning was having doubts. The court also ruled that defendant could not ask Hill if he had been arrested, but could ask if Hill and Manning had fought over his drug use. Defendant, who assumed these evidentiary rulings from his first trial applied to his second trial, contends these evidentiary rulings prevented him from inquiring about these topics during his second trial.
At his second trial, defendant did not inquire about Hill’s drug use, but, as noted, the jury heard testimony that Manning and Hill had discussed ending their relationship because he was spending too much time with his friends, and because she feared he might have given her a sexually transmitted disease.
The Attorney General preliminarily contends this issue is forfeited because defendant is complaining about evidentiary rulings from his first trial, and he did not attempt to introduce this evidence during his second trial. As defendant notes, however, before his second trial, the trial court renewed its prior orders from the first trial. Defendant therefore has not forfeited this claim. (Cf. People v. Richardson (2008) 43 Cal.4th 959, 1002 [77 Cal.Rptr.3d 163, 183 P.3d 1146].)
This claim, however, lacks merit. With respect to whether Hill’s friendships were a cause of friction between him and Manning, the jury in his second trial heard testimony on this subject. With respect to Hill’s drug use,
6. Exclusion of Expert Testimony
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion by sustaining two objections to questions posed during his direct examination of one of his expert witnesses. As noted, Dr. Stanley, an obstetrician/gynecologist and infertility specialist, testified about the indicia of sexual trauma found on Manning’s body. Dr. Stanley described the procedures commonly used in the examination of rape victims to determine whether a rape had occurred. Defense counsel asked if any of these procedures were used in Manning’s case; before Dr. Stanley could answer, the trial court sustained the prosecutor’s hearsay objection. Defense counsel then asked if Dr. Stanley knew whether any of these procedures were used in Manning’s case, and the court sustained the prosecutor’s objection based on the doctor’s lack of personal knowledge. Defendant contends these rulings prevented him from challenging the adequacy of the examination performed on Manning.
Any witness may testify about matters within his or her personal knowledge. (Evid. Code, § 702, subd. (a).) Expert testimony in the form of an opinion may be based on hearsay or facts outside the personal knowledge of the expert. (See id., § 801, subd. (b).)
The trial court’s rulings were proper because defense counsel inquired about what procedures were actually used during the autopsy, and there was no evidence demonstrating Dr. Stanley had such personal knowledge. Although it would appear defendant was attempting to examine Dr. Stanley about his opinion of the sufficiency of the examination, he did not actually ask that question. In any event, any presumed error was harmless (see Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836) because the forensic pathologist who performed Manning’s autopsy testified about the procedures actually used.
7. Denial of Mistrial Motion
Before defendant’s first trial, the trial court granted his motion to exclude references to his using the word “bitch.” Before the second trial, the court
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion by denying his motion for a mistrial. “ ‘ “A mistrial should be granted if the court is apprised of prejudice that it judges incurable by admonition or instruction. [Citation.] Whether a particular incident is incurably prejudicial is by its nature a speculative matter, and the trial court is vested with considerable discretion in ruling on mistrial motions. . . .” [Citation.] A motion for a mistrial should be granted when “ ' “a [defendant’s] chances of receiving a fair trial have been irreparably damaged.” ’ ” ’ [Citation.] ‘Although most cases involve prosecutorial or juror misconduct as the basis for the motion, a witness’s volunteered statement can also provide the basis for a finding of incurable prejudice.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Dement (2011) 53 Cal.4th 1, 39-40 [133 Cal.Rptr.3d 496, 264 P.3d 292].)
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s motion because the detective’s prohibited testimony was brief, and “[j]urors today are not likely to be shocked by offensive language . . . .” (People v. Edelbacher (1989) 47 Cal.3d 983, 1009 [254 Cal.Rptr. 586, 766 P.2d 1]; see People v. Halsey (1993) 12 Cal.App.4th 885, 891 [16 Cal.Rptr.2d 47] [no abuse of discretion in allowing testimony that the defendant called the victim a “ ‘son of a bitch’ ”].) We are mindful of the interracial and sexual nature of the crime, but evidence that defendant once referred to Manning as “the bitch” was not so incurably prejudicial that a new trial was required. Moreover, the court promptly attempted to remedy the situation by explaining its belief that the term was not likely used in a pejorative manner.
In his reply brief and second supplemental brief, defendant contends the prosecutor intentionally solicited the detective’s testimony about defendant’s use of the word “bitch.” The detective’s testimony was in response to the prosecutor’s asking him to “describe specifically” defendant’s use of the word “conniving.” Defendant contends the prosecutor asked this question because he knew that defendant had used those two words in the same sentence.
In his second supplemental brief, defendant contends the trial court’s purported taking of judicial notice of how different communities use the word “bitch” was improper. The Attorney General is correct that defendant invited this error by assenting to the court’s remedy. (See People v. Lee (2011) 51 Cal.4th 620, 645 [122 Cal.Rptr.3d 117, 248 P.3d 651] (Lee).) In any event, the Attorney General concedes, and we agree, neither section 451 nor section 452 of the Evidence Code permits this kind of judicial notice. The court’s remarks, however, make clear it was attempting to suggest that the word has a nonpejorative meaning in some contexts. Any error was harmless (Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836) because the error, if anything, was to defendant’s benefit.
8. Sufficiency of Evidence
Defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to support his rape and robbery convictions and the robbery-murder special circumstance finding.
“The standard of appellate review for determining the sufficiency of the evidence is settled. On appeal, ' “we review the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it contains substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value— from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.] In conducting such a review, we ‘ “presume[] in support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence.” [Citation.]’ [Citations.] ‘Conflicts and even testimony which is subject to justifiable suspicion do not justify the reversal of a judgment, for 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 upon which a determination depends. [Citation.] We resolve neither credibility issues nor evidentiary conflicts; we look for substantial evidence.’ [Citation.] These same principles apply to review of the sufficiency of the evidence to support a special circumstance finding. [Citations.]” (Lee, supra, 51 Cal.4th at p. 632.)
“The standard of review is the same in cases in which the prosecution relies mainly on circumstantial evidence. [Citation.] ‘ “Although it is the duty of the jury to acquit a defendant if it finds that circumstantial evidence is
a. Rape
Forcible rape is “an act of sexual intercourse accomplished . . . [][] . . . HO . . . against a person’s will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the person or another.” (§ 261, subd. (a)(2).)
Defendant concedes he had sex with Manning on the night she was killed, but contends there was no evidence to support the inference that the sex was nonconsensual. Defendant notes there was no physical evidence of force related to the sexual intercourse: there were no bruises or abrasions on Manning’s arms, wrists, legs, or pelvic region; and he had no scratches or bruises on him. Both the forensic pathologist and Dr. Stanley acknowledged that the lack of genital trauma did not preclude the possibility of a sexual assault, as “the ‘absence of genital trauma is not inconsistent with nonconsensual intercourse.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Berryman (1993) 6 Cal.4th 1048, 1084 [25 Cal.Rptr.2d 867, 864 P.2d 40], overruled in part on another point in People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 823, fn. 1 [72 Cal.Rptr.2d 656, 952 P.2d 673].) Manning suffered multiple blows to her head and had been stabbed at least 57 times, and the forensic pathologist testified these injuries could have rendered her unconscious, which would have explained the absence of injuries to defendant or vaginal trauma.
Manning’s lack of consent was supported by substantial circumstantial evidence. In addition to the evidence of Manning’s love for her boyfriend, Hill, there was evidence defendant and Manning had an acrimonious relationship: his constant phone calls to the apartment disrupted her studying and annoyed her; she had asked Bucholz to tell him to stop calling; and his girlfriend had called the apartment and threatened Manning, which prompted her to call the police and then later confront him and Bucholz. Moreover, a shard of glass was found underneath Manning’s shorts, implying she had been hit with a glass object before her shorts were removed. In addition, Manning had accused Hill, not defendant, of exposing her to a sexually transmitted disease. From this, a reasonable juror could have concluded that Manning was sexually active only with Hill. The only evidence Manning
b. Robbery and robbery-murder special circumstance
Robbery is “the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another . . . and against [the person’s] will, accomplished by means of force or fear.” (§211.) If a defendant does not harbor the intent to take another’s property at the time the force or fear is applied, the taking is a theft, not a robbery. (People v. Burney (2009) 47 Cal.4th 203, 253 [97 Cal.Rptr.3d 348, 212 P.3d 639].) “[T]he special circumstance of murder during the commission of a robbery requires that the murder be committed ‘in order to advance [the] independent felonious purpose’ of robbery, but the special circumstance is not established when the felony is merely incidental to the murder.” (Ibid.)
As the Attorney General concedes, in finding defendant not guilty of burglary, the jury necessarily must have concluded that the prosecutor failed to prove that defendant entered Manning’s apartment with a larcenous intent. Therefore, to sustain defendant’s conviction for robbery and the robbery-murder special circumstance, he had to have formed the intent to steal after entering Manning’s apartment but before attacking her.
Defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to determine when he formed the intent to steal. We disagree. Defendant had been in the apartment several times previously, and therefore was familiar with its layout and contents. The jury could have inferred that once he realized he was alone in the apartment with Manning, he decided to seize the opportunity to rob her. Moreover, the Attorney General observes that the amount of time it took defendant to arm himself, attack and kill Manning, and then attempt to clean up could have supported the inference that his intent to steal was no afterthought. In light of this evidence, a reasonable trier of fact could have concluded that defendant decided to steal Manning’s belongings before killing her. That the evidence may also support another scenario does not render the evidence insufficient to support the verdict. (See People v. Foster (2010) 50 Cal.4th 1301, 1349 [117 Cal.Rptr.3d 658, 242 P.3d 105].)
9. Prosecutor’s Closing Argument
Defendant contends the prosecutor during his closing argument gave the jury a mistaken impression of the law and improperly “lured” it into finding that he had committed robbery. The prosecutor explained that burglary
As the Attorney General notes, defendant failed to object at trial, and therefore this claim is forfeited on appeal. In any event, the claim is meritless because the record indicates the prosecutor’s definitions of robbery and burglary were correct. Finally, the trial court instructed the jury that if anything said by the attorneys conflicted with its instructions, the jury was to follow the court’s instructions. Absent any evidence to the contrary, we presume the jury did so.
10. Objection to Defendant’s Closing Argument
Defendant contends the trial court improperly prevented his counsel from presenting his closing argument. As noted, one of Manning’s neighbors testified that around 10:00 p.m. on the night of the murder she saw someone carrying a television set in front of Manning’s apartment, but was unsure who it was. During closing argument, defense counsel discussed a taped interview with the neighbor in which the prosecutor asked her about the person she had seen and when she saw him. Counsel told the jury: “Listen to the tape. . . . [The prosecutor] is looking for something that he can turn around and use against [the neighbor] later. . . . Why doesn’t he ask those questions [about when the witness saw that person if they are] so important. And the answer is, because he is not going there to investigate, he is going there so he can find something to use against her when she testifies because—.”
The prosecutor initially objected on the basis that defense counsel was “arguing outside any evidence,” but then withdrew the objection. Defense counsel asked if he could continue, and the trial court replied, “No, you may not. Objection sustained.”
Counsel has great latitude during closing argument to urge the conclusion he or she believes can be drawn from the evidence, but counsel may not argue facts not in evidence. (See People v. Collins (2010) 49 Cal.4th 175, 209 [110 Cal.Rptr.3d 384, 232 P.3d 32].) A trial court may interpose and sustain its own objections. (See People v. Fuiava (2012) 53 Cal.4th 622, 680 [137 Cal.Rptr.3d 147, 269 P.3d 568].)
11. Jury Instructions
a. Third party culpability
Defendant contends the trial court’s jury instruction on third party culpability erroneously omitted his theory of the case. The court instructed the jury, in pertinent part: “You have heard evidence that a person, person other than the defendant, may have committed the offense with which the defendant is charged. The defendant is not required to prove the other person’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant is entitled to an acquittal if the evidence raises a reasonable doubt in your mind as to the defendant’s guilt.”
Defendant’s proposed instruction also included the sentence, “Such evidence may, by itself, raise a reasonable doubt as to defendant’s guilt,” but the court granted the prosecutor’s request not to instruct the jury with this particular sentence because it improperly commented on the weight of the evidence.
A trial court may be required to give a requested jury instruction that pinpoints a defense theory of the case, but it need not give an argumentative or duplicative instruction. (See People v. Hartsch (2010) 49 Cal.4th 472, 500 [110 Cal.Rptr.3d 673, 232 P.3d 663] (Hartsch).)
Defendant contends the trial court’s refusal to include this sentence “denuded” the instruction of its intended meaning, that is, that any admitted evidence of third party culpability was sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt. We disagree. As the trial court properly instructed the jury on reasonable doubt, third party culpability, sufficiency of the evidence, and the elements of the charged crimes, the jurors were entitled to consider each piece of evidence as they desired, and were free to give the evidence as much or as little weight as they deemed proper. The proposed sentence was duplicative because the court’s instruction correctly and adequately conveyed that evidence of third party culpability, by itself, was sufficient to raise a reasonable
b. Felony-murder special circumstance
Defendant contends the trial court’s written instruction on the felony-murder special circumstance was erroneous because it improperly listed the elements in the disjunctive, which impermissibly allowed the jury to find the special allegation true based on only one element. The trial court orally instructed the jury with a modified version of CALJIC No. 8.81.17 as follows: “To find that the special circumstance referred to in these instructions as murder in the commission of rape, sodomy, robbery or burglary is true, it must be proved: One, that the murder was committed while the defendant was engaged in the commission or attempted commission of a rape, sodomy, robbery and/or burglary; and two, that the murder was committed in order to carry out or advance the commission of the crime of rape, sodomy, robbery or burglary, or to facilitate the escape therefrom, or to avoid detection. In other words, the special circumstances referred to in these instructions are not established if the rape, sodomy, robbery or burglary was merely incidental to the commission of the murder.” (Italics added.) The court’s interlineated written instruction omitted the “and” before “two.”
The Attorney General concedes it would be error if the instruction were written in the disjunctive. (See People v. Friend (2009) 47 Cal.4th 1, 79 [97 Cal.Rptr.3d 1, 211 P.3d 520].) She correctly notes, however, the written instruction actually contained no connector. The court also provided the correct oral instruction. Absent the inclusion of an express disjunctive in the written instruction, the listing of the “separate elements that must be proved clearly implied that proof of each was independently necessary.” (Ibid.) We acknowledge the interlineated written instruction was not a model of clarity, but even were we to assume it was ambiguous, there is no reasonable likelihood the jury applied it in an impermissible manner. (Ibid. )
C. Penalty Phase
1. Juror Misconduct
Defendant contends the trial court erred by denying his motion for a mistrial and by failing to dismiss a juror due to alleged misconduct.
Defendant moved for a mistrial as to the penalty phase, arguing Juror No. 6’s communication with the other jurors about what she had experienced was improper. The trial court denied the motion, stating it was proper for jurors to observe and consider what was happening in the courtroom. The court dismissed the jurors for the day to allow counsel some time to explore what remedial measures, if any, might be required.
On the next court day, the trial court denied defendant’s request to further question Juror No. 6. Defendant moved to excuse Juror No. 6, arguing she lacked the ability to remain impartial, but the court denied the request.
The court then instructed the jury: “[A]s you know, you went out to deliberate on the penalty phase of the trial at about 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Thereafter, at about 4:30 p.m. . . . you sent out a note indicating that one of your number felt a threat, the defendant was trying to intimidate that juror. We spoke to the juror individually and the juror rejoined you briefly before we adjourned for the day. The juror told us [she] had shared with you the basis of [her] perception which was based on conduct of the defendant [she] had observed in the courtroom.
“Now, as jurors in the penalty phase of a capital trial, you can draw inferences based upon the defendant’s demeanor in the courtroom, inasmuch as the defendant’s character is at issue in this phase of the trial. However, you can only draw inferences based upon your personal observations, positive or negative, and not on what another juror may have observed. Nor may you speculate upon any ambiguous conduct of the defendant you have personally observed.”
Section 1089 provides that a trial court may dismiss a juror if it finds the juror is unable to perform his or her duty, which includes engaging in serious and willful misconduct. (See People v. Daniels (1991) 52 Cal.3d 815, 866 [277 Cal.Rptr. 122, 802 P.2d 906].) Defendant contends that Juror No. 6’s observations were akin to her relying on extrajudicial information. “ ‘It is misconduct for a juror to consider material [citation] extraneous to the record. [Citations.] Such conduct creates a presumption of prejudice that may be rebutted by a showing that no prejudice actually occurred.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Williams (2006) 40 Cal.4th 287, 333 [52 Cal.Rptr.3d 268, 148 P.3d 47].) The trial court’s decision to discharge or retain a juror is reviewed for abuse of discretion. (See People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th 622, 675-676 [55 Cal.Rptr.2d 26, 919 P.2d 640].)
During a penalty phase argument, a prosecutor may comment on a defendant’s courtroom demeanor and behavior. (See People v. Elliott (2012) 53 Cal.4th 535, 588 [137 Cal.Rptr.3d 59, 269 P.3d 494].) Similarly, in People v. Williams (1988) 44 Cal.3d 883, 971-972 [245 Cal.Rptr. 336, 751 P.2d 395], in denying the capital defendant’s automatic application to modify the verdict, the trial court relied in part on its observations of his courtroom demeanor. In affirming the trial court’s ruling, we noted the court did not err because demeanor evidence was relevant in determining whether the defendant had expressed remorse or was otherwise worthy of sympathy. (Ibid.) If a judge as a finder of fact may rely on a defendant’s courtroom demeanor during the penalty phase of a capital trial, and a prosecutor may comment on such behavior, then jurors may also rely on their own observations of a defendant. Defendant’s reliance on People v. Nesler (1997) 16 Cal.4th 561, 579 [66 Cal.Rptr.2d 454, 941 P.2d 87], is misplaced, as a juror in that case received extrajudicial evidence about the defendant at a bar and then conveyed it to the other jurors during deliberations. Unlike in Nesler, Juror No. 6 observed defendant’s courtroom demeanor, which could have been observed by anyone present in the courtroom. We therefore reject the suggestion that a defendant’s courtroom demeanor during the penalty phase of a capital trial—even if actually observed by only one person—is akin to extrajudicial information.
A significant theme in defendant’s case in mitigation was his history of nonviolence; his courtroom demeanor therefore was relevant in evaluating the
Defendant contends Juror No. 6 committed misconduct by sharing her observations during deliberations, which exposed the remaining jurors to evidence about defendant that they did not personally observe. Even if we assume Juror No. 6 committed misconduct by relating her observations to the other jurors, any presumption of prejudice was adequately rebutted because the trial court instructed the jurors that they could not draw inferences based on what another juror may have observed. Absent evidence to the contrary, and we find none, we presume the jurors followed this instruction. (See Jones, supra, 51 Cal.4th at p. 371.) Moreover, during the hearing concerning Juror No. 6’s observations, the court individually polled the jurors, and no juror indicated the incident would impair his or her ability to be fair and impartial. Accordingly, the court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s motion for a mistrial.
2. Prosecutorial and Judicial Misconduct
Defendant contends that the prosecutor committed misconduct by referring to “Willie Horton”
During the penalty phase, Jack Horton, who had witnessed the attack on robbery victim Beatrice Thompson, testified about defendant’s appearance during the attack. In his closing argument, in reference to Horton’s testimony,
The Attorney General contends this claim is forfeited because defendant failed to request that the trial court admonish the jury to disregard the remark. We agree. (See People v. Stanley (2006) 39 Cal.4th 913, 952 [47 Cal.Rptr.3d 420, 140 P.3d 736].) In any event, this claim lacks merit. The context of the prosecutor’s singular use of “Willie Horton” indicates he misspoke, and was not referring to defendant or otherwise attempting to associate defendant with Willie Horton. When corrected by the court, the prosecutor apologized, and there is nothing in the record to suggest the prosecutor’s remark was intentional.
D. Constitutional Challenges to the Death Penalty
Defendant makes numerous constitutional challenges to California’s death penalty scheme, but acknowledges we have previously rejected these challenges.
The trial court need not instruct jurors that (1) they should presume life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is the appropriate sentence and (2) their findings regarding aggravating factors must be unanimous. (Valdez, supra, 55 Cal.4th at pp. 179-180, and cases cited therein.) The absence of intercase proportionality review is not unconstitutional. (Ibid.) “California homicide law and the special circumstances listed in section 190.2 adequately narrow the class of murderers eligible for the death penalty. [Citations.] [f ] . . . fiD The death penalty statute is not unconstitutional because it does not require ‘findings beyond a reasonable doubt that an aggravating circumstance (other than § 190.3, factor (b) or (c) evidence) has been proved, that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors, or that death is the appropriate sentence.’ [Citation.] Nothing in Cunningham v. California (2007) 549 U.S. 270 [166 L.Ed.2d 856, 127 S.Ct. 856], Blakely v. Washington (2004) 542 U.S. 296 [159 L.Ed.2d 403, 124 S.Ct. 2531], Ring v. Arizona (2002) 536 U.S. 584 [153 L.Ed.2d 556, 122 S.Ct. 2428], or Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000) 530 U.S. 466 [147 L.Ed.2d 435, 120 S.Ct. 2348], affects that conclusion. [Citations.]” (People v. McDowell (2012) 54 Cal.4th 395, 443 [143 Cal.Rptr.3d 215, 279 P.3d 547].)
E. Cumulative Error
Defendant contends the errors he alleges cumulatively amounted to reversible error. To the extent there are instances in which we have found error or
III. Conclusion
Cantil-Sakauye, C. J., Kennard, J., Baxter, J., Werdegar, J., and Corrigan, J., concurred.
A jury previously convicted defendant of burglary (Pen. Code, §§ 459, 460, subd. (a); undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code) of Bree Torigiani, but it deadlocked as to all other counts. After defendant waived his right to a jury on enhancement allegations, the trial court found he had suffered a prior felony conviction (§§ 667, subds. (a), (c)-(j), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(e)), and had served a prior prison term (§ 667.5, subd. (b)).
The jury found defendant not guilty of forcible sodomy (§ 286, former subd. (c)) and burglary (§§459, 460, subd. (a)) of Manning, and found not true special circumstance allegations of sodomy murder and burglary murder (§ 190.2, former subd. (a)(17)(iv), (vii)).
Defendant is African-American. Manning was Caucasian.
We note that in this claim and most others on appeal, defendant contends that the asserted error or misconduct he raises infringed his state and federal constitutional rights to a fair and reliable trial. What we stated in People v. Boyer (2006) 38 Cal.4th 412, 441, footnote 17 [42 Cal.Rptr.3d 677, 133 P.3d 581], applies in tire present case: “In most instances, insofar as defendant raised the issue at all in the trial court, he failed explicitly to make some or all of the
We reversed the brother’s conviction and death penalty due to the trial court’s erroneous denial of his motion for change of venue. (People v. Williams (1989) 48 Cal.3d 1112 [259 Cal.Rptr. 473, 774 P.2d 146].)
Defendant notes of the 140 prospective jurors originally summoned by the trial court, only four were African-American. The court denied defendant’s motion to discharge the venire due to the underrepresentation of African-Americans, and he does not challenge this ruling on appeal. Many of the original 140 prospective jurors were excused due to their views on the death penalty or the financial hardship that a lengthy trial would have caused them.
A Wheeler motion preserves the federal constitutional claim that a prosecutor used a peremptory challenge based solely on the juror’s race. (People v. Yeoman (2003) 31 Cal.4th 93, 117-118 [2 Cal.Rptr.3d 186, 72 P.3d 1166].) K.P. was multiracial, but for the purposes of defendant’s Wheeler motion, she was considered to be African-American.
Defendant’s first trial lasted 11 court days and his second trial lasted 12 court days.
To the extent defendant contends the trial court engaged in other practices to ensure a “designer jury” for the prosecution, we are not persuaded. Defendant contends the trial court’s questioning of Prospective Jurors P.P. and V.G. were improper attempts to make them acceptable jurors. After reviewing the record, we cannot say the trial court abused its broad discretion in its manner of questioning the prospective jurors. (See People v. Whalen (2013) 56 Cal.4th 1, 29-36 [152 Cal.Rptr.3d 673, 294 P.3d 915].) Moreover, defendant successfully challenged Prospective Juror V.G. for cause, and Prospective Juror P.P. was never called into the jury box.
Torigiani testified at defendant’s first trial that a bayonet owned by her brother had been moved from underneath his bed to near her bedroom door.
Defendant also contends the trial court erred in ruling the nature of Manning’s relationship was put “in issue” by defendant. Lack of consent is an element of forcible rape, and thus is always a fact to be proved or disproved, and as noted, the nature of Manning’s relationship with Hill was relevant to the issue of consent.
Although the letters were undated, it is possible to determine when they were written. In the letter to her friend, Manning wrote there were 31 days until graduation; Bucholz testified Manning was to graduate on June 14. In the “Charles sweetheart” letter, Manning wrote that she was writing a “paper.” Bucholz testified Manning had started writing a paper for a class about a week before she was killed.
At defendant’s first trial, a deputy director for the laboratory that performed the DNA analysis testified one of defendant’s shoes contained a spot of blood that came from more than one donor. Defendant and Manning were excluded as primary donors of the blood, and the results were too “faint” to either include or exclude them as secondary donors. On cross-examination, the deputy director conceded the sample of the secondary donor’s blood was so faint that it may not have been human blood.
To the extent defendant contends the trial court erred by not instructing the jury that the robbery charge required him to form a larcenous intent before attacking Manning, no such instruction was necessary: the court correctly instructed the jury on the elements of robbery, and defendant failed to request a clarifying instruction at trial, thus forfeiting this claim on appeal. (People v. Bolden (2002) 29 Cal.4th 515, 555-557 [127 Cal.Rptr.2d 802, 58 P.3d 931].)
To the extent defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his request to further examine Juror No. 6, we see no abuse of discretion because its inquiry was sufficient: it examined her about the encounter, and it also permitted the parties to examine her.
Willie Horton was an inmate who committed a murder while on a prison furlough program supported by then Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis; Dukakis’s support of the program was an issue raised during the 1988 presidential election. (See Arizona Right to Life Political Action Com. v. Bayless (9th Cir. 2003) 320 F.3d 1002, 1004 & fn. 3; Del Vecchio v. Illinois Dept. of Corrections (7th Cir. 1994) 31 F.3d 1363, 1399, fn. 1 (en banc) (dis. opn. of Ripple, J.).)