DocketNumber： Crim. 14214
Judges： Burke, McComb
Filed Date： 11/29/1972
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 10/19/2024
Opinion
Robert Sterling Cannady and Bufford Lee Beard, life prisoners, were indicted for an assault with malice aforethought and with a deadly weapon upon another inmate, Leonard Shiekscon Thompson (Pen. Code, § 4500). A jury found defendants guilty as charged and fixed Cannady’s penalty at death and Beard’s at life imprisonment. Cannady’s automatic appeal is now before us (Pen. Code, § 1239, subd. (b)), and Beard’s appeal from the judgment has been consolidated therewith.
On the morning of April 29, 1969, Lloyd Kelley (known as Coach Kelley), the supervisor of recreation at Folsom Prison, had a conversation in his office with the alleged victim, “Shiek” Thompson, and another inmate named Howard Cooper. Before the conversation terminated, Cooper left to go to the restroom after having noticed Cannady beckoning outside the office. En route Cooper asked Cannady what he wanted. Cannady replied that he did not want Cooper but was beckoning “for the snitch inside,” apparently referring to Thompson. Cooper saw Cannady was holding an aluminum baseball bat behind him. Such bats are never properly at any location other than the athletic office or the baseball field without authorization by the coach. Cooper also observed Beard standing near the coach’s office and saw him in the same spot upon Cooper’s return from the restroom.
After the conversation between Coach Kelley and Thompson ended, Thompson went into an adjacent room called the “issue room,” in which athletic equipment was handed out. Less than a minute later Kelley heard loud voices in the “issue room.” He looked out, saw Thompson in the “issue room” and Cannady outside the room, and heard Thompson say “What the heck’s the matter with you?” As the coach went into the “issue room,” he saw Cannady pick up an aluminum baseball bat, which was leaning against the exterior wall of the “issue room,” and make a thrusting
Kelley left to summon aid. Upon his return with two officers, he saw defendants going in the general direction of a guard post. Thompson was lying on the floor of the “issue room” and near him were the bat and knife.
Thompson died a few minutes after being brought to a physician immediately after the alleged assault. The physician and the autopsy surgeon testified concerning Thompson’s extensive injuries, including head wounds, a fractured leg, and stab wounds in his chest. According - to the physician, the cause of death was the stab wounds, which involved the heart and both lungs, and contributory causes were possible concussion and fracture of both bones in one leg. The autopsy surgeon testified that the cause of death was stab wounds to the lungs.
Beard and Cannady were apprehended shortly after the incident. At the time of their apprehension Beard was outside the “issue room” and Cannady was in the prison recreation yard. The two men were then examined for injuries. No injuries were found on Cannady, and Beard had only a superficial scratch on his knee apart from a scratch treated before the alleged assault.
It was stipulated that each defendant was undergoing a life sentence in a California prison at the time of the alleged assault.
The defense presented was self-defense. Both defendants took the stand in their own behalf. Cannady testified: In the morning, before the incident, he had an argument with Thompson. He did not see Thompson again until the early afternoon when- Cannady was near the “issue room” and heard someone yell “Look out.” Cannady turned and saw Thompson coming toward him with a knife. Thompson lunged at him. Cannady caught Thompson’s hand, and Thompson grabbed Cannady’s jacket and
Beard testified: He saw a group of inmates near the “issue room” and knew something was wrong. He went inside and saw Thompson holding someone (who he later' found was Cannady) on the ground. At first Beard thought they were playing but realized they were fighting when he saw they were wrestling for the bat. Beard was then unarmed. He grabbed Thompson and pulled him up. Beard saw that Thompson had a knife in one hand and the bat in his other hand. Beard grabbed Thompson’s hand that held the knife and following a struggle Thompson dropped the knife and Beard obtained it. Thompson tried to hit Beard with the bat and Beard stabbed Thompson, who then fell. Beard heard people saying that he “better leave,” and he did so. So far as Beard knew Cannady was gone when Beard obtained the knife.
Several inmates, called as defense witnesses, testified that they saw Thompson grab Cannady and saw a knife in Thompson’s hand. The defense also presented evidence of Thompson’s aggressive nature.
The recited evidence manifestly is sufficient to support the convictions, and no claim is made to the contrary. As heretofore stated, however, defendants seek to have the judgments set aside on the following grounds:
I. Receipt of Prior Consistent Statements as Substantive Evidence
Defendants contend that the. admission into evidence of two prosecution witnesses’ prior consistent statements as substantive evidence under Evidence Code section 1236
The second prosecution witness, Cooper, testified on direct examination to his version of the alleged assault. To impeach him, defense counsel asked him on cross-examination whether he had stated that he did not know anything about the incident when he talked to (1) the public defender’s investigator a week before the trial and (2) the district attorney’s investigator shortly after the alleged assault. Cooper replied that he had told the investigators that he did not have anything to say to them. Defense counsel also cross-examined Cooper concerning representations made to him by the prosecutor on October 1, 1969, the day before Cooper testified, and Cooper stated that the prosecutor had told him “the judge can rehear your case.” For the purpose of rehabilitating Cooper, the prosecutor on cross-examination of the district attorney’s investigator elicited testimony that when he had interviewed Cooper a second time, in June 1969, Cooper gave a narration concerning the alleged assault, which narration was substantially in accord with his testimony at trial.
No instructions were given limiting the purpose for which the prior consistent statements were admitted.
In support of their contention that the receipt of the prior consistent statements as substantive evidence under section 1236 violated their Sixth Amendment right of confrontation, defendants rely upon People v. Washington (1969) 71 Cal.2d 1061, 1076 [80 Cal.Rptr. 567, 458 P.2d 479], which held that “under the rationale of [People v. Johnson, 68 Cal.2d 646 [68 Cal.Rptr. 599, 441 P.2d 111]], and based upon the Sixth Amendment, Evidence Code section 1236 is unconstitutional in criminal cases insofar as it permits the substantive use of prior consistent statements against defendant.” The rationale of Johnson, however, was specifically rejected in California v. Green (1970) 399 U.S. 149 [26 L.Ed.2d 489, 90 S.Ct. 1930], In Green, which concerned the admissibility of prior inconsistent statements by a witness (1) at the preliminary hearing and (2) to an
Kelley and Cooper testified at the trial and were then subject to full and effective cross-examination. Accordingly, the receipt of their prior consistent statements did not violate defendants’ Sixth Amendment right of confrontation. (See California v. Green, supra, 399 U.S. 149; People v. Bynum, 4 Cal.3d 589, 603 [94 Cal.Rptr. 241, 483 P.2d 1193]; People v. Green, 3 Cal.3d 981 [92 Cal.Rptr. 494, 479 P.2d 998] [cert. dismissed 404 U.S. 801 (30 L.Ed.2d 34, 92 S.Ct. 20)].)
Defendants also argue that the substantive use of the prior consistent statements violated the due process clause of article I, section 13, of the California Constitution. They rely upon People v. Washington, supra, 71 Cal.2d 1061. Washington, however, was based on the federal Constitution, and, as heretofore stated, the rationale upon which Washington relied was rejected in California v. Green, supra, 399 U.S. 149.
Furthermore, at the trial no objection was made to the admission of the prior consistent statements for their substantive use on the grounds now urged. As a general rule, the admissibility of evidence will not be reviewed on appeal in the absence of a specific and timely objection at the trial (People v. Mabry, 71 Cal.2d 430 441 [78 Cal.Rptr. 655, 455 P.2d 759]; People v. De Santiago, 71 Cal.2d 18, 22 [76 Cal.Rptr. 809, 453 P.2d 353]; People v. Robinson, 62 Cal.2d 889, 894 [44 Cal.Rptr. 762, 402 P.2d 834]). Defendants, however, argue that the foregoing rule is inapplicable since defendants’ trial was before People v. Washington, supra, 71 Cal.2d 1061, “became generally available to the profession.”
Washington was filed about two weeks before defendants’ trial began, but, even if it had not been filed until after defendants’ trial, they would not have been excused from making an objection unless Washington “ ‘represented such a substantial change in the former rule as to excuse an objection anticipating that decision.’ ” (People v. Groves, 71 Cal.2d 1196, 1198 [80 Cal.Rptr. 745, 458 P.2d 985]; People v. De Santiago, supra, 71 Cal.2d 18, 22.)
Although Washington was the first case to hold that the admission of prior consistent statements as substantive evidence under section 1236
Defendants further argue that Cooper’s prior consistent statement was inadmissible under Evidence Code section 1236 because the prosecution complied with only one of the two conditions set forth in section 791, subdivision '(b), of that code. (See fn. 2 herein.) Defendants admit that there was an express or implied charge by defense counsel that Cooper’s testimony was recently fabricated, but they assert that the prosecution failed to show that “the statement was made before the . . . motive for fabrication ... is alleged to have arisen.” However, one motive for fabrication was the representation by the prosecutor that “the judge can rehear [Cooper’s] case,” and Cooper’s prior statement preceded that representation. That there may always have existed another motive for fabricating did not deprive the prosecution of its right to show that a motive shown by the evidence did not affect the witness’ testimony. (See People v. Duvall, 262 Cal.App.2d 417, 421 [68 Cal.Rptr. 708].) Furthermore, no objection was made at the trial on the ground now urged, and defendants have shown no circumstances that would justify our departure from the ordinary r,ule that errors not challenged at trial cannot serve as grounds for reversal on appeal.
No claim is made that Kelley’s prior consistent statement was inadmissible on the ground that the conditions in Evidence Code section 791 were not fulfilled, and no objection was made on that ground at the trial. The admissibility of that evidence under section 791 will therefore not be reviewed on appeal.
II. Asserted Denial of a Fair Trial
Defendants further contend that they were denied a fair trial in that, although they were charged with violating Penal Code section 4500, the
Defendants further argue that certain instructions, some of which were offered by the prosecution and others by the defense, improperly used terms such as “fatal blow” and “homicide”—that such instructions emphasized to the jury that it “was dealing with a case of homicide” and “could have no other effect than to prejudice and confuse the jury.” However, as we have seen, evidence of the victim’s death was properly admitted, and since the jury was aware of his death it is clear that the references in the instructions to the terms in question would not have prejudiced the jury against defendants. Nor would the references have confused the jury. The instructions given made clear the charge against defendants and the various possible verdicts'.
III. Asserted Error in Failing to Give Certain Instructions
A. Manslaughter Instruction
Defendants contend that the court erred in failing to give an instruction on manslaughter.
A defendant cannot be convicted of an offense (other than a necessarily included offense) not charged against him by indictment or information whether or not there was evidence at his trial to show that he had committed that offense. (In re Hess, 45 Cal.2d 171, 174-175 [288
B. Instruction Regarding Defense of Another
Beard contends that the court erred in failing to give an instruction on defense of a third person (see Pen. Code, § 694; People v. Craig, 152 Cal. 42, 50 [91 P. 997]; 1 Witkin, Cal. Crimes (1963) p. 157). He asserts that if an instruction he requested regarding that defense that the court declined to give was defective, it was the court’s duty to give sua sponte a correct instruction on the subject. He points to his own testimony from which it appears that he entered the affray to aid Cannady, who, according to Cannady’s testimony, had been attacked by Thompson. However, it also appears from Beard’s testimony that he was unarmed when he entered the affray; that it was only after Beard pulled Thompson off Cannady and Thompson dropped the knife that Beard obtained the knife and stabbed Thompson; and that so far as Bear'd knew Cannady was gone when Beard obtained the knife. Cannady testified that he left when Beard pulled Thompson off him. When Beard was asked why he struck Thompson with the knife, Beard replied that he was scared of Thompson, that Thompson was “coming at” him with the bat, and that he knew Thompson would try to kill him. Accordingly it appears from the defense testimony that Beard assaulted Thompson with a deadly weapon in defense of himself—not in defense of Cannady. The testimony thus did not warrant an instruction on defense of another. The court gave instructions on self-defense as proposed by defendants.
Defendants contend that the court erred in giving an instruction on flight
Defendants also request that this court “reevaluate the efficacy of the flight instruction,” and they point to matters such as a statement in Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 483, footnote 10 [9 L.Ed.2d 441, 452, 83 S.Ct. 407], questioning the probative value of evidence of flight. Penal Cede section 1127c, however, makes mandatory the giving of an instruction on flight where evidence of a defendant’s flight is relied upon as tending to show guilt,
Defendants further argue that, although an instruction on flight may be proper under some circumstances it should not be given where, as here, the defense is justification since the instruction assertedly assumes justification was not proved. However, by its terms the instruction does not so assume. (See fn. 4 herein.) With respect to a similar instruction on flight, People v. Daener, 96 Cal.App.2d 827, 832-833 [216 P.2d 511], pointed out that the instruction “assumed neither the guilt nor flight of the defendant.”
V. Asserted Misreading of Instruction
From the reporter’s transcript it appears that the court gave an instruction concerning provocation that began: “When an assault, in a case such as this, is committed in a heat of passion . . . .”
The judgment entered against Cannady is modified to provide a punishment of life imprisonment instead of death and as so modified is affirmed. The judgment entered against Beard is affirmed.
Wright, C. J., Peters, J., Tobriner, J., Mosk, J., and Sullivan, J., concurred.
“Although the electors at the November 7, 1972, General Election adopted Proposition 17 which added section 27 to article I of the Constitution purporting to nullify Anderson’s holding of the invalidity of the death penalty, the constitutional prohibitions against ex post facto laws (U.S. Const., art. I, § 10; Kring v. Missouri (1882) 107 U.S. 221 [27 L.Ed.2d 506, 2 S.Ct. 443]; Cal. Const., art. I, § 16) preclude the application of the amendment to cases arising before its effective date (see Const., art. IV, § 1).” (People v. Murphy, ante, pp. 349, 352 [105 Cal.Rptr. 138, 503 P.2d 594].)
Section 1236 provides: “Evidence of a statement previously made by a witness is not made inadmissible by the hearsay rule if the statement is consistent with his testimony at the hearing and is offered in compliance with Section 791.”
Section 791 provides: “Evidence of a statement previously made by a witness that is consistent with his testimony at the hearing is inadmissible to support his credibility unless it is offered after:
“(b) An express or implied charge has been made that his testimony at the
*386 hearing is recently fabricated . . . and the statement was made before the . . , motive for fabrication ... is alleged to have arisen.”
Beard argues that the court had a duty to give such an instruction on its own motion. Cannady argues that the court erred in not giving a proffered defense instruction regarding the nature of provocation that would reduce the offense to manslaughter.
The instruction given reads: “The flight of a person immediately after the commission of a crime, or after he is accused - of a crime that has been committed, is not sufficient in itself to establish his guilt, but is a fact which, if proved, may be considered by you in the light of all other proved facts in deciding the question of his guilt or innocence. The weight to which such circumstance is entitled is a matter for the jury to determine.”
Penal Code section 1127c provides: “In any criminal trial .■ . . where evidence of flight of a defendant is relied upon as tending to show guilt, the court shall instruct the jury substantially as follows:
“The flight of a person immediately after the commission of a crime, or after he is accused of a crime that has been committed, is not sufficient in itself to establish his guilt, but is a fact which, if proved, the jury may consider in deciding his guilt or innocence. The weight to which such circumstance is entitled is a matter for the jury to determine.
“No further instruction on the subject of flight need be given.”
From the clerk’s transcript it appears that the instruction as given contained the word “charge” in lieu of the word italicized above, but it will be assumed that the reporter’s transcript is correct.