Supreme Court of California Justia
Docket No. S083904
People v. Verdugo

Filed 8/2/10






IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA






THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

S083904

v.

NATHAN VERDUGO,

Los Angeles County

Defendant and Appellant.

Super. Ct. No. BA105622



Defendant Nathan Verdugo was convicted of the first degree murders of

Yolanda Navarro and Richard Rodriguez. (Pen. Code, §§ 187, 189.)1 The jury

also found true the multiple-murder special-circumstance allegation, as well as

allegations that defendant personally used a firearm, i.e., a shotgun, in each crime.

(§§ 190.2, subd. (a)(3), 12022.5, former subd. (a).) At the penalty phase, it

returned a death verdict, and the trial court entered a judgment of death. This

appeal is automatic. (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 11, subd. (a); Pen. Code, § 1239,

subd. (b).) We affirm the judgment.


1

All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise

indicated.





1


I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. Guilt Phase

1. Prosecution evidence

a. Events on October 22 and 23, 1994

On October 22, 1994, defendant went to a Halloween party at the home of

Hector Casas in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The party was

well attended, and guests included Lisa Ruvalcaba, Raymond Muro, Paul Escoto,

defendant‟s friend Michael (Mike) Arevalo, and victims Rodriguez and Navarro.

Defendant wore wire-rimmed glasses and drove a black Honda CRX, which had

tinted windows and a loud exhaust system.

At one point Lisa Ruvalcaba — who resembled victim Yolanda Navarro —

attacked Michael Arevalo, hitting him in the face with a beer bottle. Arevalo, who

was bleeding and enraged, yelled, “Fucking bitch.” He had to be restrained from

retaliating by a group of approximately seven people. Someone in the group

yelled, “Shoot the bitch.” Arevalo was taken to the hospital, where he received

over 50 stitches.

After the attack, defendant left the party and ran to his car. Raymond Muro

followed. Defendant opened his trunk and showed Muro a pump-action shotgun

with a pistol grip. Defendant told Muro he was going to “get that girl” or “get

those people.” Muro responded, “just calm down, . . . there is no need for that.”

Defendant then put the shotgun away, and he and Muro returned to the party.

Rodriguez and Navarro left the party in Rodriguez‟s burgundy Honda Civic.

Another car, resembling defendant‟s black Honda CRX, pulled out and followed

them.

About 2:00 a.m., Alex Quintana of the Los Angeles Fire Department heard

voices and someone running outside the window of the fire station at Huntington

2

Drive and Monterey Road. Firefighter Donald Jones heard an argument.

Quintana then heard what sounded like a shotgun blast. About 10 seconds later he

heard a second shotgun blast, and three to five seconds after that a third blast.

Quintana then heard a woman “begging for her life.” She said: “No, no, please

don‟t do it. Please, please, don‟t.” Quintana heard another shotgun blast. He

looked out of the window and saw a man “standing over the girl holding a

shotgun” six to 12 inches from the woman‟s head. The woman was facedown,

lying on her side on the sidewalk. The man inserted another round into the

chamber of the shotgun, which Quintana identified by sound as a “pump action.”

The man then shot the woman in the head.

Firefighter Jones saw the gunman, who he said looked like defendant, run to

a car with a louvered rear window. Firefighter Quintana saw a black Honda with

tinted windows and a loud exhaust system “come out from around the fence and

head north.”

The firefighters left the station. They found two bodies: the woman whose

death Quintana had witnessed (later identified as Navarro) and a man (later

identified as Rodriguez). Rodriguez‟s car was parked, but it was still running,

with its lights on. It had sustained collision damage. About a car‟s length behind

this vehicle, Firefighter Jones found a pair of wire-rimmed eyeglasses on the

ground. The lenses in these glasses matched a prescription defendant had received

about a year earlier. Also found in the area were five 12-gauge Fiocchi shotgun

shells. There were skid marks behind the vehicle, and the distance between the

skid marks matched the wheelbase on defendant‟s Honda CRX. The marks had

been made by a front-wheel-drive car such as defendant‟s.

3

The firefighters blocked the streets with their fire engines. As they did so,

Jonathan Rodriguez2 arrived at the scene and told firefighters that he thought the

deceased woman on the sidewalk was his sister. Firefighter Quintana questioned

his identification because part of the woman‟s face was missing. Jonathan called

his mother from the fire station and asked her to page his sister. A pager lying

next to the woman began vibrating.

The autopsies showed that Navarro and Rodriguez died from gunshot

wounds to the head, inflicted by a weapon held two to four feet away. Navarro

suffered a single gunshot wound. Rodriguez suffered a gunshot wound to the head

and three gunshot wounds to his foot and leg; the latter were consistent with being

shot while attempting to run away. Toxicology analysis of Rodriguez‟s blood did

not show the presence of alcohol or drugs.

Michael Arevalo was discharged from the hospital between 2:20 and 2:40

a.m. on October 23. He was taken back to Hector Casas‟s house. Arevalo,

Arevalo‟s father, Arevalo‟s father‟s girlfriend, and Raymond Muro then drove to

Muro‟s house, which was located directly in front of Arevalo‟s father‟s house. As

they pulled into the carport, Muro saw defendant. Muro heard defendant tell

Arevalo that “the situation had been handled,” and Arevalo and defendant

embraced. Defendant spent the night at Muro‟s house.

In the morning, defendant, Arevalo, and Muro went out to breakfast.

Defendant was wearing sunglasses that were different from the wire-rimmed

glasses he had worn to the party the night before. While they were at the

restaurant, Arevalo‟s mother arrived and spoke with Arevalo privately, telling him


2

There is no indication in the record that Jonathan Rodriguez and murder

victim Richard Rodriguez were related.

4

about the double homicide. When Arevalo returned to the table, he relayed this

information to defendant and Muro.

b. Defendant’s statements

Donna Tucker, who was married to defendant‟s brother Michael, had known

defendant since he was three years old. In the summer or fall of 1993, defendant

told Tucker that he and Arevalo were like brothers and that they would do

anything for one another.

On October 23, 1994, in the morning of the murders, defendant called

Tucker, who lived about a quarter of a mile from the murder scene. Defendant

excitedly asked Tucker: “Did you hear the shots in the neighborhood? My friend

Mikey told me that there were shots fired in your neighborhood.” Sometime

between October 23 and November 2, Tucker asked defendant to help move items

out of storage to her house. Defendant refused, saying he could not “come into the

area” because “[i]t was too dangerous.”

Tucker testified that on November 2, 1994, defendant was working with

Tucker and his brother Michael Verdugo at a construction site in Van Nuys.

Tucker let defendant use the phone to return a page from his brother Paul. Paul

told defendant that the police wanted to speak with him about a fight at a party.

Defendant then called the police.

During this telephone conversation, Tucker heard defendant say that he had

left the party early and had not seen a fight. He said that he was calling from Las

Vegas, where he was working on a construction site, and that he could not give his

address or telephone number. Detective Andrew Teague of the Los Angeles

Police Department testified about the same telephone conversation. He said that

he received a call from defendant, who said he was living in Las Vegas and

5

working for “TG&E Construction Company.” Defendant sounded nervous during

the conversation and refused to give Teague his address or telephone number.

After defendant completed the telephone conversation, he told Tucker that on

his way to Magic Mountain he “killed two guys.” He said the homicides occurred

after he left a party. Gang members chased his car and crashed into him at

Huntington Drive and Monterey Road. Then a man with tattoos from “head to

toe” shot at him. Defendant said he shot the man because it “was him or me.” He

said there was “a girl” with the man, and he “shot her because she saw

everything.” Defendant said that the police would be after him and that he was

going to flee.

On November 9 or 10, 1994, Tucker and defendant met so she could return

some equipment from the November 2 construction job. Defendant told Tucker

that he could not go to her neighborhood, so they met in a Bank of America

parking lot in South Pasadena. At this meeting, defendant said that the police and

the Federal Bureau of Investigation were after him, and he kept looking around.

Tucker showed defendant a newspaper story about the murders. She asked him,

“Is this the one you were talking about?” Defendant read the article and replied,

“Yeah, that‟s the one,” but he added, “that‟s not the way it happened.” He then

gave a description of the killings that was similar to the one he had given on

November 2 and said about the killings that “he got a rush off of that, that it felt

really good.” During this conversation, defendant was smiling and seemed

excited. Defendant said that his brother Paul helped him get rid of his bloody

clothes and the shotgun.

At some point before defendant was arrested, Tucker showed him a different

newspaper article about the murders and asked him if he had committed them.

Defendant said he had. Tucker asked him whether he was sorry, and he said he

was not. Defendant said that the firefighters “in the upper floors saw him, that his

6

fingerprints were on the shotgun shells, [and that] they had his eyeglasses.” He

also said that, contrary to what the newspaper article said, there was no traffic at

the time of the murders. Defendant told Tucker that he had been in Mexico, but

was forced to return when a local newspaper “show[ed] him with a beard.”

Defendant then wrote a letter to his sister Pauline, which Tucker agreed to send.

Defendant, who was shaking, wrote that he was sorry for what he had done, that

things did not look good for him, and that he would wait to see her.

Tucker subsequently received another letter that defendant had written to

Pauline, postmarked April 14, 1995. In the letter, defendant said: “The [p]olice

have shotgun sh[e]lls that have my prints on them and a pair of glass[es] that I

have on in the photo.” He also enclosed a copy of a newspaper article about the

murders.

A relative of defendant‟s, Juan Carlos Enciso, made a tape-recorded

statement to police on December 15, 1994. This statement was played for the

jury. Enciso told police that defendant had told him during the first week of

November 1994 that he had recently “bl[o]w[n] away” two people. Defendant

claimed there had been a chase on the freeway, that the people chasing him were

shooting at him, and that he had to kill them or be killed.

In addition, Detective Teague and Detective Charles Markel of the Los

Angeles Police Department testified about an untaped interview with Enciso.

Enciso said that defendant had told him that his Honda CRX had “crashed” during

the shooting incident and that it needed to be repaired.

At the time of his arrest, defendant was carrying a letter he had written to his

sister Pauline, telling her to “[b]urn all paper from me.”

7

c. Other evidence linking defendant to the murders

In November or December 1994, defendant, defendant‟s uncle Daniel

Cuevas, and defendant‟s brother Paul Verdugo took defendant‟s Honda CRX to a

shop to be painted yellow. After the painting was completed, the shop called

Cuevas four or five times, and he in turn contacted defendant‟s brother Paul, but

the car was never picked up. On April 15, 1995, police located and impounded the

vehicle.

The murder weapon was not introduced at trial, but the prosecution

introduced evidence that on September 19, 1990, defendant purchased two

Mossberg 12-gauge shotguns from a Big 5 Sporting Goods store. On April 16,

1992, he reported them stolen to the police. On January 17, 1993, police

recovered one of the shotguns, which had a pump action, and on January 28, 1993,

they released it to defendant.

Defendant was arrested on April 27, 1995. He was found hiding in a secret

compartment behind the linen closet in his father‟s home.

2. Defense evidence

Defendant testified that he was born on September 5, 1972, and had no

criminal record. He completed the 10th grade in high school. He denied

murdering Navarro and Rodriguez and claimed that Raymond Muro and Paul

Escoto had committed the murders.

Defendant testified that in February 1994 he was stabbed, and his Honda

CRX was damaged. After this incident, he began carrying a shotgun in his car.

Defendant admitted that Arevalo was a good friend but, contrary to the

prosecutor‟s assertion, defendant denied Arevalo was as “close as being a brother”

or that defendant “would do anything for him.” Although defendant had known

Arevalo as a child, they had become friends less than a year before defendant was

stabbed.

8

Defendant testified that he and Arevalo attended the Halloween party on the

night of the murders, at which Arevalo was hit with a bottle. Defendant was in the

kitchen at the time, and Arevalo was outside. Defendant did not see Arevalo after

he was hit, and defendant left the party because he did not want to get involved.

He found the driver‟s door to his car open and noticed that his shotgun and a

jacket were missing. Also missing was a key to his vehicle, which he said he had

hidden under the fender. A pair of defendant‟s eyeglasses, similar to the ones he

had worn that night, were in the missing jacket. Defendant testified that he had

shown the hidden car key to several individuals, including Arevalo, Muro, and

Escoto.

Defendant stated that he returned to the party after discovering his car open

and the items missing. Defendant believed that Arevalo had taken the shotgun,

because Arevalo knew about the hidden key and had taken defendant‟s shotgun

out of the car on another occasion. In addition, he heard Arevalo shout at the

party: “Fuck you, bitch. You‟re going to get it.” Defendant could not locate

Arevalo at the party and went to Arevalo‟s father‟s house looking for him. On

cross-examination, defendant said that Arevalo arrived at the house shortly after

defendant,3 accompanied by his father, his father‟s girlfriend, and Muro. He said

that Muro was “jittery.” Defendant spent the night at Muro‟s house. He said that

Muro acted nervous, could not sleep, and drank heavily.


3

The prosecutor asked defendant if he had waited for Arevalo about 10

minutes, and defendant answered: “No. It was short.” On redirect examination
by defense counsel four days later, defendant stated he waited an hour to an hour
and a half. In response to the prosecutor‟s later inquiry about this discrepancy,
defendant said that he had “hurried” to answer the prosecutor‟s questions and “left
a lot of things out.”

9

Defendant testified that later the same morning, defendant, Arevalo, and

Muro went out to breakfast. Arevalo‟s mother arrived, and Arevalo left the

restaurant to speak with her. Defendant told Muro that he believed Arevalo had

taken defendant‟s shotgun, and Muro said: “No. Me and Paul did.” Muro also

said he and Escoto “took care of things.” Defendant asked Muro what he meant,

and Muro, who had been a Marine, said that “his training paid off.” Defendant

then said: “I don‟t care what you did. I just want my gun back.”

Defendant testified that he did not report the shotgun theft to law

enforcement officials because he was concerned about the risk to his family. He

lied to Detective Teague about being in Las Vegas, because he did not want to get

involved regarding the events that had taken place at the Halloween party. He said

that his family had to move after he was stabbed, implying that he lied because he

did not want to go through a similar situation again. Defendant said that he was

afraid Arevalo and his friends would hurt defendant and his family.

Defendant testified that he fled when he learned he was a suspect in the

murders. He changed his appearance, used aliases, and stayed in motels. He said

that he lost the wire-rimmed glasses he had worn to the Halloween party.

Defendant admitted that he lied to police during an interview after his arrest.

He testified: “I‟m a liar, a storyteller, but I‟m not no killer.”

Defendant also testified that he never got along with Donna Tucker. He said

that he never spoke with Tucker and that she had lied when she testified about

conversations between herself and defendant after the murders.

Defendant discussed defense exhibit B, which was a pair of eyeglasses. He

said that they resembled, but were not, the pair of eyeglasses that he wore to the

Halloween party. Defendant explained that he asked someone to purchase the

10

exhibit B eyeglasses while he was in jail and then falsely informed his attorney

that they were the glasses he had worn to the party.4 He said he lied about the

eyeglasses because others had lied. Defendant said: “I panicked, felt like I was

being framed, no one was going to believe me, that I lost the glasses, so I had

those purchased.”

Mary Alice Baldwin, defendant‟s sister, testified that defendant was born in

Pasadena. Their mother died in 1982, when defendant was a boy, and Baldwin,

who was 15 years older than defendant, assumed a maternal role in his life.

Baldwin testified that defendant had a learning disability that affected his

comprehension of English and his ability to spell.

Baldwin further testified that defendant told her around Thanksgiving 1994

that “Ray” and “Paul” had committed the murders after taking defendant‟s

shotgun. They had also threatened to kill defendant, and defendant feared they

would kill his family. Baldwin further testified that defendant‟s Honda CRX did

not have louvers on the back window.

The defense also presented expert testimony describing the effect to a human

head when it receives a shotgun wound at close range.

3. Prosecution rebuttal evidence

Mary Alice Baldwin, defendant‟s sister, testified about statements defendant

had made to her, which she had earlier related to detectives. Defendant had told


4

In his opening statement, defense counsel promised to show the jury the

eyeglasses defendant wore at the party, thereby undermining the prosecution‟s
argument that the eyeglasses found at the scene of the murders were defendant‟s
eyeglasses. Later, the prosecution introduced evidence indicating that, long after
the murders, defendant‟s brother and father purchased eyeglasses that resembled
the eyeglasses police had found at the murder scene.

11

her of a time when he was driving home on the Long Beach freeway and “they

were shooting at me.” Defendant had told her that he tried to get away.

Detective Markel testified about a telephone conversation he had with

Baldwin on May 23, 1995, in which she described the statements defendant had

made to her. Baldwin told Markel that she had seen defendant about a month

earlier. At that time, defendant told her about a time when he was going home on

the Long Beach freeway and certain individuals shot at him and it was either “him

or me.”

Detective Teague testified that louvers could be applied to the rear window

of a car, either by drilling holes into the metal of the vehicle or by using double-

sided adhesive. The latter method allowed the louvers to be easily removed, and

the glue also could be removed with a solvent.

B. Penalty Phase

1. Prosecution evidence

Relatives of the victims testified about the effect the murders had on their

lives. The jury heard testimony from Rodriguez‟s mother, two cousins, and his

aunt and uncle, and also from Navarro‟s mother, sister, and brother.

2. Defense evidence

William Wright testified that he and defendant had been friends for about 23

years. He met defendant when defendant was between five and seven years old, at

which time Wright was 17 or 18 years old. As a child, defendant was quiet, very

respectful, and industrious. He was also extremely close to his family. Wright

had never seen defendant bully anyone or known him to be violent. Wright did

not know any of the details of defendant‟s crimes. He offered his opinion that

prosecution witness Donna Tucker was not a credible person. He also testified

that, if defendant were allowed to live, he would be productive in prison.

12

Michael Verdugo, defendant‟s brother, testified that he was 12 to 13 years

older than defendant. He and defendant were close, as was defendant to other

family members. Michael stated that defendant worked for him on construction

sites. Defendant followed directions well and was good with his hands. Michael

also said that defendant avoided criminal street gangs.

Mary Alice Baldwin, defendant‟s sister, testified that she was 23 and

defendant was seven when their mother died. After his mother‟s death, defendant

became quieter and grew closer to Mary Alice. She testified that defendant had

difficulty understanding his school work and, in particular, learning to spell. She

also stated that defendant was always very helpful, loving, and friendly. She did

not believe he was guilty of the murders.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Guilt Phase Issues

1. Denial of Keenan counsel

Defendant, who was represented by retained counsel, contends that the trial

court erred under state law by refusing to appoint Keenan counsel and that the

error violated his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth

Amendments to the federal Constitution, and article I, sections 7 and 15 through

17, of the California Constitution.5 (See Keenan v. Superior Court (1982) 31


5

What we said in People v. Loker (2008) 44 Cal.4th 691, 704, footnote 7

(Loker), is equally applicable here: “[A]s to this, and almost every other appellate
claim, defendant contends the alleged error infringed his constitutional rights. In
those instances where he did not present constitutional theories below, it appears
that either (1) the appellate claim is one that required no objection to preserve it, or
(2) the new arguments are based on factual or legal standards no different from
those the trial court was asked to apply, but raise the additional legal consequence
of violating the Constitution. „To that extent, defendant‟s new constitutional
arguments are not forfeited on appeal.‟ (People v. Boyer (2006) 38 Cal.4th 412,


(footnote continued on next page)

13

Cal.3d 424, 430 (Keenan) [trial court has discretion under statutes governing

appointment of counsel to appoint a second attorney to assist in the defense of a

capital case].) We disagree.

Defendant was represented by retained counsel George Hernandez. Before

trial, he filed a confidential application for Robert Beswick to be appointed as

second counsel under section 987, subdivision (d). The trial court denied the

motion for second counsel, stating (1) that “[t]here is nothing presented to this

Court that would indicate the agreement between defendant and counsel was for

anything less than full representation of the defendant during all proceedings,” and

(2) that Hernandez‟s declaration was “insufficient” in that “[t]here appear to be

neither specific facts nor complexity of issues that require such appointment.”

Section 987, subdivision (d), provides in relevant part: “In a capital case, the

court may appoint an additional attorney as a cocounsel upon a written request of

the first attorney appointed. The request shall be supported by an affidavit of the

first attorney setting forth in detail the reasons why a second attorney should be

appointed.” Even assuming without deciding that section 987, subdivision (d),

authorized the trial court here to appoint second counsel, the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in finding defense counsel Hernandez‟s declaration

insufficient to justify such an appointment.

“ „The initial burden . . . is on the defendant to present a specific factual

showing as to why the appointment of a second attorney is necessary to his

defense against the capital charges.‟ (People v. Lucky (1988) 45 Cal.3d 259, 279.)


(footnote continued from previous page)

441, fn. 17.) No separate constitutional discussion is required, or provided, when
rejection of a claim on the merits necessarily leads to rejection of any
constitutional theory or „gloss‟ raised for the first time here.”

14

An „abstract assertion‟ regarding the burden on defense counsel „cannot be used as

a substitute for a showing of genuine need.‟ (Id. at p. 280; People v. Jackson

(1980) 28 Cal.3d 264, 287 [no abuse of discretion in denying application for

second counsel when counsel merely relied on the circumstances surrounding the

case].)” (People v. Staten (2000) 24 Cal.4th 434, 447 (Staten).) In addition,

“ „[t]he appointment of a second counsel in a capital case is not an absolute right

protected by either the state or the federal Constitution.‟ ” (People v. Lancaster

(2007) 41 Cal.4th 50, 71.) We review the trial court‟s decision denying a request

to appoint second counsel for abuse of discretion. (People v. Roldan (2005) 35

Cal.4th 646, 688 (Roldan).)

Here, in his declaration, Hernandez stated that the “facts and issues involved

in this case are sufficiently complex to necessitate the appointment of second

counsel,” that counsel anticipated “many lengthy pre-trial motions, hearings and

writs,” that investigation of the guilt phase would cover “an extensive period

extending both before and after the date of the crime,” that the penalty issues were

“highly involved and complex” and that investigation into these issues should “be

commenced without delay.” Hernandez also specifically requested the

appointment of Robert Beswick, whose “defense talents compl[e]ment my

skills, . . . his strengths offset my weaknesses, and . . . his perceptions of evidence

and tactics are sufficiently divergent from my own to provide both a broader and

more objective viewpoint from which to make defense decisions and to formulate

trial strategy.”

Counsel‟s declaration did not, however, provide any specific information

justifying appointment of second counsel. Thus, unlike in Keenan, on which

defendant relies, counsel did not state that he needed to interview more than 100

witnesses, that the case involved complicated scientific and psychiatric testimony,

that trial would occur soon after counsel was appointed, or that other criminal

15

cases were pending against defendant and that the prosecution intended to rely on

evidence related to those cases here. (See Keenan, supra, 31 Cal.3d at pp. 432-

434.) Rather, counsel‟s declaration is comparable to those we have found

inadequate in other cases. (See, e.g., Staten, supra, 24 Cal.4th at p. 447 [the

defendant‟s application consisted of “little more than a bare assertion that second

counsel was necessary” and “presented no specific, compelling reasons”].) Nor

does our review of the record substantiate defendant‟s assertion that the case “was

extremely complex.”

Defendant further contends that he was prejudiced by the denial of his

application for appointment of second counsel, because “the instant case was trial

counsel‟s first capital trial” and counsel “lacked the ability to properly object or to

conform his conduct to that expected of capital counsel, as evidenced by the

innumerable reprimands and sanctions imposed by the trial court.” To the extent

defendant is arguing that the inexperience of retained counsel in trying capital

cases is a sufficient reason for appointment of second counsel, this argument was

not presented to the trial court, and hence cannot be raised on appeal. (Roldan,

supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 688, fn. 13.)

2. Alleged failure to disclose Brady and section 1054.1 material

Defendant contends that the prosecution engaged in prejudicial misconduct

by failing to disclose material it was required to provide to the defense under

Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83 (Brady) and section 1054.1. Defendant

asserts a violation of his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth

Amendments to the federal Constitution, article I, sections 7 and 15 through 17, of

the California Constitution, and state statutory rights. We disagree.

“Pursuant to Brady, supra, 373 U.S. 83, the prosecution must disclose

material exculpatory evidence whether the defendant makes a specific request (id.

16

at p. 87), a general request, or none at all.” (In re Brown (1998) 17 Cal.4th 873,

879.) “For Brady purposes, evidence is favorable if it helps the defense or hurts

the prosecution, as by impeaching a prosecution witness. [Citations.] Evidence is

material if there is a reasonable probability its disclosure would have altered the

trial result. [Citation.] Materiality includes consideration of the effect of the

nondisclosure on defense investigations and trial strategies. [Citations.] Because

a constitutional violation occurs only if the suppressed evidence was material by

these standards, a finding that Brady was not satisfied is reversible without need

for further harmless-error review. [Citation.]” (People v. Zambrano (2007) 41

Cal.4th 1082, 1132-1133 (Zambrano); see also Cone v. Bell (2009) 556 U.S. __,

__ [129 S.Ct. 1769, 1782-1783].)

Section 1054.1 (the reciprocal-discovery statute) “independently requires

the prosecution to disclose to the defense, . . . certain categories of evidence „in the

possession of the prosecuting attorney or [known by] the prosecuting attorney . . .

to be in the possession of the investigating agencies.‟ ” (Zambrano, supra, 41

Cal.4th at p. 1133.) Evidence subject to disclosure includes “[s]tatements of all

defendants” (§ 1054.1, subd. (b)), “[a]ll relevant real evidence seized or obtained

as a part of the investigation of the offenses charged” (id., subd. (c)), any

“[r]elevant written or recorded statements of witnesses or reports of the statements

of witnesses whom the prosecutor intends to call at the trial, including any reports

or statements of experts” (id., subd. (f)), and “[a]ny exculpatory evidence” (id.,

subd. (e)). “Absent good cause, such evidence must be disclosed at least 30 days

before trial, or immediately if discovered or obtained within 30 days of trial.

(§ 1054.7.)” (Zambrano, at p. 1133.)

Upon a showing both that the defense complied with the informal discovery

procedures provided by the statute, and that the prosecutor has not complied with

section 1054.1, a trial court “may make any order necessary to enforce the

17

provisions” of the statute, “including, but not limited to, immediate disclosure, . . .

continuance of the matter, or any other lawful order.” (§ 1054.5, subd. (b).) The

court may also “advise the jury of any failure or refusal to disclose and of any

untimely disclosure.” (Ibid.) A violation of section 1054.1 is subject to the

harmless-error standard set forth in People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836.

(Zambrano, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 1135, fn. 13.)

a. Prosecutor’s notes regarding Raymond Muro interview

(1) Factual background

Raymond Muro testified that after the Halloween party, he went home with

Arevalo, Arevalo‟s father, and Arevalo‟s father‟s girlfriend. As they pulled into a

carport by Muro‟s house, Muro saw defendant. Arevalo and defendant had a

conversation. Without objection, Muro testified that defendant told Arevalo that

“the situation had been handled” and that Arevalo and defendant embraced.

After a recess, defense counsel informed the court that he had spoken to the

prosecutor about Muro‟s testimony, asking if defendant‟s statement “the situation

had been handled” was in a written report. The prosecutor told the court that his

interview with Muro had taken place a few months earlier and that he had told

defense counsel about the statement at that time, either in court or in a telephone

conversation. The prosecutor said, “I told him that the only thing different that I

recall from the interview was this new statement.” The prosecutor added that “the

only notes taken of the interview were notes that I took myself that I have

combined with questions that I have been asking the witness in court.” The trial

court ordered the prosecutor to give defense counsel a copy of these notes, after

redacting any attorney work product. The prosecutor agreed to do so.

Defense counsel suggested that the court had a “couple of remedies” for the

discovery violation, one of which was to strike the statement. The court said it did

18

not see any harm to defendant from failure to disclose the notes, because the

prosecutor had told defense counsel the substance of the statement. Defense

counsel said: “[H]e may have, your honor. . . . I don‟t know if he has anything in

his notes where he told me that.” The court found no discovery violation, but the

court offered to recess until the following afternoon, so that defense counsel would

have additional time to prepare for cross-examination. Trial counsel responded,

“Short of the court striking the testimony, I would appreciate that very much, your

honor.”

(2) Analysis

We first conclude that there was no Brady violation. As defendant

acknowledges, the statement by defendant that “the situation had been handled”

was “exceedingly damaging” to his case. Hence, it was not favorable to the

defense and did not fall within the scope of Brady, supra, 373 U.S. at page 87. In

addition, Muro testified to the statement. “[E]vidence that is presented at trial is

not considered suppressed, regardless of whether or not it had previously been

disclosed during discovery.” (People v. Morrison (2004) 34 Cal.4th 698, 715

(Morrison).)

Nor does defendant demonstrate prejudice from the prosecutor‟s violation of

section 1054.1. (See Thompson v. Superior Court (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 480,

485-486, 488 [written notes of an interview with an intended trial witness, other

than attorney work product, are discoverable as “statements” within the meaning

of §§ 1054.1, subd. (f), 1054.3, subd. (a)]; § 1054.7.) The trial court found that the

prosecutor told defense counsel about the substance of the statement at the time

that it was made. In addition, the trial court stopped the prosecutor‟s direct

examination of Muro and granted a continuance in the proceedings, thus giving

defense counsel additional time to prepare for cross-examination. This

19

continuance appears to have been more than adequate to remedy the violation of

the discovery statute, and defendant does not attempt to demonstrate otherwise.

Defendant asserts that the “only appropriate sanction would have been to

strike the statement,” because “[b]y allowing the statement to remain, the trial

court perpetuated the great prejudice caused by the statement.” Without

elaboration, defendant also asserts that he “could not properly or effectively

prepare for cross-examination of witnesses,” that “his ability to impeach the

witness[] was adversely impacted,” and that “[t]imely disclosure of the

information would have enabled counsel to adjust his theory of the case to fit the

facts.” Such generalized statements are insufficient to demonstrate prejudice.

Defendant does not explain what counsel would have done differently if the notes

had been disclosed sooner.

b. Prosecutor’s notes regarding John Hernandez interview

(1) Factual background

John Hernandez testified that defendant visited his house in November or

December of 1994. After defendant left, Hernandez was stopped on the street by

the police and questioned. Hernandez also testified that, when he was interviewed

by the prosecutor, the prosecutor took notes. At a sidebar conference, the

prosecutor denied taking notes of the interview.

The morning after Hernandez‟s testimony, the prosecutor told defense

counsel that he had in fact taken notes of the Hernandez interview. The notes

referred to Hernandez‟s arrests for felony driving while under the influence and

assault on a police officer, his employer‟s telephone number, and a comment by

Hernandez that licensed professionals are liars. Hernandez had also told the

prosecutor that he had been not only arrested for driving under the influence, but

20

also convicted of that offense, but the prosecutor was not certain this additional

information was in the notes.

Defendant moved for a mistrial based on the prosecution‟s previous

representation that he had not taken notes of this interview. The court implicitly

denied the motion, stating that the proper sanction was to allow defendant to call

Hernandez back to testify further. Hernandez was not recalled.

(2) Analysis

First, we find no Brady violation. There was no reasonable probability that

disclosure of the information in the notes “would have altered the trial result”

(Zambrano, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 1132), and therefore the notes were not

“material” for purposes of Brady disclosure. The testimony that defendant was at

Hernandez‟s house was apparently introduced by the prosecution to demonstrate

that defendant had fled. Even assuming Hernandez could have been impeached

with the information in the notes, there was overwhelming evidence, including

defendant‟s own statements, that he fled. Moreover, the information was

disclosed at trial, and hence was not suppressed for Brady purposes. (Morrison,

supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 715.)

Second, we reject defendant‟s assertion that the proper sanction for the

statutory discovery violation was a declaration of mistrial. Defendant fails to

demonstrate why the opportunity to re-call Hernandez for further cross-

examination did not cure any harm.

c. Donna Tucker’s oral statement that she was threatened

At a sidebar conference during the trial, the prosecutor represented that

Detective Teague would testify that the Verdugo family had threatened Donna

Tucker‟s life. Defendant objected that Tucker‟s oral statement to Teague should

have been disclosed to the defense. The trial court ruled that oral statements not

21

made by a defendant did not need to be disclosed. On hearsay grounds, the court

barred Detective Teague from testifying about Tucker‟s statement, but the court

permitted Tucker to testify about any threats made against her. Nearly a week

later, Tucker testified that Salvador Verdugo, defendant‟s father, had threatened

her, urging her to “keep quiet.”

To the extent defendant contends that failure to disclose Tucker‟s oral

statement to Detective Teague violated Brady, it is not clear such evidence was

favorable to the defense. The fact that defendant‟s family threatened Tucker

hardly proves defendant‟s innocence. Defendant argues that the evidence went to

Tucker‟s credibility, which is true, but it tended to show that Tucker might have a

reason to minimize defendant‟s culpability, not a reason to exaggerate his

culpability. It is hard to see how the defense could have used this evidence to its

advantage. In any event, the statement was disclosed at trial, and hence was not

suppressed for Brady purposes. (Morrison, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 715.)

We need not decide whether oral statements that are neither made by a

defendant nor exculpatory must be disclosed under section 1054.1, subdivision (f),

because, even assuming a discovery violation, defendant fails to demonstrate

prejudice. Tucker did not testify concerning any threat against her until nearly a

week later. Therefore, defense counsel had ample time to prepare a cross-

examination of Tucker on this point. Defendant does not state specifically what

counsel would have done differently if Tucker‟s oral statement had been disclosed

sooner.

d. Prosecutor’s notes regarding Donna Tucker’s statements

Firefighter Donald Jones testified that he saw the killer run to a car that had

louvers on the rear window. When defendant‟s Honda CRX was recovered by

police in April 1995, it did not have louvers. Donna Tucker testified that

22

defendant had past experience doing minor bodywork on cars and that before the

double homicide his Honda CRX had louvers on the rear window.

At a sidebar conference, defense counsel stated that the prosecution had not

met its disclosure obligations with respect to Tucker‟s statements. That morning,

the prosecutor had given defense counsel notes of an interview conducted with

Tucker about a week earlier. The notes included the phrase “louvers on

windows.” The trial court found the discovery violation “trivial,” although

“unprofessional.” It denied defendant‟s motion for a mistrial, but invited defense

counsel to file a motion for a continuance. It further observed that it would allow

Tucker to be recalled for further cross-examination regarding the louvers if

defendant‟s investigation uncovered additional evidence.

Defendant concedes the evidence was not favorable to the defense.

Therefore, he cannot establish a Brady violation. There was, however, a violation

of the reciprocal-discovery statute, under which the prosecutor was required to

immediately disclose his notes regarding Tucker‟s statement. (§§ 1054.1, subd.

(f), 1054.7.) Nevertheless, no prejudice is apparent. The trial court permitted

defendant to move for a continuance and, if necessary, to recall Tucker for further

cross-examination. Defendant does not explain why these remedies were

inadequate.

e. Disclosure of Donna Tucker’s relocation

After trial, the prosecutor disclosed that his office had assisted Donna Tucker

in relocating to a new home, including paying some of Tucker‟s rent. In a new

23

trial motion, defendant unsuccessfully argued that the prosecutor‟s posttrial

disclosure of this assistance violated Brady.6 He renews that contention here.

In January 1996, before trial began, Kevin McCormick, the former

prosecutor on the case, sought and received an ex parte order for relocation

expenses for Donna Tucker not to exceed $1,318.7 In a declaration in support of

the motion, McCormick stated that “Abe Verdugo, the defendant[‟s] uncle told

Ms. [Tucker], prior to the defendant being arrested, that he knew someone was

„snitching‟ and he would take care of it when he found out who it was.” The

declaration also stated that Abe Verdugo began carrying a handgun shortly after

defendant was profiled on a television program for wanted criminals. Tucker

testified at the preliminary hearing, which was attended by Abe Verdugo and other

members of the Verdugo family. McCormick‟s declaration further stated:

“[D]efendant maintains [an] alliance with a local criminal street gang.

Ms. [Tucker] is fearful of the associates of the defendant who know not only her,

but also her family and friends.” The declaration continued: “Donna [Tucker] has

sought to move out of town under an assumed name but has had difficulty due to

financial restraints, local job responsibilities and the reluctance of apartment

managers to permit relocation under a name other than her own. Ms. [Tucker]

remains fearful of being seriously injured by associates of the defendant or his

relatives as a result of coming forward with critical information in this case.” At


6

The deputy district attorney who tried the case, Michael Duarte, was

personally unaware of the relocation assistance until after the trial.
7

McCormick‟s declaration in support of the ex parte motion stated: “This

amount will cover first and last months[‟] rent ($1,098) plus security deposit
($0.00), activation of phone ($46.00), activation of water and power ($0.00) and
activation of gas ($25.00). This amount additionally would cover the reasonable
cost of relocating to a new residence ($149.00).”

24

the hearing on defendant‟s new trial motion, McCormick confirmed that Tucker

had told him she was fearful that defendant would have her killed if she did not

move to a new location.

No Brady error is apparent. Defendant contends the information was

favorable to the defense to the extent it could have been used to undermine

Tucker‟s credibility (by demonstrating the benefits she was receiving for her

cooperation with the prosecution). Whether the information, as a whole, was

favorable to defendant is far from clear. But even assuming some of the

information (such as the financial assistance Tucker received), in isolation, could

be considered favorable to defendant, there is no “reasonable probability its

disclosure would have altered the trial result.” (Zambrano, supra, 41 Cal.4th at

p. 1132.) If the defense had attempted to present this evidence at trial in an effort

to undermine Tucker‟s credibility, the prosecution would have been entitled to

present evidence explaining the reasons for Tucker‟s relocation, which were that a

member of the Verdugo family had threatened her, that she was fearful that

defendant would have her killed unless she moved, and that defendant had ties to a

criminal street gang. This rebuttal evidence would have effectively countered the

defense assertion that Tucker was benefiting from her cooperation with the

prosecution. In fact, Tucker‟s willingness to testify against defendant despite

justifiable concerns about her safety arguably would have enhanced her

credibility.

For the same reason, defendant fails to demonstrate prejudice from violation

of the reciprocal-discovery statute.

25

f. Disclosure of Detective Teague’s oral statement as to the

direction the shooter was facing

(1) Factual background

On cross-examination of Detective Teague at trial, defense counsel asked

what direction the assailant was facing when he shot Navarro. Teague replied, “I

believe that the shooter was standing near the curb facing the fire station.”

Counsel then asked if Teague had ever written a report that included that opinion.

Teague replied, “I don‟t believe I ever used those exact terms, no, sir.”

Nevertheless, Teague believed that he had orally informed the district attorney of

his opinion in December 1994.

Later, outside the presence of the jury, defense counsel asserted that before

Teague‟s testimony, “everything that we had before us” indicated “that the shooter

was facing away from” the firefighters. He further asserted that the prosecutor‟s

failure to disclose Teague‟s oral statement violated section 1054.1, and he sought a

mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct. The trial court found no discovery

violation, but said that, “assuming there is some violation here,” he would allow

the defense to recall Teague for further cross-examination on the issue. The court

also observed that the defense would have three to four days, including a weekend,

to consult with an expert before the prosecution completed its case-in-chief. The

court said: “[I]f there is really a problem here, . . . then I‟ll let you revisit it.”

(2) Analysis

We find no Brady violation. Defendant does not explain how Teague‟s

opinion about the direction the shooter was facing was favorable to the defense.

(Zambrano, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 1132.) Moreover, Teague‟s opinion was

disclosed at trial, and hence was not suppressed for Brady purposes. (Morrison,

supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 715.) Nor was there prejudice from any reciprocal-

discovery statute violation. Defendant does not explain why the trial court‟s

26

remedy of allowing the defense to recall Teague for further cross-examination was

inadequate.

g. Disclosure of notes recording the measurement of Paul Escoto’s

car

(1) Factual background

The defense contended that Paul Escoto, who had a car similar in certain

respects to defendant‟s car, could have been the shooter.

On June 6, 1997, Detective Teague testified that he believed marks on the

street at the murder scene were acceleration marks created by a front-wheel-drive

vehicle. Defendant‟s Honda CRX was a front-wheel-drive vehicle, but Teague

could not recall if he had ever examined Escoto‟s car to determine whether it also

was a front-wheel-drive vehicle.

On June 10, 1997, Detective Markel testified that the acceleration marks on

the street at the murder scene measured four feet nine inches apart, matching the

wheelbase of the front wheels on defendant‟s car. Detective Teague testified that

on June 7 he examined Escoto‟s car and determined that it was a rear-wheel-drive

vehicle with a wheelbase of four feet six inches. At a sidebar conference, the

defense argued that the prosecution had failed to disclose Teague‟s notes

recording the measurements of Escoto‟s car. The prosecutor said that he had

received Teague‟s notes that morning and had left a copy of the notes on defense

counsel‟s table in the courtroom “right when we walked in.” Defense counsel was

unaware the notes were there.

The court stated that it did not know how the prosecutor could have produced

the notes to the defense any sooner than he had, but the court further stated that

defendant would be permitted to defer cross-examination of Teague on this issue.

Defendant moved for a mistrial, which the trial court denied.

27

(2) Analysis

No Brady error occurred, because Teague‟s measurements of Escoto‟s car

were not favorable to the defense and were disclosed at trial. (Zambrano, supra,

41 Cal.4th at p. 1132; Morrison, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 715.)

Nor was there any violation of the reciprocal-discovery statute. The

prosecutor produced the notes to the defense the same morning that he received

them, which satisfies the statutory requirement of immediate disclosure of

materials that become known during trial. (§ 1054.7; see People v. DePriest

(2007) 42 Cal.4th 1, 37-38 [disclosure of evidence the morning after its discovery

was timely under § 1054.7].) Although defendant claims he was “taken by

surprise and . . . unable to effectively counter this new evidence,” the prosecution

had no duty to obtain the evidence sooner than it did. (Cf. In re Littlefield (1993)

5 Cal.4th 122, 135.)

h. Disclosure of Detective Walton’s opinion

(1) Factual background

On May 30, 1997, Los Angeles Police Detective Charles Walton (who had

been involved in the investigation of defendant‟s case) was sitting on a bench in

the hallway outside the courtroom. He was greeted by defense attorney George

Hernandez, with whom he was acquainted. Hernandez asked Walton about paint

transfer on the victim‟s car and said: “[I]t looks white so it would seem that it

came from a white car.” Walton replied that counsel‟s assessment “was possible,

but that it could have come from any color car or it could have just been the wax

or lacquer transfer from the outer coating, protective coating, of a vehicle or any

number of colors which may have changed color due to heat and friction of the

vehicles rubbing together during the traffic collision.”

On June 2, 1997, the court held a hearing outside the presence of the jury to

determine whether any discovery violation had occurred in connection with

28

Walton‟s opinion about paint transfer. Detective Walton testified to the

circumstances of his May 30 encounter with defense counsel recounted above.

Walton also testified that as part of the investigation of the case, he had examined

and made certain measurements of Rodriguez‟s burgundy Honda Civic and

defendant‟s Honda CRX. He noticed a “whitish color” mark on Rodriguez‟s Civic

and mentioned it to Detective Markel. Markel said: “Don‟t worry about any paint

transfer. We‟re not interested in that [because] the other car [was] painted after

the . . . alleged accident.” Walton testified that he wrote a report summarizing his

findings, but the report did not include any conclusions regarding the white mark.

Walton also testified that he was “not a paint expert.” He agreed with defense

counsel that the white mark he saw could have been a paint transfer, but he also

agreed with the court that he was not sure. The trial court found no discovery

violation, because Walton was not qualified to be a paint expert.

(2) Analysis

Defendant contends that if Detective Walton‟s opinion regarding the white

mark on Rodriguez‟s Civic had been disclosed in a timely manner, defendant

might have been able to locate an expert who would have testified that the mark

was white paint from a white car. This testimony would have undermined the

prosecution‟s assertion that there was a collision between defendant‟s car and the

victim‟s car shortly before the murders. We disagree.

Before Walton‟s discussion with defense counsel, the only statement Walton

made about the white mark (orally or in writing) was his comment to Detective

Markel that the mark existed. Defense counsel knew, however, long before his

hallway conversation with Walton that the mark existed. In his opening statement,

defense counsel mentioned the mark and argued that this mark was evidence that

defendant‟s car, which was black at the time of the murder, was not at the murder

29

scene. Nothing prevented defense counsel from retaining an expert to support this

argument.

Walton‟s later statement to defense counsel that the white mark might have

come from a car of any color did not prevent defense counsel from continuing to

argue the opposite. Walton was neither an expert regarding paint transfer, nor did

he testify before the jury regarding the source of the mark. And, in any case, the

prosecution cannot be faulted for failing to disclose Walton‟s nonexpert opinion

about the white mark, because there is no evidence that the prosecution knew

Walton‟s opinion. “ „Although the prosecution may not withhold favorable and

material evidence from the defense, neither does it have the duty to conduct the

defendant‟s investigation for him.‟ ” (Zambrano, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 1134.)

Accordingly, we conclude there was no Brady or reciprocal-discovery statute

violation.

i. Disclosure of expert opinion regarding alleged collision between

defendant’s and victim’s vehicles

In addition to testifying outside the presence of the jury, Detective Walton

also testified before the jury as an expert on accident reconstruction. He stated

that he had inspected both defendant‟s Honda CRX and Rodriguez‟s Honda Civic.

As relevant here, he concluded that body work had been performed on the CRX.

Defendant moved for a mistrial, contending that the prosecutor failed to

disclose Walton‟s opinion, and therefore his testimony caught the defense by

surprise. On the night before Walton‟s testimony the prosecutor discussed certain

photographs of defendant‟s car — which had years earlier been provided to the

defense — with Walton, and the next morning the prosecutor did not disclose

Walton‟s opinion regarding the photographs to the defense. On that limited basis,

the trial court found a discovery violation, but it implicitly denied defendant‟s

30

mistrial motion. Instead, it offered to allow the defense to defer cross-examination

of Walton so that the defense could consult an expert.

Defendant states that “Walton‟s opinions bolstered the prosecution‟s claim

that [defendant‟s] CRX was probably the vehicle with which the victim‟s red car

collided.” (Italics added.) Because defendant concedes that Walton‟s opinion was

not favorable to the defense, there was no violation of Brady. (Zambrano, supra,

41 Cal.4th at p. 1132.) In addition, the evidence was disclosed at trial, and hence

was not suppressed for Brady purposes. (Morrison, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 715.)

With regard to the reciprocal-discovery statute, the violation did not

prejudice defendant. Defendant makes no attempt to demonstrate, as he must,

why the trial court‟s remedy of deferring cross-examination of Walton was

inadequate.

j. Cumulative prejudice

Defendant contends that even if a single failure to disclose evidence does not

warrant reversal, the “cumulative prejudice resulting from the prosecution‟s

consistent course of withholding material evidence certainly does.” We have

concluded that the individual discovery violations were harmless or that any harm

could have been fully cured by the remedy the trial court offered. We are troubled

by the number of statutory discovery violations that occurred here, but because the

harm in each case was nonexistent or could have been fully avoided, we see no

possibility of cumulative prejudice.

3. Evidentiary issues

a. Exclusion of evidence regarding allegations that detectives had

fabricated evidence in a different case

Defendant contends that the trial court prejudicially erred by excluding

evidence that detectives involved in his case had been accused of fabricating

evidence in a different case. These detectives were exonerated, but defendant

31

asserts that this evidence would have established the motivation for his own

fabrication of evidence. Defendant claims violation of his rights under the Fifth,

Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution, and article

I, sections 7, 15 through 17, and 28, of the California Constitution. We disagree.

About nine months before trial, the prosecutor informed the trial court and

defense counsel that, in a different case, Detectives Teague and Markel had been

exonerated of charges that they had fabricated evidence. At trial in this case,

defense counsel sought permission to present evidence regarding the investigation

of Detectives Teague and Markel. Counsel asserted that this evidence would

substantiate defendant‟s explanation for why he had arranged from jail to have a

pair of eyeglasses purchased that matched the eyeglasses he wore to the

Halloween party. Defendant claimed that he did so because he believed

Detectives Teague and Markel were falsely accusing him, and he wanted to refute

their false accusations with false evidence of his own. Defense counsel implied

that such a motivation would negate any argument that defendant arranged the

purchase of the eyeglasses because of a consciousness of guilt.

The trial court pointed out that, as of that time, the evidence related to the

purchase of the eyeglasses demonstrated only that defendant‟s brother and father

had fabricated evidence; no evidence tied defendant to their activity. The court

said it would instruct the jury that the evidence regarding the purchase of the

eyeglasses could not be considered against defendant and could only be used for

purposes of considering the credibility of Salvador and Paul Verdugo. The court

excluded the evidence regarding the investigation of Detectives Teague and

Markel, finding the probative value of that evidence substantially outweighed by

the consumption of time and the distraction of exploring a collateral issue. (Evid.

Code, § 352.)

32

No abuse of discretion appears. (People v. Farley (2009) 46 Cal.4th 1053,

1129 (Farley).) Even assuming that the evidence of the allegations against

Detectives Teague and Markel was relevant, the trial court reasonably excluded it

under Evidence Code section 352. This is especially so considering that the

detectives had been exonerated of fabricating evidence by the time defendant‟s

trial began and the prosecution would then have been entitled to bring that point to

the attention of the jury. The result would have been a lengthy evidentiary detour

into a matter that was only marginally relevant and might well have confused the

jury.

Defendant later testified that he lied to his attorney about the eyeglasses his

brother and father had obtained (claiming they were the same eyeglasses he had

worn to the Halloween party) to counter the lies of Donna Tucker and Detective

Teague. Defendant said: “I panicked, felt like I was being framed, no one was

going to believe me, that I lost the glasses, so I had those purchased.” Thus, the

jury heard defendant‟s explanation for why he arranged for the purchase of the

glasses; the additional evidence that Detectives Teague and Markel had been

accused of, and exonerated of, fabricating evidence in an unrelated case would

have done little to substantiate this explanation.

b. Exclusion of evidence of Donna Tucker’s need for psychiatric

care

Defendant contends the trial court erred when it precluded defendant from

presenting evidence that Donna Tucker had received psychiatric care. We

disagree.

(1) Factual background

As noted, Donna Tucker, who was married to defendant‟s brother Michael

Verdugo, testified for the prosecution. Between the time of the murders and the

time of trial, Tucker and Michael divorced. The defense case included an effort to

33

discredit Tucker. On direct examination, defendant‟s sister, Mary Alice Baldwin,

testified that she had known Tucker since 1973. Defense counsel asked, “Did you

ever think that Donna was not mentally stable?” The trial court sustained the

prosecutor‟s relevance objection. Defense counsel then inquired, “Well, from

your observations, did you ever see anything about her that you thought was

unusual?” The trial court again sustained the prosecutor‟s relevance objection.

At a sidebar conference, defense counsel asserted that Tucker had been

admitted to a psychiatric hospital approximately three months earlier. Counsel

said he had learned this information the night before from Michael Verdugo, who

said he was “paying the psychiatric bills and hospital bills as part of the divorce

settlement.” The prosecutor told the court that he had no knowledge regarding

these assertions.

The trial court observed that receipt of psychiatric care “does not necessarily

reflect on” credibility and that counseling is common for individuals who are

going through a divorce. Defense counsel sought permission to question Baldwin

as to whether Tucker had had any previous episodes of unusual laughing and

crying, noting that Tucker had laughed and cried during her testimony. The court

found the evidence would require a collateral inquiry into the circumstances under

which Tucker had previously laughed and cried. It also found the evidence

irrelevant, because Baldwin was not an expert on mental health and not qualified

to give an opinion as to whether the laughing and crying was an expression of

normal emotion or a sign of mental illness. The court noted that Tucker‟s hospital

bills “could be some kind of out-patient counseling for the stress of the divorce”

and concluded: “[A]s you present it to me right now, it‟s too vague and general.

You‟re going to have to get specific with a witness that‟s qualified. That‟s all I‟m

telling you.”

34

(2) Analysis

“[T]he mental illness or emotional instability of a witness can be relevant

on the issue of credibility . . . if such illness affects the witness‟s ability to

perceive, recall or describe the events in question.” (People v. Gurule (2002) 28

Cal.4th 557, 591-592.) Here, however, there was no evidence Baldwin was

familiar with any hospitalization or other treatment.

The trial court also acted within its discretion in precluding testimony with

regard to whether Tucker had had previous episodes of unusual laughing and

crying. This testimony would have required significant collateral inquiry into the

circumstances that gave rise in each case to the emotional reaction being

described. (Evid. Code, § 352; see Farley, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 1129.)

Defendant further contends that he should have been allowed to recall

Tucker as a witness. Although defense counsel made a fleeting reference to

bringing Tucker back for further cross-examination, the thrust of the sidebar

conference was whether defendant could ask Baldwin questions about Tucker‟s

mental state. Defense counsel did not recall Tucker, and he points to no place in

the record where he requested to do so and was refused permission.8 The trial

court did not abuse its discretion.

4. Alleged instructional error

a. Failure to instruct on voluntary manslaughter as to Richard

Rodriguez

There was evidence that the Halloween attack on Michael Arevalo by a

female party guest provoked defendant, and that when defendant killed Yolanda

Navarro, he erroneously believed he was killing Arevalo‟s attacker. There was no

8

At the posttrial hearing on defendant‟s motion for a new trial, the trial court

prohibited the defense from questioning Tucker about her psychiatric problems,
because defendant had not raised the issue in his motion.

35

evidence, however, that a male party guest was involved in the attack on Arevalo.

Therefore, with regard to Yolanda Navarro, the trial court instructed the jury on

voluntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense to murder, but the court gave

no similar instruction with regard to Richard Rodriguez. Defendant claims

violation of his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments

to the federal Constitution, and article I, sections 7 and 15 through 17, of the

California Constitution. We find no error.

“ „ “The trial court is obligated to instruct the jury on all general principles of

law relevant to the issues raised by the evidence, whether or not the defendant

makes a formal request.” ‟ [Citation.] „Conversely, even on request, the court

“has no duty to instruct on any lesser offense unless there is substantial evidence

to support such instruction.” ‟ [Citation.] This substantial evidence requirement is

not satisfied by „ “any evidence . . . no matter how weak,” ‟ but rather by evidence

from which a jury composed of reasonable persons could conclude „that the lesser

offense, but not the greater, was committed.‟ [Citation.] „On appeal, we review

independently the question whether the trial court failed to instruct on a lesser

included offense.‟ [Citation.]” (People v. Avila (2009) 46 Cal.4th 680, 704-705

(Avila).)

“ „Manslaughter, an unlawful killing without malice, is a lesser included

offense of murder.‟ [Citations.] „Although section 192, subdivision (a), refers to

“sudden quarrel or heat of passion,” the factor which distinguishes the “heat of

passion” form of voluntary manslaughter from murder is provocation.‟

[Citations.] „The provocation which incites the defendant to homicidal conduct in

the heat of passion must be caused by the victim [citation], or be conduct

reasonably believed by the defendant to have been engaged in by the victim.‟

[Citation.] „[T]he victim must taunt the defendant or otherwise initiate the

provocation.‟ [Citations.] The „ “heat of passion must be such a passion as would

36

naturally be aroused in the mind of an ordinarily reasonable person under the

given facts and circumstances . . . .” ‟ [Citation.]” (Avila, supra, 46 Cal.4th at

p. 705.)

Here, the jury was instructed on first and second degree murder for both

victims, and voluntary manslaughter as to Yolanda Navarro. Defendant requested

voluntary manslaughter instructions as to Richard Rodriguez, but the trial court

refused, stating: “I can‟t figure out any way [defendant] could have mistakenly

believed that the male victim was responsible for [the assault on Arevalo].” The

court continued: “I‟ve pointed out pretty slim evidence even on the female. . . .

But there is . . . absolutely nothing to lead me to see any kind of substantial

evidence supporting a mistaken belief about the male.”

On appeal, defendant contends that the alleged collision between his car and

the victim‟s car provides a sufficient basis for the voluntary manslaughter

instruction. Defendant asserts that Rodriguez may have run into defendant, and

“the jury readily could have found that the accident by itself, or coupled with

[defendant‟s] anger over the injury to Arevalo, constituted sufficient provocation

to reduce murder to voluntary manslaughter.” We disagree.

Although there is some evidence that there was a collision, there is no

evidence that Rodriguez was responsible for the collision or that defendant killed

Rodriguez in a heat of passion due to the collision. (See People v.

Holloway (2004) 33 Cal.4th 96, 140 [no evidence of consensual sexual encounter

on which claim of provocation was predicated]; cf. People v. Barton (1995) 12

Cal.4th 186, 191, 202 [victim nearly collided with, and spat on, the defendant‟s

daughter‟s car during traffic incident; an argument ensued between the defendant

and the victim; voluntary manslaughter instruction was appropriate].)

For the first time in his reply brief in this court, and relying on dictum in a

Court of Appeal case, defendant summarily asserts that the assistance Rodriguez

37

was giving to Navarro (whom defendant may have believed to be Arevalo‟s

female attacker) supported a voluntary manslaughter instruction. (See People v.

Spurlin (1984) 156 Cal.App.3d 119, 126 [voluntary manslaughter instruction may

be appropriate when “ „deceased was present aiding and abetting the person

causing the provocation‟ ”].) We have rejected this view: “ „The provocation

which incites the defendant to homicidal conduct in the heat of passion must be

caused by the victim [citation], or be conduct reasonably believed by the

defendant to have been engaged in by the victim.‟ [Citation.]” (Avila, supra, 46

Cal.4th at p. 705.) Defendant cites no persuasive basis for us to revisit this settled

principle.

We further reject defendant‟s contention that refusing the voluntary

manslaughter instruction as to Rodriguez violated defendant‟s due process rights

by requiring the jury to choose between capital murder and a complete acquittal.

(See Beck v. Alabama (1980) 447 U.S. 625, 637.) Beck was not violated because

no evidence warranted a voluntary manslaughter instruction. (See Hopper v.

Evans (1982) 456 U.S. 605, 611.) Moreover, the jury was instructed on the lesser

included offense of second degree murder, which satisfied the due process

requirement that an intermediate choice be given to the jury when supported by

the evidence. (See Schad v. Arizona (1991) 501 U.S. 624, 646-648.)

b. Failure to instruct on voluntary intoxication

Defendant contends the trial court erred in failing to instruct sua sponte on

the effect of voluntary intoxication on his ability to form the mental state

necessary for murder. Defendant claims that this error violated his rights under

the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution,

and article I, sections 7 and 15 through 17, of the California Constitution. We

disagree.

38

It is well settled that “[a]n instruction on the significance of voluntary

intoxication is a „pinpoint‟ instruction that the trial court is not required to give

unless requested by the defendant.” (People v. Rundle (2008) 43 Cal.4th 76, 145,

citing People v. Saille (1991) 54 Cal.3d 1103, 1120.) Defendant cites no

persuasive reason to revisit this conclusion.

Moreover, even if defendant had requested a voluntary intoxication

instruction, the trial court would properly have refused it because “[a] defendant is

entitled to such an instruction only when there is substantial evidence of the

defendant‟s voluntary intoxication and the intoxication affected the defendant‟s

„actual formation of specific intent.‟ ” (People v. Williams (1997) 16 Cal.4th 635,

677, quoting People v. Horton (1995) 11 Cal.4th 1068, 1119.) Indeed, such an

instruction would have been inconsistent with the defense of mistaken identity and

with defense counsel‟s statement during closing argument: “[W]hat makes you

think he‟s going to shoot this guy and this girl when he‟s not drunk, when they

haven‟t even done anything to him?”

c. Circumstantial evidence instructions

Defendant contends that the trial court‟s use of CALJIC No. 2.01 (which

addresses the use of circumstantial evidence to support a finding of guilt) and

CALJIC No. 8.83 (which addresses the use of circumstantial evidence to support a

special circumstance finding) undermined the requirement of proof beyond a

reasonable doubt, thus violating his federal and state constitutional rights to due

process of law, to a jury trial, and to a reliable determination of guilt and penalty.

He claims the instructions “operated as an impermissible mandatory, conclusive

presumption of guilt.” We have repeatedly rejected these arguments, and

defendant advances no persuasive reason to revisit our conclusion. (See, e.g.,

Zambrano, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 1159.)

39

B. Penalty Phase Issues

1. Victim impact evidence

Defendant contends the trial court failed to limit the prosecution‟s victim

impact evidence, in violation of his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and

Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution, and article I, sections 7 and

15 through 17, of the California Constitution. We disagree.

a. Factual background

Richard Rodriguez‟s mother, two cousins, aunt, and uncle, and Yolanda

Navarro‟s mother, sister, and brother described the effect of the murders on their

lives. At the time of their deaths, both victims were 18 years old and recent high

school graduates. Their funerals were well attended. At Yolanda‟s9 burial, her

brother Jonathan released two doves, which he testified represented Yolanda‟s and

Richard‟s “spirits going to heaven.” The high school that Yolanda and Richard

attended built a memorial to them on campus that included two trees surrounded

by flowers and a plaque bearing their names. In addition, a memorial service was

held in that location.

Richard grew up without a father, but he was close to his uncle Robert and

Robert‟s son. Richard was a straight “A” student in high school and played

football. At the time of his death, Richard was attending California State

University at Los Angeles on a scholarship, and he wanted to become an engineer.

Due to Richard‟s influence, his younger cousin Cynthia was successful in school

and hoped to go to a major university. At Richard‟s funeral, Richard‟s three-year-


9

Because the victims and many of the witnesses at the penalty phase have

the same surname, we will refer to the victims and witnesses by their first names
in this portion of the opinion.

40

old godson Nicholas pushed aside the roses from Richard‟s coffin so he could kiss

it.

Yolanda was a responsible, nurturing, and popular person. She was

interested in working as a nurse or with children. She had worked with children at

a preschool and was scheduled to start work in a hospital on the Monday after her

murder. Her brother Jonathan recalled: “[M]y mom had to clean out [Yolanda‟s]

closet, and she had already bought her uniforms for work, and I . . . remember my

mom sitting in Yolie‟s closet crying, holding onto the uniforms.”

Yolanda was a best friend to her older sister Ernestine (Tina), and the two

sisters were inseparable. They were born on the same day five years apart, and

celebrated their birthday together each year. Tina described the events that

occurred on the morning of October 23, when the family searched for Yolanda and

ultimately learned of her death. She told of the pain she experienced when

breaking the news to her mother and making funeral arrangements. Tina also

described visiting the crime scene with her father and seeing human remains in the

grass.

Yolanda‟s brother, Jonathan, testified that he had been very close to Yolanda.

Jonathan briefly described being outside on the morning of October 23, hearing

shots, seeing the bodies of a “boy” and a “girl,” and thinking, “Wow, they blew

her brains out.” He also described his feelings upon learning that the victim was

his sister Yolanda: “[W]hy my sister[?] She never hurt anybody in her life.” He

added: “[S]omeone that I held in my heart and . . . held her hand as a baby,

teaching her how to walk, to see her lying on the street like that.” Jonathan at

times wished he had arrived on the scene sooner and “maybe stopped something,

or maybe they could have killed me instead.”

Yolanda was very close to her father. On the day of the Halloween party,

Yolanda finished recording an approximately 40-minute cassette tape with

41

Mexican songs sung in Spanish. The tape was for her father, and she gave it to

him before leaving for the party. Some of the songs were played for the jury.

Yolanda‟s father died seven months after the murder.

Yolanda‟s mother, Armida, testified that all of the songs on the tape were

about “losing someone, leaving someone, [and] having to say goodbye.” When

Yolanda left for the party, she told Armida, “I love you, Mom.” Armida testified:

“I never saw her again. I couldn‟t even see her at the funeral because she had to

have a closed casket.”

Yolanda was the godmother of Tina‟s daughter Christine, who was four years

old at the time of Yolanda‟s death. Tina testified that after Yolanda‟s death,

Christine made statements such as “I saw Auntie Yolie in my room last night.”

Tina also described incidents that she and Christine believed to be signs that

“Yolie‟s spirit is still with us.”

The jury also saw photographs depicting events and accomplishments in each

victim‟s life, their funerals and memorial services, the observance of Yolanda‟s

19th birthday at the cemetery several months after her murder, and the condition

of Yolanda‟s body at the time Jonathan saw her on the morning of October 23,

1994.

b. Analysis

“In a capital trial, evidence showing the direct impact of the defendant‟s

acts on the victims‟ friends and family is not barred by the Eighth or Fourteenth

Amendments to the federal Constitution. (Payne v. Tennessee (1991) 501 U.S.

808, 825-827.) Under California law, victim impact evidence is admissible at the

penalty phase under section 190.3, factor (a), as a circumstance of the crime,

provided the evidence is not so inflammatory as to elicit from the jury an irrational

or emotional response untethered to the facts of the case.” (People v. Pollock

42

(2004) 32 Cal.4th 1153, 1180 (Pollock).) We conclude neither the federal nor the

state standard was violated here.

The testimony was similar to other victim impact testimony that we have

found admissible in the past. For example, in People v. Dykes (2009) 46 Cal.4th

731, 779-780, 782 (Dykes), we upheld the admission of (1) testimony of a child

victim‟s teacher, describing his popularity in school, (2) testimony of the victim‟s

older sister regarding her feelings of sorrow and unreality while making funeral

arrangements and her recollections of intimate interactions she had had with the

victim, (3) testimony of the victim‟s grandmother describing her profound sense of

loss and the effect the victim‟s death had on the victim‟s younger brother, and

(4) a videotape of a family trip to Disneyland.

As in other cases, the witnesses here described the “immediate effects” of

the murders, as well as their “residual and lasting impact.” (People v. Brown

(2004) 33 Cal.4th 382, 397-398.) Their recollections of past events involving

Yolanda and Richard “simply served to explain why they continued to be affected

by [the] loss and to show the „victim[s‟] “uniqueness as . . . individual human

being[s].” ‟ ” (Id. at p. 398, quoting Payne v. Tennessee, supra, 501 U.S. at

p. 823.) Contrary to defendant‟s assertion, the circumstance that Yolanda‟s

mother cried during her testimony does not render that testimony inflammatory.

Her tears reflected a normal human response to the loss of a child, a response that

the jury would reasonably expect a mother to experience.

In addition, the photographs of family events and other aspects of the victims‟

lives, including the family‟s postdeath observance of Yolanda‟s 19th birthday, were

“relevant to humanize the victim[s] and provide some sense of the loss suffered by

[their] famil[ies] and society.” (Dykes, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 785.)

43



Testimony regarding the cassette tape of Mexican songs that Yolanda gave

her father was also properly admitted. The tape was moving because it

demonstrated the close bond between Yolanda and her father, because it included

songs about the loss of a loved one, and because Yolanda presented it to her father

shortly before her death. It thus demonstrated the relationship lost as a result of

Yolanda‟s murder, and the impact her death had on her father. These were

circumstances of the crime appropriately considered by the jury. (Dykes, supra,

46 Cal.4th at pp. 780, 782 [testimony describing the child victim‟s intention on the

day he was murdered to buy a toy for his younger brother with money he had

saved from his allowance “plainly concerns the circumstances of the crime”].)

Victim impact evidence is emotionally moving by its very nature, but that fact

alone does not make it improper.

Nor, contrary to Justice Moreno‟s concurring opinion, did the trial court err

in admitting the tape and in allowing a portion to be played for the jury. (See

conc. opn., post, at p. 3.) Playing a “few” songs from the tape simply illustrated

the gift Armida had described in her testimony. Had Yolanda instead created a

collage of photographs of Mexico for her father, taken by individuals unrelated to

the family, the trial court would have likewise acted properly in allowing the jury

to view it. Simply because she gave her father music instead does not raise the

same concerns that arise in the context of a filmed tribute to the victim, set to

music. (See id. at p. 2.) In the latter case, the music may be irrelevant or serve

only to evoke an emotional response (People v. Kelly (2007) 42 Cal.4th 763, 798-

799); here, by contrast, the music was itself the relevant piece of evidence, being

the thing that Yolanda chose to present to her father as a gift.

44



Defendant further contends the victim impact evidence was improper because it

was not limited to the circumstances known to defendant at the time he committed the

crime. As defendant acknowledges, however, this court has rejected this argument in

past cases. (Dykes, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 783; People v. Lewis and Oliver (2006) 39

Cal.4th 970, 1057; Pollock, supra, 32 Cal.4th at p. 1183.)

Defendant also contends that admission of the victim impact testimony here

under section 190.3, factor (a), violated the ex post facto clause of the federal

Constitution because, as of the time of the crimes, no case law permitted such

evidence as a “circumstance[] of the crime.” Defendant is wrong. (See, e.g.,

People v. Edwards (1991) 54 Cal.3d 787, 833-836.)

Finally, defendant contends that the prosecutor‟s closing argument at the

penalty phase exacerbated the prejudicial nature of the victim impact evidence.

We have concluded the victim impact evidence was properly admitted, and

therefore the prosecutor was entitled to refer to this evidence in his argument.

2. Scope of cross-examination

Defendant contends the trial court erred in permitting the prosecutor to cross-

examine defense witness William Wright regarding a prior bad act of defendant,

without having a good faith belief that the incident actually occurred. Defendant

claims violation of his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth

Amendments to the federal Constitution, and article I, sections 15 and 17, of the

California Constitution. We disagree.

45



a. Factual background

William Wright testified that he and defendant had been friends for about 23

years. He met defendant when defendant was between five and seven years old,

and Wright was 17 or 18 years old. As a child, defendant was quiet, very

respectful, and industrious. Wright had never seen him bully anyone or known

him to be violent.

At sidebar during cross-examination of Wright, the prosecutor informed

defense counsel and the court that he intended to ask Wright about an incident in

which defendant put a gun to his younger sister Pauline‟s head and “threatened to

blow her brains out.” He stated that Donna Tucker had mentioned this incident in

her taped interview, which occurred in May 1995. Defense counsel asserted that

the tape of the interview was incomprehensible, and the court recessed to listen to

the tape.

After the recess, and still outside the presence of the jury, the court inquired

what the prosecutor intended to ask Wright about. The prosecutor said he would

ask about defendant‟s desire “to kill one of Pauline‟s friends because the guy

knew too much about him.” He would also ask about defendant‟s alleged attack

on Pauline, “throwing [her] up against the wall, cutting the phone lines, and when

she ran out from the house, . . . chas[ing] after her and pull[ing] a gun on her.”

The court allowed the cross-examination, and Wright denied knowledge of the

incidents.

Later, on direct examination of defendant‟s older sister Mary Alice Baldwin,

defense counsel asked whether Pauline had ever told her that defendant “threw her

against the wall or put a gun to her?” Baldwin replied, “No . . . [t]hey were very

46



close.” Defense counsel asked, “As far as you know, [defendant] never was

hostile towards Pauline?” Baldwin answered, “No, no.”

b. Analysis

“When a defendant places his character at issue during the penalty phase, the

prosecution is entitled to respond with character evidence of its own. „The theory

for permitting such rebuttal evidence and argument is not that it proves a statutory

aggravating factor, but that it undermines defendant‟s claim that his good

character weighs in favor of mercy.‟ [Citation.] Once the defendant‟s „general

character [is] in issue, the prosecutor [is] entitled to rebut with evidence or

argument suggesting a more balanced picture of his personality.‟ [Citation.] The

prosecution need only have a good faith belief that the conduct or incidents about

which it inquires actually took place.” (Loker, supra, 44 Cal.4th at p. 709.)

Defendant contends that the prosecutor lacked the necessary “good faith

belief” to support the questions he posed to Wright about defendant‟s attack on

Pauline and the related threats. Relying on defense counsel‟s statement to the trial

court that the tape of Donna Tucker‟s interview was unintelligible, defendant

asserts that “[n]o evidence was ever introduced showing the incident occurred.”

We disagree. The trial court listened to the taped interview of Tucker and

implicitly found that Tucker‟s statements provided the “good faith belief”

necessary to support the prosecutor‟s questioning of Wright. We also have

reviewed the tape and conclude, with one possible exception, that the trial court‟s

implicit finding is supported by substantial evidence. The one exception is that we

can discern no reference on the tape to a threat by defendant to “blow [Pauline‟s]

brains out.”

47



Even assuming, however, that the prosecutor should not have been permitted

to ask Wright about a threat by defendant to “blow [Pauline‟s] brains out,” no

prejudice is evident under any standard. Tucker testified at the guilt phase that, for

a year after her marriage to defendant‟s brother, defendant threatened to kill her

and her husband, perhaps by a “shot in the back of the head.” Moreover, the jury

was instructed: “Do not assume to be true any insinuation suggested by a question

asked [of] a witness. A question is not evidence and may be considered only as it

helps you to understand the answer.” The jury was further instructed that

“[s]tatements made by the attorneys during the trial are not evidence.” We

presume the jury obeyed these instructions. (See, e.g., People v. Ledesma (2006)

39 Cal.4th 641, 684 (Ledesma).)

3. Alleged Griffin error

Defendant contends the prosecutor committed Griffin error when he said

during closing argument: “He can‟t even face you, this defendant, who commits

these two brutal, senseless murders.” (Griffin v. California (1965) 380 U.S. 609,

613, 615 [it is a U.S. Const., 5th Amend. violation for the prosecution to comment

on the defendant‟s failure to testify].) Defense counsel objected to the

prosecutor‟s argument at the next recess.

Assuming that the prosecution‟s statement constituted Griffin error, there was

no possible prejudice under any standard. When argument resumed after the

recess, the prosecutor told the jury: “When I talked about the defendant‟s

testimony in the guilt phase, . . . I was not commenting at all on his not testifying

in the penalty phase.” Moreover, the court instructed the jury at the close of the

penalty phase: “The defendant elected not to testify in the penalty phase of this

trial. It is the constitutional right of the defendant to elect to testify in the guilt

phase only, or in the penalty phase only, or in both, or in neither. You‟re

48

instructed not to consider or discuss the fact that the defendant elected not to

testify in the penalty phase. That is a matter that must not in any way affect your

verdict as to the penalty.” We presume it heeded these instructions. (See, e.g.,

Ledesma, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 684.)

4. Timing of defense closing argument

Defendant contends the trial court erred under the Fifth, Sixth, and

Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution, and article I, sections 7 and

15 through 17, of the California Constitution, when it postponed defense counsel‟s

closing argument until the morning after the prosecutor‟s argument. We disagree.

Toward the end of the prosecutor‟s closing argument, the trial court inquired

how much longer the prosecutor was going to be, and the prosecutor answered,

“another 10 minutes.” The court then asked defense counsel how long his

argument would be. Counsel replied that he did not know, adding, “I thought 40,

50 minutes, but it looks like it may go longer.” The court then asked the jury how

it would feel about a 15-minute recess, followed by 10 more minutes of

prosecution argument and 45 minutes of defense argument. Defense counsel

interrupted, saying, “Maybe longer, your honor,” and the court said to the jury:

“I‟m sorry. Maybe longer. Say an hour. Do you want to quit for the day after

[the prosecutor], or do you want to go late?”

Juror No. 5 responded, “We‟d like a break right now.” The court suggested

the jury take a break, discuss scheduling, and then let the court clerk know

whether or not it wished to go late. The record does not indicate which, if any,

preference the jury communicated to the clerk. After the recess, however, the

court stated: “Bring out the jurors. We‟ll finish with your argument then and do

the defense argument [at] 8:45 in the morning.” The jury entered the room, the

49

prosecutor finished his argument, the jury was excused, and the court made a brief

statement to counsel before adjourning for the day.

The next morning, after the court conferred with counsel outside the presence

of the jury, defense counsel gave his closing argument. At no time did defendant

object to the scheduling of the closing argument.

Defendant‟s claim of error was forfeited. (Farley, supra, 46 Cal.4th at

p. 1130.) Defense counsel gave no indication to the court that he wanted to

proceed immediately after the prosecution‟s argument finished. Rather, the court

and counsel deferred to the jury‟s apparent preference to start the defense closing

argument the next day. Defendant asserts that “[c]ounsel should have been given

the opportunity to argue at least briefly” and stress “to the jury the importance of

keeping an open mind” overnight, but nothing in the record indicates that counsel

sought such an opportunity.

Even assuming the claim was not forfeited, scheduling the defense closing

argument for the following morning falls within the court‟s “great latitude in

controlling . . . summations.” (Herring v. New York (1975) 422 U.S. 853, 862.)

5. Alleged instructional error

Defendant contends that the trial court erred under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth,

and Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution, and article I, sections 7

and 15 through 17, of the California Constitution, when it failed to inform the jury

that a verdict of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole “means exactly

what that means.”

The court instructed the jury: “It is the law of this state that the penalty for a

defendant found guilty of murder in the first degree shall be death or confinement

in the state prison for life without the possib[ility] of parole in any case in which

the special circumstances alleged in this case [have] been specially found to be

50

true.” (Italics added.) The jury was also instructed: “It‟s now your duty to

determine which of these two penalties, death or confinement in the state prison

for life without possibility of parole, shall be imposed upon the defendant.”

(Italics added.) During deliberations, the jury sent the court a note asking, “In the

event the defendant is given life in prison without the possibility of parole, is he

still given a parole hearing and a chance of being released?” Over defendant‟s

objection, the court responded, “You were instructed on the applicable law and

should not consider or speculate about matters of law on which you were not

instructed in arriving at a verdict of death or life in prison without the possibility

of parole.”

The court‟s response was proper. “[W]e have consistently held that the

phrase „life without possibility of parole‟ as it appears in CALJIC No. 8.84

adequately informs the jury that a defendant sentenced to life imprisonment

without possibility of parole is ineligible for parole.” (People v. Wallace (2008)

44 Cal.4th 1032, 1091 (Wallace).) Nothing in Simmons v. South Carolina (1994)
512 U.S. 154 causes us to reconsider that conclusion. (See Wallace, at p. 1091.)

Moreover, as we have previously explained, any instruction that a sentence of life

imprisonment without the possibility of parole “guaranteed defendant‟s

incarceration until his death would be inaccurate, considering the Governor‟s

commutation and pardon powers.” (People v. Boyer, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 487.)

Defendant further contends that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the

jury that defendant‟s age (22 at the time of the crimes) could only be considered in

mitigation. We have repeatedly rejected similar contentions. (See e.g., People v.

Hawthorne (1992) 4 Cal.4th 43, 77-79; People v. Lucky, supra, 45 Cal.3d at

p. 302.) Nothing in Roper v. Simmons (2005) 543 U.S. 551, 555-556, 570-571,

which prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by

persons under the age of 18, changes our conclusions in this regard. (Cf.

51

Hawthorne, at pp. 77-78 [rejecting a similar argument based on Thompson v.

Oklahoma (1988) 487 U.S. 815 (plur. opn.), which prohibited the imposition of

the death penalty for crimes committed by persons under the age of 16].)

6. Challenges to California’s death penalty scheme

Defendant contends that sections 190.2 and 190.3 violate the Fifth, Sixth,

Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution in numerous

respects. We have repeatedly rejected similar claims.

“[T]he California death penalty statute is not impermissibly broad, whether

considered on its face or as interpreted by this court.” (Dykes, supra, 46 Cal.4th at

p. 813.) In particular, the multiple-murder special circumstance adequately

narrows the class of murderers subject to the death penalty. (People v. Box (2000)

23 Cal.4th 1153, 1217.) Likewise, “we reject the claim that section 190.3, factor

(a), on its face or as interpreted and applied, permits arbitrary and capricious

imposition of a sentence of death.” (Dykes, at p. 813; see Tuilaepa v. California

(1994) 512 U.S. 967, 975-976, 978-979.)

The federal Constitution is not violated by section 190.3‟s failure (1) to

designate factors as either mitigating or aggravating; (2) to require written findings

or unanimity on the existence of aggravating factors; or (3) to require findings

beyond a reasonable doubt that that an aggravating circumstance (other than factor

(b) and factor (c) evidence) has been proved, that the aggravating factors

outweighed the mitigating factors, or that death is the appropriate sentence.

(Dykes, supra, 46 Cal.4th at pp. 813-814; Avila, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 724.)

Nothing in Cunningham v. California (2007) 549 U.S. 270, Ring v. Arizona (2002)
536 U.S. 584, or Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000) 530 U.S. 466 affects our

conclusions in this regard. (People v. Valencia (2008) 43 Cal.4th 268, 311

(Valencia); Avila, at p. 724.)

52

The trial court “need not instruct that the jury can consider certain statutory

factors only in mitigation.” (Valencia, supra, 43 Cal.4th at p. 311.)

Use of the adjective “extreme” in section 190.3, factor (d), and the adjective

“impaired” in section 190.3, factor (h), is constitutional. (People v. Hawthorne

(2009) 46 Cal.4th 67, 104.)

“A prosecutor‟s discretion to select those eligible cases in which the death

penalty is sought does not offend the federal or state Constitution.” (Wallace,

supra, 44 Cal.4th at p. 1098.)

The failure of California‟s death penalty law to require intercase

proportionality does not violate the federal Constitution. (Pulley v. Harris (1984)
465 U.S. 37, 50-51; People v. Cox (2003) 30 Cal.4th 916, 970.) “Nor does the

circumstance that intercase proportionality review is conducted in noncapital cases

cause the death penalty statute to violate defendant‟s right to equal protection and

due process.” (Farley, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 1134.) “[C]apital and noncapital

defendants are not similarly situated and therefore may be treated differently

without violating constitutional guarantees of equal protection of the laws or due

process of law.” (People v. Manriquez (2005) 37 Cal.4th 547, 590.)

C. Posttrial Issues

1. Denial of new trial motion

Defendant contends the trial court erred under state law in denying his

motion for new trial (§ 1181) and that the error violated his rights under the Fifth,

Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution, and article

I, sections 7 and 15 through 17, of the California Constitution. We disagree.

a. Factual background

The jury returned its penalty verdict on July 14, 1997. Defendant advised the

court he might be filing a motion for new trial, which after an extension of time

53

was due on October 31, 1997. In case defendant filed a new trial motion, a

hearing was set for November 14, 1997. Defendant did not file a new trial motion.

Instead, on November 13, 1997, he filed a motion to continue the hearing date. In

a supporting declaration, defense counsel stated that, on or about October 10,

1997, he had learned of letters Donna Tucker had written to defendant‟s sister

Pauline Verdugo that possibly impeached Tucker‟s credibility. Defendant

ultimately filed a new trial motion on August 13, 1998, and on March 12, 1999, he

filed a “summary of grounds” for the motion. He filed a second “summary of

grounds” on June 3, 1999.

The letters Tucker had written to Pauline Verdugo formed the basis for

several of defendant‟s arguments. Among other things, defendant contended that

Tucker was biased in her testimony against him because the letters revealed that

she was planning to or was having a romantic relationship with Detective

Markel,10 and also because she had been promised reward money. The court held

an extensive evidentiary hearing.


10

In her letters, Tucker made such statements as:

(1) “But my dreams are about this sweet cop. I‟ll be seeing him soon, but only

to prepare for trial. I know he still likes me a lot too, but gotta wait til after the trial to
ask me out. But he watches me from a distance sometimes. That‟s when I get out my
best short skirt or nice dress. Then he lets out a whistle that I can recognize! Ha!
Hooked him! I can‟t wait to start going out with him. He‟s so damned adorable and
sweet. . . . [¶] I can‟t go swimming for 2-1/2 weeks or so. But I'll find a real good
bikini to really reel in Chuck then! Ha!”

(2) “I‟m still nuts about C., but he can‟t come up to me — if he‟s even still

interested — until after the trial. He‟s the male version of me. I really believe he‟d
be perfect for me. We‟ll see.”


(3) “So guess who was across the way looking at me from another balcony[?]

Chuck! Hey! Still likes me! Guess I made the right choice. Besides I‟m still nuts
about that cutie. Although, I WANT my full privacy back. But when I‟ve talked to
him about it before, he acts like it‟s not happening. And he worries so damn much. If
I‟m upset or sick or angry, he checks on me from a distance. Boy! What a strange


(footnote continued on next page)

54

At the hearing, Tucker confirmed that the letters were written in her

handwriting. She testified that, although she admired Detective Markel and would

have liked a romantic relationship with him, “there was never anything going on

between [them].” She said she lied in her letters to Pauline about Markel watching

her because she wanted the Verdugo family to think she had police protection.

Tucker also said that she did not lie in court to attract Markel. Markel testified

that his relationship with Tucker had been merely professional. He said that he

became aware that Tucker was interested in him romantically only after he learned

of her letters to Pauline. Kevin McCormick, the former prosecutor on defendant‟s

case, testified that he had never witnessed any inappropriate behavior between

Tucker and Detective Markel, and Tucker had never told him that she was

infatuated with Markel. Detective Teague testified that he knew of no occasion on

which Markel and Tucker met alone.

Tucker further testified that she had falsely told Pauline that she was

promised reward money, hoping to convince Pauline that Tucker would take care

of her. Tucker considered Pauline to be like a daughter. She thought she was

entitled to the reward money, but it was not her decision who received it.



(footnote continued from previous page)

way to have to live, waiting until this trial is done. It‟s kinda w[ei]rd, kinda annoying,
kinda nice and sometimes i[t‟]s kinda like a hug. So strange! Why the hell did I fall
for someone during all this mess, when I had decided no on[e] is gonna get close to
me?”


(4) “My favorite detective is back on this case. He‟s such a sweetie. You

wouldn‟t believe how I was protected! By two police dep[uties] and sheriff[]s and
by [a Los Angeles Police Department] helicopter. Boy! And he says „What? Do
you feel like you‟re being followed?‟ . . . He really likes me so much and I‟m nuts
about me [sic]. But neither of us can do or say anything until this case is over. So
nothing‟s happening.”

55

Although she wanted to take care of Pauline, she also observed that “it would turn

[her] stomach [to receive the reward money] because someone I loved murdered

those two kids, and to profit from someone else‟s tragedy, I couldn‟t do.” She

testified that she had not received any reward in this case.

Detectives Ewing Kwock and Jerry Stephens testified that no claims had

been made on the reward money. Markel testified that he recalled at some point

telling Tucker that there was a reward, but he never promised her the reward

money. He described this conversation as being brief: “[Tucker] told me that she

was not the least bit interested in it and that was the end of the talk of the reward.”

Markel testified that he would not entice a witness with reward money. Likewise,

Detective Teague testified that he had never promised any reward money to

anyone in this case. Trial prosecutor Michael Duarte testified that the only

discussions he had regarding whether Tucker was promised reward money

occurred after trial, when the defense raised the issue.

In addition, Pauline Verdugo testified regarding the circumstances under

which she had disclosed the letters, and Detectives Kwock and Stephens testified

regarding investigative interviews they conducted with Tucker and Markel after

the revelation of the letters. Tucker told Kwock that she had a “crush” on

Detective Markel, but that it was only wishful thinking. Defendant‟s sister Mary

Alice Baldwin testified regarding Pauline‟s contact with other members of the

Verdugo family before and during the trial, and about her own contact with

defense counsel George Hernandez. Baldwin also testified that Tucker told her

before trial that she was “falling for Detective Markel.” Baldwin told defense

counsel Hernandez before trial that Tucker had said that Markel had offered her

the reward and that she intended to accept it.

56

The trial court denied the new trial motion. The court found credible

Tucker‟s and the “officer‟s”11 testimony at the hearing on the motion. Given what

the trial evidence had revealed about the Verdugo family, the court said that

Tucker‟s explanations made “a lot of sense.” With respect to the reward money,

the court credited Tucker‟s hearing testimony that she was not promised any

reward, and the court noted that other testimony corroborated Tucker‟s testimony.

The court also credited Tucker‟s explanation of her contradictory assertion to

Pauline that she had been promised the reward. Finally, the court stated that,

“even taking Donna [Tucker] out of the case,” the verdicts in both phases of the

trial would have been the same.

b. Analysis

“To grant a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence, the evidence

must make a different result probable on retrial.” (People v. Ochoa (1998) 19

Cal.4th 353, 473.) “[T]he trial court has broad discretion in ruling on a new trial

motion,” and its “ruling will be disturbed only for clear abuse of that discretion.”

(People v. Ault (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1250, 1260.) In addition, “[w]e accept the trial

court‟s credibility determinations and findings on questions of historical fact if

supported by substantial evidence.” (People v. Nesler (1997) 16 Cal.4th 561, 582

(lead opn. of George, C. J.).)

Several of the grounds defendant raises on appeal in challenging the trial

court‟s denial of his new trial motion have already been discussed in detail in this

opinion and rejected. Specifically, he asserts that he was entitled to a new trial


11

This reference was presumably to Detective Markel. The court may also

have meant “officers‟ ” (possessive plural). Although the court reporter chose the
word “officer‟s” (possessive singular) when preparing the written transcript, no
reason appears to assume that, when speaking the word, the court meant the
reference to be singular rather than plural.

57

because: (1) the prosecution had failed to disclose Tucker‟s receipt of witness

relocation funds, a fact that the defense could have used to impeach her; (2) the

trial court had excluded evidence related to Tucker‟s mental health problems; and

(3) the trial court had precluded defendant from using the investigation of

wrongdoing by Detectives Teague and Markel to substantiate his explanation for

why he had arranged for the purchase of eyeglasses that could be used as false

evidence. For the reasons already stated (see, ante, pts. II.A.2.e., II.A.3.a.,

II.A.3.b.), we find these arguments unpersuasive. (People v. Burgener (2003) 29

Cal.4th 833, 893.)

The trial court also did not err in concluding that the letters Donna Tucker

wrote to Pauline Verdugo did not provide a basis for granting a new trial.

Although certain statements in Tucker‟s letters are troubling, the court found her

explanations of those statements to be credible, and substantial evidence in the

form of her testimony and that of other witnesses supports this credibility

determination.

To the extent defendant claims that the letters represented newly discovered

evidence that Tucker had been in a psychiatric institution12 and that the new trial

motion should have been granted on that ground, he forfeited the claim by failing

to assert it below, either in his motion for a new trial or in his two statements of

grounds for the motion. In addition, the letters were not newly discovered

evidence of Tucker‟s hospitalization, because defendant was aware during trial of

the possibility that Tucker had been hospitalized in a psychiatric institution and


12

In a letter to Pauline, Tucker stated: “I had my med[ical] exams last

Sat[urday]. All because of my stay in the cookie factory at A.V. Hospital. Also, I
will have a hearing in a couple months from Victim/Witness Assistance to cover
my med[ical] expenses at the hospital, counseling, and lots of chiropractic visits
(since last Spring).”

58

could have investigated the matter at that time. (§ 1181.) Finally, defendant does

not identify what Tucker‟s psychiatric problems were or how they would have

affected her credibility.

“Defendant has shown no manifest and unmistakable abuse of discretion in

the trial court‟s ruling [on the new trial motion]. No basis for reversal appears.”

(Zambrano, supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 1188.)

2. Denial of request to discharge retained counsel

Defendant contends the trial court erred under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and

Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution and analogous provisions of

the California Constitution when, in the middle of the evidentiary hearing on the

new trial motion, the court denied defendant‟s request to discharge retained

counsel. We disagree.

a. Factual background

As noted above, the penalty verdict was rendered on July 14, 1997, and on

August 13, 1998, more than a year later, defendant filed a new trial motion. On

September 11, 1998, five witnesses, including Donna Tucker, testified at the

hearing on the new trial motion. The hearing was continued to September 25,

1998, at which time defense counsel George Hernandez did not appear, apparently

because of a miscommunication regarding the time of the hearing. The hearing

was then continued to October 23, 1998. Hernandez again failed to appear, this

time because he was ill, and the hearing was continued to November 20, 1998.

At the outset of proceedings on November 20, 1998, Hernandez stated that

defendant “would like to relieve me as counsel.” The court denied the motion as

untimely, observing that they were in the middle of a hearing in which

considerable evidence had already been introduced, the trial involved a lengthy

transcript, and replacing counsel would cause substantial delay.

59

Defendant attempted to bolster his request to discharge counsel by stating

that Hernandez did not visit or telephone him with sufficient frequency.

Hernandez also stated that he had a conflict of interest because of a “veiled threat”

that defendant‟s father, Salvador Verdugo, had made against him at the time of the

September 11, 1998 hearing. Salvador Verdugo allegedly told Hernandez: “[I]f

anything happens to my son . . . we‟ll see what happens to you,” or words to that

effect. Hernandez did not report the incident to the police, but he had no further

contact with Salvador until three or four days before the November 20 hearing,

when he spoke to Salvador on the telephone. In that conversation, Salvador said

he was angry and “don‟t forget.”

The trial court commented that the alleged threat against Hernandez did not

appear “serious and credible” and that Hernandez‟s representations sounded like

“another . . . last ditch effort to somehow derail these proceedings.” Out of

concern, however, that the circumstances might warrant counsel‟s removal, the

court continued the hearing so that Salvador Verdugo could be questioned, and it

also requested briefing on the applicable legal standards.

On December 4, 1998, Salvador Verdugo testified that after a recent court

session,13 he followed Hernandez into the parking lot to ask about the case, feeling

dissatisfied by Hernandez‟s lack of communication with him. When his attempt to

obtain more information was unsuccessful, Salvador told Hernandez: “[I]f my son

goes down, . . . because . . . you‟re not doing your job, . . . you‟re going to go

down, too. I‟m going to go before the board and see that you go down.” By

“board,” Salvador meant the State Bar. Salvador, who was on probation and who


13

Salvador testified that the encounter took place after a hearing in October

1998, but he must have been referring to the September 11, 1998 hearing, because
Mr. Hernandez did not appear at the October 23, 1998 hearing.

60

considered Hernandez to be a friend, said that he never threatened Hernandez with

physical violence.

The court denied the motion to relieve counsel. The court determined that no

threat had actually been made and that Hernandez had simply misunderstood the

situation. As to the other grounds raised in support of the motion, the court relied

on the circumstances that there had been a lengthy trial, the new trial motion had

been continued numerous times, and “to relieve Mr. Hernandez . . . at this time

would . . . severely disrupt the orderly processes of justice.” The court observed

that the events pertinent to the new trial motion were “still somewhat fresh in the

witness[es]‟ memory” and that examination of Donna Tucker had already begun.

b. Analysis

The right to retained counsel of choice is — subject to certain limitations —

guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment to the federal Constitution. (U.S. v.

Gonzalez-Lopez (2006) 548 U.S. 140, 144, 151-152; People v. Ramirez (2006) 39

Cal.4th 398, 422.) In California, this right “reflects not only a defendant‟s choice

of a particular attorney, but also his decision to discharge an attorney whom he

hired but no longer wishes to retain.” (People v. Ortiz (1990) 51 Cal.3d 975, 983

(Ortiz); see Code Civ. Proc., § 284.) The right to discharge a retained attorney is,

however, not absolute. (Ortiz, at p. 983.) The trial court has discretion to “deny

such a motion if discharge will result in „significant prejudice‟ to the defendant

[citation], or if it is not timely, i.e., if it will result in „disruption of the orderly

processes of justice‟ [citations].” (Ibid.; see U.S. v. Gonzalez-Lopez, at p. 152 [a

trial court has “wide latitude in balancing the right to counsel of choice against the

needs of fairness” and “against the demands of its calendar”].)

Defendant contends that the denial of his motion “forced him to proceed with

an attorney he did not want and with whom he had a conflict of interest.”

61

Defendant, however, does not identify any specific conflict of interest between

him and Hernandez, and he denies that the asserted threat against Hernandez was

the basis of his motion to relieve counsel. In the absence of any identified conflict

of interest, defendant‟s argument fails.

Defendant further asserts that the trial court erred because there was no

evidence that relieving counsel would have resulted in unreasonable disruption.

He points out that the request to relieve counsel was made on November 20, 1998,

the new trial motion was not ruled on until June 18, 1999, and sentencing did not

occur until November 19, 1999, and therefore new counsel would have had

enough time to become familiar with the case.

We conclude the trial court acted well within its discretion in denying

defendant‟s motion to relieve counsel. At the time the motion was made, the

parties were embroiled in a hearing on the new trial motion that focused on the

credibility of a major prosecution trial witness. Numerous witnesses had already

testified, and well over a year had passed since the penalty verdict. New counsel

would have had to become familiar with the specific matters at issue in the new

trial motion, but to understand the significance of those matters, new counsel

would also have had to study the entire lengthy trial record, resulting in significant

delays. Meanwhile, the witnesses‟ memories of events pertinent to the new trial

motion would naturally have faded over time, an event that the trial court stated

would undermine its ability to judge the witnesses‟ credibility. The trial court

reasonably found these circumstances to constitute “ „disruption of the orderly

processes of justice,‟ ” justifying denial of the motion to relieve counsel. (Ortiz,

supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 983.)

62



3. Cumulative prejudice

Defendant contends that the cumulative effect of guilt and penalty phase

errors requires us to reverse the judgment. Where we have found or assumed

error, we have concluded that there was no prejudice under any standard. We also

find no cumulative prejudice.

4. Alleged violation of international law

Defendant contends that the violations of state and federal law in his case

also violate international law. We disagree. We have found no violations of state

or federal law that preclude imposition of death in this case. “International law

does not prohibit a sentence of death rendered in accordance with state and federal

constitutional and statutory requirements.” (People v. Hillhouse (2002) 27 Cal.4th

469, 511.)

III. DISPOSITION

We affirm the judgment.

KENNARD, J.

WE CONCUR:

GEORGE, C. J.
BAXTER, J.
WERDEGAR, J.
CHIN, J.
CORRIGAN, J.

63












CONCURRING OPINION BY MORENO, J.




I concur in the judgment, but disagree with the majority in their analysis of

the admission of an audio cassette, consisting of several Mexican songs, that was

played to the jury and that was admitted under the aegis of “victim impact

evidence.” In my view, this cassette should not have been admitted.

“In a capital trial, Eighth Amendment principles ordinarily do not prevent

the sentencing authority from considering evidence of „the specific harm caused

by the crime in question.‟ (Payne v. Tennessee (1991) 501 U.S. 808, 825.) The

high court has explained that the prosecution has a legitimate interest in rebutting

the mitigating evidence that the defendant is entitled to introduce by introducing

aggravating evidence of the harm caused by the crime, „ “reminding the sentencer

that just as the murderer should be considered as an individual, so too the victim is

an individual whose death represents a unique loss to society and in particular to

his family.” ‟ (Ibid.) „[W]e also have found such evidence (and related “victim

character” evidence) admissible as a “circumstance of the crime” under section

190.3, factor (a).‟ [Citation.] We have cautioned, however, „that allowing such

evidence under factor (a) “does not mean that there are no limits on emotional

evidence and argument.” ‟ [Citations.] „ “ „The jury must face its obligation

soberly and rationally, and should not be given the impression that emotion may

reign over reason. [Citation.]‟ ” ‟ ” (People v. Prince (2007) 40 Cal.4th 1179,

1286-1287, fn. omitted.)

1



The use of music, an inherently emotional form of expression, in victim impact

evidence, has been a concern to a number of courts. In U.S. v. Sampson (D.Mass.

2004) 335 F.Supp.2d 166, 191-193, the court excluded a 27-minute videotape

containing 200 still photographs of the victim, in part because of the “evocative

accompanying music” by the Beatles, James Taylor and others. In Salazar v. State

(Tex.Crim.App. 2002) 90 S.W.3d 330, the Texas criminal court held inadmissible a

similar videotape in part because of the accompanying music by Enya and Celine

Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On.” And this court has cautioned against the use of

“stirring music” accompanying a filmed tribute to the victim. (Prince, supra, 40

Cal.4th at p. 804; see also (See Kelly v. California (2008) __ U.S. __ [129 S.Ct. 564,

567] (separate statement of Stevens, J. on denial of cert.) [noting the inherent risk of

prejudice of victim impact evidence “enhanced with music”]; id. at p. 568 (statement

of Breyer, J. dissenting from cert. denial); id. at p. 564 (noting Justice Souter‟s vote to

grant cert.).) Music rarely if ever has informational content that can contribute to a

capital jury‟s sober and rational decisionmaking. Its purpose and effect, generally, is

to evoke an emotional response from the jury. Such emotional evocation, while

suitable for a memorial tribute to the victim, is wholly inappropriate at the penalty

phase of a capital trial, where the purpose is not to honor the victim but to decide

whether the defendant should receive a death sentence. (See People v. Kelly (2007)

42 Cal.4th 763, 805 (conc. & dis. opn. of Moreno, J.).)

In the present case, Yolanda Navarro‟s mother Armida testified at length

about the close relationship Yolanda had with her father. She further testified that

Yolanda had made her father a cassette tape of Mexican songs on the theme of

loss and parting. The majority does not explain what additional information was

conveyed to the jury by playing the songs. That Yolanda‟s father, who was no

longer alive, was close to Yolanda and undoubtedly felt heart-wrenching loss at

her death was well established by Armida‟s testimony. Assuming arguendo that

2



the fact that Yolanda made a tape for her father was relevant for showing her

closeness to her father and therefore the great impact that her death had on him,

the majority does not explain how listening to her actual selection of songs

assisted the jury one iota. The contents of the cassette had nothing to do with

defendant‟s character, culpability, or the circumstances of the offense, which are

supposed to be the jury‟s sole concern during the penalty phase. (See People v.

Martinez (2010) 47 Cal.4th 911, 963.) The fact that she selected sad songs rather

than happy ones, Spanish songs rather than English ones, one genre rather than

another, did not make defendant more or less deserving of the death penalty. On

the other hand, these songs of loss, even if the jury did not understand Spanish

lyrics, had the distinct potential of being used to manipulate the juror‟s emotions.1

I nonetheless conclude on the present record that the trial court‟s error in

admitting the tape was not prejudicial. It can be reasonably inferred that only a

“few” of the songs were played (maj. opn., ante, at p. 44), the portion played was a

relatively small part of the prosecutor‟s penalty phase case, and, precisely because

its connection to victim impact or character evidence was so tenuous, the music

here was less likely to bias the jury than music accompanying victim impact

evidence found to be prejudicially admitted. (See, e.g., Salazar, supra, 118

S.W.3d at p. 885.)

MORENO, J.


1

The majority states: “Had Yolanda instead created a collage of photographs

of Mexico for her father, taken by individuals unrelated to the family, the trial
court would have likewise acted properly in allowing the jury to view it.” (Maj.
opn., ante, at p. 44.) Although this dictum is broadly stated, I do not understand it
to excuse trial courts from carefully weighing the probative value and potential
prejudicial impact of admitting artistic works by victims at the penalty phase.

3



See next page for addresses and telephone numbers for counsel who argued in Supreme Court.

Name of Opinion People v. Verdugo
__________________________________________________________________________________

Unpublished Opinion

Original Appeal XXX
Original Proceeding
Review Granted

Rehearing Granted

__________________________________________________________________________________

Opinion No.
S083904
Date Filed: August 2, 2010
__________________________________________________________________________________

Court:
Superior
County: Los Angeles
Judge: Curtis B. Rappé

__________________________________________________________________________________

Attorneys for Appellant:

John F. Schuck, under appointment by the Supreme Court, for Defendant and Appellant.




__________________________________________________________________________________

Attorneys for Respondent:

Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Pamela C.
Hamanaka, Assistant Attorney General, Sharlene A. Honnaka, John R. Gorey and David C. Cook, Deputy
Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.










Counsel who argued in Supreme Court (not intended for publication with opinion):

John F. Schuck
Law Offices of John F. Schuck
4083 Transport Street, Suite B
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 856-7963

David C. Cook
Deputy Attorney General
300 South Spring Street, Suite 1702
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 897-4991


Automatic appeal from a judgment of death.

Opinion Information
Date:Docket Number:Category:Status:
Mon, 08/02/2010S083904Automatic Appealsubmitted/opinion due

Parties
1The People (Respondent)
Represented by Attorney General's Office
David C. Cook, Deputy Attorney General
300 S. Spring Street, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA

2Verdugo, Nathan James (Appellant)
San Quentin State Prison
Represented by John F. Schuck
Law Office of John F. Schuck
4083 Transport Street, Suite B
Palo Alto, CA


Dockets
Nov 19 1999Judgment of death
 
Nov 29 1999Filed certified copy of Judgment of Death Rendered
  11/19/99
Nov 29 1999Penal Code sections 190.6 et seq. apply to this case
 
Dec 10 1999Filed:
  appellant's application for appointment of counsel (IFP form).
Feb 16 2000Record certified for completeness
 
Nov 1 2004Counsel appointment order filed
  appointing John F. Schuck to represent appellant for the direct appeal.
Nov 9 2004Received:
  notice from superior court that record was transmitted to appellant's counsel on 11-4-2004.
Nov 9 2004Date trial court delivered record to appellant's counsel
  (10,462 pp. record) (see Calif. Rules of Court, rule 34(e)(1); the date of delivery is the date of mailing plus five days.) (Note: record was transmitted on 11-4-2004.)
Nov 10 2004Appellant's opening brief letter sent, due:
  June 7, 2005.
Dec 29 2004Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Jan 12 2005Compensation awarded counsel
  Atty Schuck
Feb 2 2005Compensation awarded counsel
  Atty Schuck
Feb 18 2005Received copy of appellant's record correction motion
  Request to correct and augment record on appeal. (20 pp.)
Feb 25 2005Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Mar 21 2005Record certified for accuracy
 
Apr 14 2005Note:
  record arrived from superior court.
Apr 29 2005Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
May 31 2005Record on appeal filed
  clerks's transcript 3904 pp. (19 volumes) and reporter's transcript 7131 pp. (47 volumes), including material under seal; ASCII disks. Clerk's transcript includes 1960 pp. of juror questionnaires.
May 31 2005Letter sent to:
  counsel advising that the record certified for accuracy was filed this date.
Jun 9 2005Request for extension of time filed
  to file AOB. (1st request)
Jun 14 2005Extension of time granted
  to 8/8/2005 to file appellant's opening brief.
Jun 28 2005Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Aug 5 2005Request for extension of time filed
  to file appellant's opening brief. (2nd request)
Aug 9 2005Extension of time granted
  to 10/7/2005 to file appellant's opening brief.
Aug 29 2005Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Oct 4 2005Request for extension of time filed
  to file appellant's opening brief. (3rd request)
Oct 11 2005Extension of time granted
  to 12/6/2005 to file appellant's opening brief. Extension is granted based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing that brief by 12/6/2005. After that date, no further extension is contemplated.
Oct 19 2005Compensation awarded counsel
  Atty Schuck
Oct 21 2005Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Dec 6 2005Received:
  appellant's 4th request for extension of time to file AOB. Not filed; declaration does not indicate where executed.
Dec 7 2005Request for extension of time filed
  to file appellant's opening brief. (4th request)
Dec 9 2005Extension of time granted
  to 2/6/2006 to file the appellant's opening brief. After that date, no further extension will be granted. Extension is granted based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing that brief by 2/6/2006.
Dec 21 2005Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Feb 3 2006Extension of time granted
  to file appellant's opening brief. (5th request)
Feb 7 2006Extension of time granted
  to 4/7/2006 to file the appellant's opening brief. After that date, no further extension will be granted. Extension is granted based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing that brief by 4/7/2006.
Feb 22 2006Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Apr 6 2006Request for extension of time filed
  to file AOB. (6th request)
Apr 13 2006Extension of time granted
  to June 6, 2006 to file the appellant's opening brief. After that date, no further extension is contemplated. Extension is granted based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing that brief by June 6, 2006.
Apr 21 2006Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Jun 5 2006Request for extension of time filed
  to file appellant's opening brief. (7th request)
Jun 8 2006Extension of time granted
  to August 7, 2006 to file the appellant's opening brief. After that date, no further extension is contemplated. Extension is granted based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing that brief by August 7, 2006.
Aug 1 2006Request for extension of time filed
  to file AOB. (8th request)
Aug 3 2006Extension of time granted
  to October 6, 2006 to file the appellant's opening brief. After that date, no further extension is contemplated. Extension is granted based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing that brief by October 6, 2006.
Aug 30 2006Counsel's status report received (confidential)
  from atty Schuck.
Oct 6 2006Appellant's opening brief filed
  (76,179 words; 284 pp.)
Oct 6 2006Respondent's brief letter sent; due:
  February 20, 2007. (Pursuant to the California Rules of Court, rule 36(c)(1)(B)(C))
Dec 8 2006Compensation awarded counsel
  Atty Schuck
Feb 15 2007Request for extension of time filed
  to file respondent's brief. (1st request)
Feb 20 2007Extension of time granted
  On application of respondent and good cause appearing, it is ordered that the time to serve and file respondent's brief is extended to and including April 23, 2007.
Apr 12 2007Request for extension of time filed
  to file respondent's brief. (2nd request)
Apr 23 2007Extension of time granted
  to June 22, 2007 to file respondent's brief. Extension is granted based upon Deputy Attorney General David C. Cook's representation that he anticipates filing that brief by June 22, 2007. After that date, no further extension is contemplated.
Jun 22 2007Respondent's brief filed
  (59,864 words; 188 pp.)
Jun 25 2007Note:
  appellant's reply brief is due August 21, 2007.
Aug 9 2007Request for extension of time filed
  from atty Shuck. (1st request)
Aug 15 2007Extension of time granted
  Good cause appearing, and based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing the appellant's reply brief by December 21, 2007, counsel's request for an extension of time in which to file that brief is granted to October 22, 2007. After that date, only one further extension totaling about 60 additional days is contemplated.
Oct 19 2007Request for extension of time filed
  to file appellant's reply brief. (2nd request)
Oct 22 2007Extension of time granted
  Good cause appearing, and based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing the appellant's reply brief by December 21, 2007, counsel's request for an extension of time in which to file that brief is granted to December 21, 2007. After that date, no further extension is contemplated.
Dec 19 2007Request for extension of time filed
  to file appellant's reply brief. (3rd request)
Dec 31 2007Extension of time granted
  Good cause appearing, and based upon counsel John F. Schuck's representation that he anticipates filing the appellant's reply brief by February 20, 2008, counsel's request for an extension of time in which to file that brief is granted to February 20, 2008. After that date, no further extension is contemplated.
Feb 6 2008Appellant's reply brief filed
  (21,193 words; 88 pp.)
Feb 28 2008Compensation awarded counsel
  Atty Schuck
Aug 21 2009Exhibit(s) lodged
  from superior court: Court's no. 4; People's nos. 19, 31, 34E, 102, 119, 122; and Defendant's C.
Sep 30 2009Exhibit(s) lodged
  from superior court - people's exhibits: 26 A-D, 57, 60A-D, 61, 82, 82B, 86, 100, 102, 104 A-H, 105 A-H, 106 A-D, 107, 108 A-I, 109, 110 A-F, 111 A-H, 112 A-C, 113 A-D, 114 A-G, 115 A-E, 116, 117-118, 120, 121 A-G.
Oct 14 2009Letter sent to:
  appellant's counsel advising that the court is considering whether to unseal, on its own motion, sealed clerk's transcript pages 3028-3030 and 3060-3069. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rules 2.550(a)(2), (c), (d); 8.160(a), (f)(3), and (f)(4).) Counsel is invited to serve and file a response, if he wishes, on or before before October 26, 2009, addressing whether the transcript pages in question should remain sealed.
Oct 16 2009Filed:
  letter from appellant's counsel, John F. Schuck, dated October 15, 2009, in response to the court's letter of October 14, 2009. He has no objection to the unsealing of clerk's transcript pages 3028-3030 and 3060-3069.
Dec 2 2009Record ordered unsealed
  On the court's own motion, which appellant does not oppose, the Clerk is directed to unseal clerk's transcript pages 3028-3030, and 3060-3069 and make the unsealed transcript pages part of the public record. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.328.) The Clerk is further directed to provide a copy of these unsealed transcript pages to counsel for respondent.
Feb 25 2010Oral argument letter sent
  to counsel advising that the court could schedule this case for argument as early as the first May calendar, to be held the week of May 3, 2010, in San Francisco. The advisement of "focus issues," notification that two counsel are required, and any request for oral argument time in excess of 30 minutes must be submitted to the court within 10 days of the order setting the case for argument.
Mar 30 2010Case ordered on calendar
  to be argued on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at 1:30 p.m., in San Francisco
Apr 12 2010Received:
  appearance sheet from Deputy Attorney General David C. Cook, indicating 30 minutes for oral argument for respondent.
Apr 12 2010Filed:
  respondent's focus issues letter, dated April 8, 2010.
Apr 12 2010Filed:
  appellant's focus issues letter, dated April 9, 2010.
Apr 13 2010Received:
  appearance sheet from Attorney at Law John F. Schuck, indicating 30 minutes for oral argument for appellant.
Apr 28 2010Letter sent to:
  each non-amicus party counsel appearing at oral argument, from the Clerk of the Court: "The court has asked me to inform counsel in cases that will be argued at the May 3-6, 2010, oral argument calendar in San Francisco that Justice Joyce L. Kennard will be unable to be present at argument due to unexpected surgery. Upon stipulation of all parties in a case, Justice Kennard will participate in the deliberations and decision in this matter by reviewing the complete videotape recording of the argument and considering all of the written materials in each case. In the absence of the court's receipt of a written stipulation by all parties in a case, the court will decide whether to continue the matter to a future oral argument calendar or to ask the Chief Justice to assign a justice pro tempore who will participate in place of Justice Kennard at the May 3-6, 2010, sessions. "Please telephonically inform Steve Rockwell, Senior Deputy Clerk, at (415) 865-7011 as soon as possible whether the party(ies) you represent will or will not stipulate to Justice Kennard's participation in the case, even though she will not be present at oral argument. Please execute the attached written stipulation and returning it by fax on or before Friday, April 30, 2010. Submit the original signed stipulation to the court either by overnight mail or by bringing the document to the court on the day of argument."
Apr 29 2010Stipulation filed
  Stipulation by counsel John F. Schuck, that appellant has no objection to Justice Kennard's participation in the deliberations and decision in this matter notwithstanding her absence from oral argument.
Apr 29 2010Stipulation filed
  Stipulation by counsel David C. Cook, that respondent has no objection to Justice Kennard's participation in the deliberations and decision in this matter notwithstanding her absence from oral argument.
May 4 2010Cause argued and submitted
 
May 12 2010Compensation awarded counsel
  Atty Schuck
Jul 30 2010Notice of forthcoming opinion posted
  To be filed on Monday, August 2, 2010.

Briefs
Oct 6 2006Appellant's opening brief filed
 
Jun 22 2007Respondent's brief filed
 
Feb 6 2008Appellant's reply brief filed
 
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