Filed 7/18/16 P. v. Medina CA2/6

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified 

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publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. 

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION SIX

THE PEOPLE,

 Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

ALEX JOSEPH MEDINA,

 Defendant and Appellant.

2d Crim. No. B253317

(Super. Ct. No. 2009024052)

(Ventura County)

Appellant Alex Joseph Medina, a 14-year-old Hispanic gang member, 

and victim Seth Scarminach, a 16-year-old associate of a rival gang with a "White 

pride" ideology, exchanged words and challenges at a party. Scarminach moved on 

to another party and appellant followed him. Words were again exchanged and the 

two agreed to fight. After each of them had exchanged a few punches, appellant 

pulled out a large kitchen knife and stabbed Scarminach in the stomach. He then 

jumped on top of his fallen victim and repeatedly stabbed him. One of the wounds 

fatally penetrated all the way through Scarminach's heart, and another cut his right 

carotid artery.
2

A jury convicted appellant of first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187, 

subd. (a)).1 The jury also found true allegations that he (1) personally used a 

deadly weapon, i.e., a knife (§ 12022, subd. (b)(1)); (2) intentionally killed the 

victim while an active participant in a criminal street gang and carried out the crime 

to facilitate the gang's activities (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(22)); and (3) committed the 

crime for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a gang (§ 186.22, 

subd. (b)(1)). The trial court sentenced him to 26 years to life with the possibility of 

parole.

Appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to sustain his 

conviction of first degree murder and that the court erred in failing to instruct on 

lesser included offenses. He further contends that the court erred in refusing to 

permit him to testify after both sides had rested and it had been decided that 

instructions on manslaughter would not be given. He also asks us to examine the 

sealed record of the court's in camera proceeding to determine if the court erred in 

failing to order the release of Scarminach's mental health records. We affirm.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Prosecution

On April 25, 2009, appellant was a member of the Ojai Surenos 

Lokos (OSL), a Latino criminal street gang with allegiance to the Mexican Mafia. 

The victim, 16-year-old Seth Scarminach, was a member or associate of OSL's 

primary rival, the Meiners Oaks Boys (MOB) gang. OSL members adopted the 

color blue as a symbol and commonly wore blue bandanas and jerseys, while MOB 

 

1 Unless otherwise noted, all statutory references are to the Penal Code. 

Appellant was 14 years old when he committed the crime and was charged as an 

adult based on allegations he personally killed the victim and acted for the benefit 

of a criminal street gang (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 707, subds. (d)(2)(A) & 

(d)(2)(C)(ii)). Five months after the complaint was filed, a doubt was declared as to 

his mental competency and the criminal proceedings were suspended. In July 2012, 

the jury found appellant competent to stand trial and the proceedings were 

reinstated.
3

members wore red bandanas and shoelaces. MOB members were primarily 

Caucasian and wore red in part to connote "White power."

Early that evening, Veronica Vaughan drove appellant and fellow 

OSL members Rutilio "Pelon" Huerta and Gabriel "Danger" Arellano to a house 

party on the east end of Ojai. Meanwhile, Scarminach went to a party in the 

Arbolada neighborhood of Ojai with Eric Nestingen, Forrest Whitman, and Alex 

Luna. Scarminach, Nestingen and Whitman took Ecstasy before they arrived. 

Scarminach was wearing a red shirt and shoes with red shoelaces. He was also 

sporting three red bandanas and intermittently wore one of them over his face.

Appellant, Huerta, Arellano, and Vaughan left the party on the east 

end and drove to the party in the Arbolada. Scarminach was sitting in the living 

room with Whitman and Garret Gross when appellant entered the room with Huerta 

and Arellano. Appellant asked Gross and Whitman where they were from. Gross 

and Whitman each replied that they were from Ojai. Appellant then focused on 

Scarminach and angrily said, "Stomps, OSL. Where the fuck are you from?"2 

Scarminach responded, "I don't need to answer to you." Appellant confronted 

Scarminach about the color of his clothing and referred to his shoes. Scarminach 

raised his feet in the air and asked, "Do you have a problem with my shoes?" The 

two began cursing at each other and Scarminach displayed a gang sign.

Appellant and Scarminach went outside and appellant demanded, 

"What do you claim." Scarminach responded, "Meiners Oaks," to which appellant 

replied, "OSL 13[.]"3 Appellant and Scarminach were both agitated and prepared 

to fight. Nestingen, Whitman, Luna, and Huerta all urged them not to do so. 

Nestingen took Scarminach to a bedroom and told Scarminach's girlfriend, Krista 

 

2 Appellant's gang moniker was "Stomps" or "Stompers."

3 Reference to the number 13, the numerical value of the letter M, connotes 

respect for the Mexican Mafia.
4

Petler, what had happened. Scarminach still wanted to fight appellant but Petler 

was able to calm him down. When another guest asked appellant what had 

happened, appellant alluded to an incident that had taken place at the skate park 

earlier that day.

Scarminach and his friends decided to go to Nestingen's house. 

Nestingen invited Vaughan and several others to join them but said, "Don’t bring 

the Mexicans with you." Appellant and Huerta asked Vaughan if they could go 

with her. She told them they were not invited but agreed to give them a ride so long 

as they did not walk into the party with her. Arellano rode with someone else.

About 30 people attended the Meiners Oaks party, which was held in

a guest house on the same property as Nestingen's house. When appellant arrived, 

Nestingen urged him and Scarminach to settle their differences. They both refused 

and walked away.

Just before 2:00 a.m., Scarminach and Petler went out on the porch. 

Appellant told Huerta he wanted to talk to Scarminach. Appellant, Huerta, and 

Arellano approached Scarminach and asked him to come off the porch and speak 

with them. Appellant told Scarminach that he wanted to fight. Appellant asked 

Scarminach where he was from and they both reiterated their gang affiliations. 

Petler tried to calm everyone down but Huerta pushed her back inside the guest 

house.

Appellant and Scarminach walked toward the front of the guest house 

and "square[d] off" against each other. Scarminach removed his outer shirt and 

baseball cap. The two then exchanged a few punches. Scarminach—who stood six 

feet and one-inch tall and weighed approximately 165 pounds—appeared to be 

getting the better of appellant, who was five feet and three inches tall and weighed 

about 130 pounds. Approximately 10 to 15 seconds after the first punch was 

thrown, appellant pulled out a concealed knife and stabbed Scarminach in the 
5

stomach. When Scarminach fell to the ground, appellant jumped on top of him and 

repeatedly stabbed and cut him.

Appellant ran down the driveway toward the street, leaving a trail of 

blood droplets. Appellant called his mother, Jeanine Arellanes, and asked if she 

could pick him up. Arellanes drove to the location appellant had given her and 

found him behind a parked car on the side of the road. She chastised him for being 

out late but did not ask any questions.

Several people at the Meiners Oaks party called 911. Nestingen told 

everyone that Scarminach had been hurt and asked them to leave. Those who knew 

Scarminach stayed and surrounded him as he lay on the ground. Nestingen

summoned the help of his mother, an occupational therapist, who administered CPR 

to Scarminach until the paramedics arrived. When the police arrived, several 

people identified appellant as the stabber.

Scarminach died at the scene. The autopsy revealed that he had 

suffered 17 cuts and 7 or 8 stab wounds, 2 of which were independently fatal. One 

was a deep, jagged stab wound over the right jaw that penetrated the neck and cut 

the carotid artery. The other was a five- or six-inch deep stab wound through the 

chest that perforated the left lung and penetrated through the heart. Scarminach also 

suffered three cuts to the back, a deep stab wound just below the neck that 

penetrated muscle and bone, four stabbing and cutting wounds to the side of the 

right temple, a long cut down the lower chest and waist, and a V-shaped stab wound 

to the wrist. Scarminach's blood alcohol level was .07 at the time of his death and 

he tested positive for Ecstasy, marijuana, and the anti-seizure medication Dilantin.

Several hours after the killing, the police entered appellant's residence 

in Meiners Oaks to conduct a probation search.4 Appellant was alone and asleep in 

bed. The officers woke him up and interviewed him. During the interview, 

 

4 Appellant was on probation and was subject to search terms.
6

appellant removed a gauze bandage from his right hand and revealed "slice" injuries 

on the inside of his index and middle fingers. Appellant claimed he had suffered 

the injury while climbing a chain-link fence at school. He denied being present at 

the Meiners Oaks party and claimed he was at home all night. When the police 

interviewed Arellanes later that day, she said appellant had called her for a ride 

home the previous night and showed them where she picked him up. Arellano

initially denied he was at the Meiners Oaks party, but later admitted he was present 

and witnessed the incident.

After appellant was arrested, the police searched his residence and 

cell phone and found numerous items indicative of gang activity. In July 2009, 

gang-related writings were confiscated from appellant's cell in juvenile hall, 

including one in which he identified himself as "an evil-minded gangster." In 

another writing he stated, "I see a red figure and I go pull the trigger," which was a 

reference to MOB members. Similar writings were confiscated three months later. 

In December 2009, appellant got into a fight with another MOB member. After the 

two were separated, appellant yelled, "Fuck you and your homie. May your homie 

rest in piss."

Ventura County Sheriff's Detective Steven Jenkins testified as the 

prosecution's gang expert. Detective Jenkins opined that OSL was a criminal street 

gang, that appellant was a member of the gang, and that he committed the crime for 

the gang's benefit. When presented with a hypothetical based on the facts of the 

case, Detective Jenkins said it described "a classic gang crime."

Defense

Appellant began seeing mental health professionals when was he was 

about six years old. His stepfather physically and emotionally abused him and his 

mother on a regular basis. When he was 10 to 11 years old, he starting running 

away from home. On one occasion, he threatened to kill himself and was placed in 
7

a psychiatric facility. He was frequently truant from school by age 12 and was 

suspended from middle school for having a knife.

Dr. Ellen Yoshimura, a clinical psychologist employed by the Ventura 

County Behavioral Health Department, first met with appellant when he was 12

years old. She concluded that appellant was presently suffering from chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety due to the abuse his stepfather had 

inflicted on both him and his mother. The doctor also noted, however, that 

appellant got along well with his stepfather and was very close with him. Dr. 

Yoshimura began treating appellant on an ongoing basis a year after his arrest. She 

maintained appellant's PTSD diagnosis throughout his treatment and later added 

diagnoses of conduct disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety 

disorder.

Dr. Sandor Dresnin, a psychiatrist who specializes in adolescents, first 

saw appellant when he was 12 and in juvenile hall for assaulting his mother. Dr. 

Dresnin treated appellant approximately 24 times over the next 6 years. Appellant's 

initial diagnosis was anxiety disorder with secondary PTSD, with the latter 

subsequently becoming more prominent. Dr. Dresnin subsequently added a 

diagnosis of conduct disorder, which is frequently a precursor of antisocial 

personality disorder. Appellant displayed symptoms of OCD and engaged in fights.

Dr. Donald Hoagland, a psychologist, was retained by the defense to 

evaluate appellant's mental status at the time of the offense. Dr. Hoagland met with 

appellant approximately 12 times beginning in April 2010. Dr. Hoagland diagnosed 

appellant as suffering from PTSD with dissociative features as of the date of the 

offense. The doctor also diagnosed appellant with conduct disorder and OCD, and 

in later 2011 added a diagnosis of Tourette's Syndrome. The diagnosis of PTSD 

was based in part on appellant's claim that he had been sexually abused by a female 
8

family friend from around the age of four.5 Appellant had also reported 

experiencing dissociative reactions since the age of five.

Dr. Hoagland opined that appellant killed Scarminach "while he was 

in a dissociative state" in that "[h]e was separated from the reality of what he was 

doing, and he did not know or have awareness of what he was doing at the time. It 

was a dissociation based on fear or survival." This opinion was based on appellant's 

"perception" that Scarminach was lunging at him with a knife. Dr. Hoagland 

acknowledged that his opinion was dependent upon unconfirmed information that 

appellant had conveyed to him.

Appellant also presented evidence of Scarminach's participation and 

interest in gang culture and his affiliations with the MOB and the Demons 

Motorcycle Club, the latter of which had ties to the Hell's Angels. There was also 

evidence that on the afternoon before the murder, someone using Scarminach's 

computer accessed appellant's social media profile.

Rebuttal

Dr. Kris Mohandie, a clinical and forensic psychologist experienced 

in treating individuals suffering from PTSD and dissociative disorders, was retained 

by the prosecution to evaluate appellant. Appellant refused to be evaluated. Dr. 

Mohandie found no evidence that appellant was in a dissociative state or 

experiencing a posttraumatic reaction when he stabbed Scarminach. The doctor 

believed that appellant's claims to that effect indicated malingering. Dr. Mohandie 

diagnosed appellant with a severe, childhood-onset conduct disorder that had 

progressed to antisocial personality disorder by the time of trial. Appellant also 

displayed characteristics of juvenile psychopathy. Dr. Mohandie also concluded 

 

5 Appellant made this claim for the first time in May 2012. He never told 

Dr. Dresnin about any sexual abuse. Dr. Dresnin was "highly skeptical" of the 

claim of abuse given the timing of the allegation and surmised that appellant "could 

simply be manipulating the therapist regarding titillation, i.e., controlling or trying 

to build a new case for his defense."
9

that Dr. Hoagland's findings were invalid to the extent he deviated from the 

standard instructions for the personality and trauma symptom inventories he 

administered to appellant.

DISCUSSION

I.

Scarminach's Mental Health Records

During pretrial discovery, it was disclosed that Scarminach was 

receiving mental health treatment at the time of his death. Appellant subpoenaed 

Scarminach's mental health records and moved ex parte for their release. At 

appellant's request, unredacted versions of the motion, points and authorities, and 

counsel's supporting declarations were filed under seal "to safeguard attorney-client 

privileged communications and attorney work-product." Scarminach's mother 

asserted that the records were privileged and objected to their release. (Evid. Code, 

§§ 1012, 1013, subd. (c).) The Ventura County Behavioral Health Department also 

objected on grounds of confidentiality. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 5328 et seq.) The 

People opposed the request and asked the court to review the records in camera to 

determine whether appellant had established good cause for their release.

The court rejected appellant's claim that the privilege had been 

waived. In a written decision, the court concluded that the records were both 

privileged and irrelevant to the proceedings and accordingly denied the request. 

The parties were given a redacted version of the court's decision, and the unredacted 

version (which includes references to privileged information contained in the 

subpoenaed records and counsel's declarations) was filed under seal.

Appellant asks us to review the sealed materials to determine whether 

the court abused its discretion in refusing to release the subpoenaed records

regarding Scarminach's mental health treatment. We conclude the court had no 

duty to review the subpoenaed records in camera, much less release them to 

appellant. "[T]rial court[s are] not required, at the pretrial stage of the proceedings, 
10

to review or grant discovery of privileged information in the hands of third party 

psychotherapy providers." (People v. Hammon (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1117, 1119.) 

Appellant's reliance on People v. Reber (1986) 177 Cal.App.3d 523, is unavailing 

because the case has been overruled on the very point for which it is offered. 

(Hammon, at p. 1123; see also Rinaker v. Superior Court (1998) 62 Cal.App.4th 

155, 166 [recognizing same].)

We have reviewed the sealed materials and conclude the court did not 

abuse its discretion in finding that appellant failed to show good cause for release of 

the records and that the records are irrelevant and undiscoverable.

II.

Sufficiency of the Evidence - First Degree Murder

Appellant contends the evidence is insufficient to support his 

conviction of first degree murder on either of the theories proffered by the 

prosecution, i.e., that he (1) acted with premeditation and deliberation, and/or (2) 

committed the crime while lying in wait. (§ 189.) We disagree.

In reviewing claims of insufficient evidence, we examine the entire 

record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether there is 

substantial evidence—evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—

from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a 

reasonable doubt. (People v. Maciel (2013) 57 Cal.4th 482, 514-515.) We do not 

reweigh the evidence or reassess the credibility of witnesses. (People v. Houston

(2012) 54 Cal.4th 1186, 1215.) We accept the logical inferences that the jury might 

have drawn from the evidence even if we would have concluded otherwise. (People 

v. Streeter (2012) 54 Cal.4th 205, 241.) If the trier of fact's findings are reasonably 

justified by the circumstances, the opinion of the reviewing court that a contrary 

finding might also reasonably be reconciled with the circumstances does not 

warrant reversing the judgment. (People v. Jones (2013) 57 Cal.4th 899, 961.)
11

"A verdict of deliberate and premeditated first degree murder requires 

more than a showing of intent to kill. [Citation.] 'Deliberation' refers to careful 

weighing of considerations in forming a course of action; 'premeditation' means 

thought over in advance. [Citations.]" (People v. Koontz (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1041, 

1080.) "'The true test is not the duration of time as much as it is the extent of the 

reflection.' [Citations.] . . . '[T]houghts may follow each other with great rapidity 

and cold, calculated judgment may be arrived at quickly.' [Citation.] . . . [A] killing 

resulting from preexisting reflection, of any duration, is readily distinguishable from 

a killing based on unconsidered or rash impulse. [Citation.]" (People v. Solomon 

(2010) 49 Cal.4th 792, 813.)

People v. Anderson (1968) 70 Cal.2d 15 (Anderson) discusses three 

types of evidence that are commonly shown in cases of premeditated murder: 

planning activity, preexisting motive, and manner of killing. (Id. at pp. 26-27.) 

However, "Anderson did not purport to establish an exhaustive list that would 

exclude all other types and combinations of evidence that could support a finding of 

premeditation and deliberation. [Citation.]" (People v. Perez (1992) 2 Cal.4th 

1117, 1125.)

The evidence is sufficient to support a finding that appellant acted 

with premeditation and deliberation in killing Scarminach. Detective Jenkins 

accurately described it as "a classic gang crime." Motive can be inferred from the 

fact that the murder was gang-related. (See People v. Gonzales (2011) 52 Cal.4th 

254, 295; People v. Sandoval (1992) 4 Cal.4th 155, 175.) Appellant's plan to 

commit the crime can be inferred from the evidence that he and Scarminach had 

encountered each other earlier that day, the manner in which he sought out 

Scarminach and repeatedly approached him to solicit an altercation, and the fact 

that he armed himself with a knife. (See People v. Romero (2008) 44 Cal.4th 386, 

401 [defendant's decision to arm himself with a weapon supported inference that he 

planned to use it to kill rival gang members, such that he could be found to have 
12

acted with premeditation and deliberation].) Finally, the manner in which appellant 

committed the killing—which included cutting Scarminach's throat and inflicting 

other wounds that were plainly calculated to result in his death— amply supports 

the finding that he acted with premeditation and deliberation. (See People v. 

Hernandez (1988) 47 Cal.3d 315, 350 ["calculated" rather than "random" manner of 

killing may support finding of premeditated murder]; Anderson, supra, 70 Cal.2d at 

p. 27 ["exacting" manner of killing is indicative of premeditation].)

In light of our conclusion that the evidence is sufficient to support the 

finding that appellant killed Scarminach with premeditation and deliberation, we 

need not decide whether the evidence supports a finding that he committed the 

crime while lying in wait. (People v. Sandoval (2015) 62 Cal.4th 394, 424.)

III.

Alleged Instructional Errors

A.

Voluntary Manslaughter

Appellant claims the court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on 

voluntary manslaughter based on sudden quarrel/heat of passion. We conclude 

otherwise.

In a criminal matter, a trial court must instruct the jury on general 

principles of law relevant to issues raised by the evidence. (People v. Walker

(2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 111, 114.) This requirement includes instructing a jury on 

a lesser included offense "if there is substantial evidence from which a jury could 

reasonably conclude that the defendant committed the lesser, uncharged offense but 

not the greater, charged offense. [Citation.]" (People v. Thomas (2012) 53 Cal.4th 

771, 813.) There must be some basis, "'other than an unexplainable rejection of 

prosecution evidence, on which the jury could find the offense to be less than that 

charged.' [Citations.]" (Walker, at p. 117.) The obligation to instruct on lesser 

included offenses applies even absent a request from the defendant for an 
13

instruction and over a defendant's express objection to an instruction. (Id. at p. 

115.) But the court has no duty "to instruct on theories that have no such 

evidentiary support. [Citation.]" (People v. Smith (2013) 57 Cal.4th 232, 240.)

A defendant who commits an intentional and unlawful killing lacks 

malice when the defendant acts as a result of a sudden quarrel or heat of passion. 

(People v. Moye (2009) 47 Cal.4th 537, 549 (Moye).) Such heat of passion or 

provocation is a "'theor[y] of partial exculpation' that reduce[s] murder to 

manslaughter by negating the element of malice [Citation.]" (Ibid.)

"The heat of passion requirement for manslaughter has both an 

objective and a subjective component. [Citation.] The defendant must actually, 

subjectively, kill under the heat of passion. [Citation.] But the circumstances 

giving rise to the heat of passion are also viewed objectively." (People v. Steele

(2002) 27 Cal.4th 1230, 1252.) "'"To satisfy the objective or 'reasonable person'

element of this form of voluntary manslaughter, the accused's heat of passion must 

be due to 'sufficient provocation.'" [Citation.]' [Citation.]" (Moye, supra, 47 

Cal.4th at p. 549.) "'The provocative conduct by the victim may be physical or 

verbal, but the conduct must be sufficiently provocative that it would cause an 

ordinary person of average disposition to act rashly or without due deliberation and 

reflection. [Citations.]' [Citation.]" (Id. at p. 550.) Since the test is an objective 

one, a defendant's particular susceptibilities are irrelevant. (People v. Oropeza

(2007) 151 Cal.App.4th 73, 83.) "'[N]o defendant may set up his own standard of 

conduct and justify or excuse himself because in fact his passions were aroused, 

unless further the jury believe that the facts and circumstances were sufficient to 

arouse the passions of the ordinarily reasonable man.' [Citation.]" (Steele, supra, at

pp. 1252-1253.)

During the jury instructions conference, the parties agreed that the 

jury should be instructed on voluntary manslaughter because, as the court put it, 

"the jurors could find that it's a killing where there's an intent to kill but where 
14

there's no malice aforethought." The prosecutor objected, however, to defense 

counsel's request that the jury also be instructed on provocation (CALCRIM No. 

522) and sudden quarrel/heat of passion (CALCRIM No. 570). The prosecutor 

asserted that these instructions were unwarranted because there was no evidence 

that appellant was either provoked or had killed Scarminach because of a sudden 

quarrel or while in the heat of passion. The court reserved its ruling as to both 

proffered instructions.

When the parties reconvened a few days later, the prosecutor 

withdrew its request for a voluntary manslaughter instruction "unless the court finds 

that one of the requested instructions, imperfect self-defense provocation or heat of 

passion[,] is appropriate." The court replied that it was disinclined to give any of 

the three instructions because "there is no evidence in this record at all of what the 

state of mind of the defendant was." Defense counsel complained that "there was 

an agreement that voluntary [manslaughter] was going to be given, albeit it was on 

a different theory." After giving defense counsel additional time to research the 

issue, the court formally declined to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter or 

sudden quarrel/heat of passion. The court noted "a failure to proof of a normal 

component of heat of passion on these facts" and reasoned that "[m]utual consent to 

have a fight because the people involved are from different gangs" did not support a 

theory of voluntary manslaughter. The jury was, however, instructed on 

provocation as it related to the determination whether appellant was guilty of first or 

second degree murder.6

The court did not err in refusing to instruct on voluntary manslaughter 

or sudden quarrel/heat of passion. As appellant acknowledges, our Supreme Court 

 

6 The jury was instructed in accordance with CALCRIM No. 522 as follows: 

"Provocation may reduce a murder from first degree to second degree. The weight 

and significance of the provocation, if any, are for you to decide. [¶] If you 

conclude that the defendant committed murder but was provoked, consider the 

provocation in deciding whether the crime was first or second degree murder."
15

has repeatedly "rejected arguments that insults or gang-related challenges would 

induce sufficient provocation in an ordinary person to merit an instruction on 

voluntary manslaughter. [Citations.]" (People v. Enraca (2012) 53 Cal.4th 735, 

759.) He nevertheless purports to distinguish the instant case on the ground that 

"the altercation progressed well beyond verbal posturing and manifested into a 

physical fight."

If anything, the circumstances provide further support for our 

conclusion that instructions on voluntary manslaughter were properly refused. 

"'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.]" 

(People v. Avila (2009) 46 Cal.4th 680, 705.) The evidence at trial demonstrated 

that appellant initiated the altercation by approaching Scarminach and asking him to 

identify his gang affiliation. Moreover, there was no "sudden quarrel" here. 

Appellant and Scarminach each challenged the other to fight on more than one 

occasion over the course of the night. After it appeared that the situation had been 

defused, appellant called Scarminach aside and yet again instigated a fight. When 

they finally agreed to fight, they each walked to a separate area and "squared off." 

Less than 20 seconds after they began hitting each other, appellant pulled out a 

knife and stabbed Scarminach. Nothing Scarminach said or did that night could 

have been found by the jury to have "arouse[d] feelings of homicidal rage or 

passion in an ordinarily reasonable person," such that appellant was guilty of no 

more than voluntary manslaughter. (People v. Pride (1992) 3 Cal.4th 195, 250; 

Avila, supra, at p. 706.)

Appellant also asserts that the error in failing to instruct on voluntary 

manslaughter had the additional consequence of violating his due process rights by 

effectively removing from the jury's consideration an essential element of the crime 
16

of murder, i.e., the absence of provocation. This assertion, however, merely begs 

the question whether there was any evidence of provocation. (See People v. Ngo 

(2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 126, 158, fn. 20, italics added, citation omitted [recognizing 

"that when provocation is put at issue, proof of malice requires the prosecution to 

prove the absence of provocation"]; see also People v. Rios (2000) 23 Cal.4th 450, 

461-462, citations omitted ["[U]nless the People's own evidence suggests that the 

killing may have been provoked . . ., it is the defendant's obligation to proffer some 

showing on these issues sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt of his guilt of 

murder"].) Despite the fact that no such evidence was present here, appellant's 

claim is belied by the fact that the jurors were instructed they could convict 

appellant of second degree murder if they found he was provoked. (CALCRIM No. 

522.)

B.

Involuntary Manslaughter

Appellant contends the court also violated a sua sponte duty to 

instruct the jury on involuntary manslaughter based on the theory that appellant 

suffered from a mental disorder that prevented him from forming the intent to kill. 

We are not persuaded.

Involuntary manslaughter occurs where there is an unlawful killing of 

a human being without malice "in the commission of an unlawful act, not 

amounting to a felony; or in the commission of a lawful act which might produce 

death, in an unlawful manner, or without due caution and circumspection." (§ 192, 

subd. (b).) Evidence of a mental disorder is admissible and relevant to prove that a 

defendant lacked the specific intent to kill, such that he or she could be found guilty 

of no more than involuntary manslaughter. (§ 28; People v. Rogers (2006) 39 

Cal.4th 826, 884.)

Dr. Hoagland's testimony that appellant committed the crime while in 

a dissociative state was insufficient to require instructions on involuntary 
17

manslaughter. The doctor's testimony on this point was of no assistance. "[A]ny 

material that forms the basis of an expert's opinion testimony must be reliable. 

[Citation.] For 'the law does not accord to the expert's opinion the same degree of 

credence or integrity as it does the data underlying the opinion. Like a house built 

on sand, the expert's opinion is no better than the facts on which it is based.'

[Citation.]" (People v. Gardeley (1996) 14 Cal.4th 605, 618, disapproved on 

another ground in People v. Sanchez (June 30, 2016) __ Cal.4th __ 2016 

WL3557001, *13, fn. 13.) Dr. Hoagland's opinion is based on appellant's 

inadmissible hearsay statements, and the jury was instructed that the doctor's 

reliance on those statements could not be considered "as proof that the information 

contained in the statements is true." (CALCRIM No. 360.) We presume the jury 

understood and followed this instruction. (People v. Sanchez (2001) 26 Cal.4th 

834, 852.)

Even if the court should have instructed on involuntary manslaughter, 

the error would be harmless. Under the instructions that were actually given, the 

jury necessarily would have acquitted appellant had it found that he lacked the 

intent to kill by reason of a mental disorder. (CALCRIM. No. 3428.) In convicting 

him of first degree murder the jury found he "acted with express malice, necessarily 

rejecting the view that the killing was manslaughter. Because the jury resolved the 

factual finding requisite to involuntary manslaughter against [appellant], he cannot 

have been prejudiced by the lack of an instruction on involuntary manslaughter 

instruction [sic]. [Citation.]" (People v. Cook (2006) 39 Cal.4th 566, 597.)

IV.

Denial of Defense Request to Reopen

Appellant contends the court erred in denying his request to reopen 

after both sides had rested so that he could testify in his own behalf. He claims the 

refusal amounts to a violation of his constitutional rights to due process and a fair 

trial and his right to present a defense. We are not persuaded.
18

"The decision to reopen a criminal matter to permit the introduction of 

additional evidence is a matter left to the broad discretion of the trial court. 

[Citations.]" (People v. Jones (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1, 66.) "In determining whether a 

trial court has abused its discretion in denying a defense request to reopen, the 

reviewing court considers the following factors: '(1) the stage the proceedings had 

reached when the motion was made; (2) the defendant's diligence (or lack thereof) 

in presenting the new evidence; (3) the prospect that the jury would accord the new 

evidence undue emphasis; and (4) the significance of the evidence.' [Citation.]" 

(People v. Jones (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1084, 1110 (Jones).)

When the defense rested, the court had yet to decide whether to 

instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter based on sudden quarrel or heat of 

passion. The court did not announce its decision until after both sides had rested. 

Defense counsel then asked the court to allow appellant to testify, claiming she had 

advised him not to do so based on the prior understanding that the jury would be 

instructed on voluntary manslaughter. Counsel acknowledged, however, that there 

was no prior understanding that the court would instruct on sudden quarrel/heat of 

passion voluntary manslaughter and that the prosecutor had objected to any such 

instructions. Counsel added that it would also be necessary to recall Dr. Hoagland 

and the defense's gang expert.

The court denied the request to reopen. In addition to pointing out 

that appellant had several opportunities to testify during trial and that Dr. 

Hoagland's testimony had been fatally undermined by his failure to do so, the court 

also reasoned that "[t]he defendant doesn't necessarily in any case get to know what 

the jury instructions are going to look like before he decides whether to testify . . . . 

[¶] [L]ike any other defendant, [he] makes his decision about what evidence to put 

out there and the Court decides based on the evidence that's been put out there what 

the instructions are going to be. Not the other way around. . . . The instructions 

follow the presentation of proof."
19

The court did not abuse its discretion. The late stage of the 

proceedings plainly weighed in favor of the court's ruling. Appellant also had 

ample opportunity to testify. Although defense counsel claimed she had advised

appellant not to testify based upon the parties' earlier agreement that the jury would 

be instructed on voluntary manslaughter, counsel knew that the agreement related to 

a theory other than sudden quarrel/heat of passion. Given the late stage of the 

proceedings, there was also a danger that the jury would accord undue emphasis to 

the new evidence. Finally, the significance of the evidence cannot be assessed 

because counsel declined to make an offer of proof as to the substance of appellant's 

proposed testimony.

Appellant's argument that the court abused its discretion in denying 

his request to reopen consists of an inapt analogy to Jones, supra, 30 Cal.4th 1084, 

in which the court found an abuse of discretion in refusing to reopen after both sides 

had rested, and an unsuccessful attempt to meaningfully distinguish People v. 

Earley (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 542 (Earley), in which the court found no abuse of 

discretion. In Jones, the defendant merely sought to reopen in order to lay the 

foundation for a photograph of a man who was also depicted in other photographs 

that had been admitted into evidence, and a photograph of another man who had 

actually been present in court. (Jones, supra, at p. 1110.) In reversing, the court 

reasoned that reopening for such a limited purpose would not have resulted in an 

undue consumption of time and that no further evidence would have been 

introduced. (Id. at p. 1111.) This bears no resemblance to the instant case, which, 

among other things, would have required the recalling of witnesses who had already 

been excused.

Earley is much closer to the instant case. The trial court in Earley, 

like the trial court here, refused to reopen so that the defendant could testify after 

both sides had rested but before the jury had been instructed. In concluding that this 

ruling was not an abuse of discretion, the Court of Appeal reasoned in part that 
20

"[h]ad [the] defendant been permitted to testify it would have prolonged the trial 

and may have required the prosecution to present rebuttal testimony from an expert 

who, in turn, would first have to conduct further testing." (Earley, supra, 122 

Cal.App.4th at p. 546.) Although the court also concluded that the defendant's 

proffered testimony "did not propose to offer any new, particularly significant,

evidence" (ibid.), here we can only surmise as to the substance and extent of the 

proposed testimony. In any event, Earley does not purport to set a benchmark for 

rulings on motions to reopen to allow a defendant to testify. The decision whether 

to reopen in these circumstances "is almost wholly within the discretion of the trial 

judge" and "[h]is ruling must stand in the absence of a clear showing of abuse of 

discretion. [Citation.]" (People v. Kohn (1968) 258 Cal.App.2d 368, 377.) 

Appellant fails to make such a showing here.

DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.

PERREN, J.

We concur:

GILBERT, P. J.

YEGAN, J.
James P. Cloninger, Judge

Superior Court County of Ventura

______________________________

Patricia A. Scott, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant 

and Appellant.

Kamala Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant 

Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan 

Pithey, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, and Robert M. Snider, Deputy Attorney 

General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.