Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2d/145/245.html
Timestamp: 2019-10-23 20:20:23
Document Index: 697733772

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1831', '§ 1832', '§ 1906', '§ 4', '§ 19', '§ 1127']

People v. Yokum :: :: California Court of Appeal Decisions :: California Case Law :: California Law :: US Law :: Justia
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People v. Yokum
Appellant does not attack the sufficiency of the evidence to support the judgment, but contends that the trial court committed the following reversible errors: (1) Refusing to give three requested instructions: CALJIC Numbers 26, 27 and 28; (2) omitting four essential instructions upon a rereading of the instructions to the jury; (3) exceeding permissible bounds when commenting on the evidence during [145 Cal. App. 2d 248] the charge to the jury; and (4) excluding evidence. Before discussing these contentions we shall give a brief summary of the evidence as shown by the record.
After Marie had returned to the kitchen and from five to fifteen minutes after the scuffle between defendant and her husband, the latter was sitting or standing and talking with Shuster. Shuster stated, "Well, I was just standing there talking to Don, and I just noticed him make a sudden lurch or dive, and I heard a shot, and he dropped." He did not hear either defendant or her husband say anything. Marie Lancaster heard the shot, turned and saw Yokum lying on the floor and saw defendant standing with a rifle in her hand. [145 Cal. App. 2d 249] Neither Mrs. Lancaster nor Mr. Shuster saw defendant before Donald Yokum was shot.
Appellant contends that the court erred in refusing to give three instructions offered by her. The substance of these was as follows: (a) CALJIC Number 26 states that where the evidence is susceptible of two constructions, it is the jury's duty to adopt that construction which points to the defendant's innocence; (b) CALJIC Number 27 states that where circumstantial evidence is relied upon as proof of guilt to justify a conviction, the facts or circumstances must not only be entirely consistent with the theory of guilt but must be inconsistent with any other rational conclusion: (3) CALJIC [145 Cal. App. 2d 250] Number 28 states that each essential fact in a chain of circumstances must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
"Direct evidence is that which proves the fact in dispute, directly, without an inference or presumption, and which in itself, if true, conclusively establishes that fact." (Code Civ. Proc., § 1831.) "Indirect evidence is that which tends to establish the fact in dispute by proving another, and which, though true, does not of itself conclusively establish that fact, but which affords an inference or presumption of its existence." (Code Civ. Proc., § 1832.)
[1] The terms "indirect evidence" and "circumstantial evidence" are interchangeable and synonymous. As is well stated in People v. Goldstein, 139 Cal. App. 2d 146, at page 152 [293 P.2d 495]:
"Circumstantial evidence is that which is applied to the principal fact, indirectly, or through the medium of other facts, from which the principal fact is inferred. The characteristics of circumstantial evidence, as distinguished from that which is direct, are, first, the existence and presentation of one or more evidentiary facts; and, second, a process of inference, by which these facts are so connected with the fact sought as to tend to produce a persuasion of its truth. (Burrill on Circumstantial Evidence, 4, 5.) An inference is a conclusion as to the existence of a material fact that a trier of fact may properly draw from the existence of certain primary facts. (Blank v. Coffin, 20 Cal. 2d 457, 460 [126 P.2d [145 Cal. App. 2d 251] 868].) Inferences drawn from physical facts amount to circumstantial evidence. (McCreedy v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 212 S.C. 449 [48 S.E.2d 193, 196].) It has been said that circumstantial evidence, as distinguished from direct evidence, is testimony not based on actual personal knowledge or observation of the facts in controversy, but of other facts from which deductions are drawn, showing indirectly the facts sought to be proved. (Aday v. State, 28 Okla. Crim. 201 [230 P. 280, 281].)"
In People v. Yrigoyen, 45 Cal. 2d 46 [286 P.2d 1], the Supreme Court found reversible error in the court's failure to give on its own motion an instruction embodying the principle (CALJIC Number 27) that to justify a conviction on circumstantial evidence the facts and circumstances must not only be entirely consistent with the theory of guilt but must be inconsistent with any other rational conclusion. In that case proof of guilt was not entirely circumstantial as in People v. Bender, 27 Cal. 2d 164 [163 P.2d 8], cited by respondent. The court said at page 49:
"... It is true that in the Bender case proof of guilt was entirely circumstantial, whereas in the present case there was direct evidence that defendant issued the check without sufficient funds in or credit with the bank, and circumstantial evidence was relied upon to show his criminal knowledge and intent. However, in the Bender case, it is stated that where circumstantial evidence is substantially relied upon for proof of guilt, adequate instructions on the rules governing [145 Cal. App. 2d 252] the application of such evidence must be given. (27 Cal.2d at p. 175.) And it has been held that the instruction must be given where criminal knowledge is shown only by circumstantial evidence. (People v. Candiotto, 128 Cal. App. 2d 347, 355-356 [275 P.2d 500].) Cases holding that the instruction need not be given, even upon request, where circumstantial evidence is only incidental or corroborative are not, of course, applicable here. (See People v. Jerman, 29 Cal. 2d 189, 197 [173 P.2d 805]; People v. Alexander, 92 Cal. App. 2d 230, 235 [206 P.2d 657].)"
And in People v. Candiotto, 128 Cal. App. 2d 347 [275 P.2d 500], cited in People v. Yrigoyen, supra, the court said at page 357:
"Plaintiff contends that when the evidence is primarily direct and the circumstantial evidence is merely incidental or corroborative, the jury need not be instructed that the evidence must be irreconcilable with the theory of innocence. That is true within the meaning of such statements as made in People v. Jerman, 29 Cal. 2d 189 [173 P.2d 805], and People v. Harmon, 89 Cal. App. 2d 55 [200 P.2d 32]. In the Jerman case, the defendant's own testimony gave evidence of every element of the charge. Hence every element of the charge was covered by direct evidence, none thereof depended upon circumstantial evidence. Obviously, in such a case, the circumstantial evidence was 'incidental' or 'corroborative'; the evidence relied upon was 'primarily' direct; and by definition the rule under discussion did not apply. Similarly, in the Harmon case, the reviewing court, having found that the accused 'admitted the possession of narcotics' (p. 61 of 89 Cal.App.2d, presumably an admission made on the witness stand), concluded that this and other direct evidence relegated the circumstantial evidence to a secondary position; no element of the charge depended primarily or solely upon circumstantial evidence. If proof of a significant element of the charge depends upon circumstantial evidence, the instruction should be given. Thus, in People v. Hatchett, supra, 63 Cal. App. 2d 144 [146 P.2d 469], the defendant, under prosecution for murder, admitted the shooting but claimed it was done in self-defense. The state's evidence bearing upon that issue was almost wholly circumstantial. Failure to give the instruction was cause for reversal of the judgment. In People v. Rayol, 65 Cal. App. 2d 462 [150 P.2d 812], there was direct evidence (testimony of witnesses) of the physical acts committed but the question whether or not the defendant was a [145 Cal. App. 2d 253] knowing participant rested entirely upon circumstantial evidence. Judgment was reversed for failure to give the instruction. Similarly, in the instant case, proof of defendant's knowledge wholly depended upon circumstantial evidence.
[6] Appellant contends also that the court erred in refusing to instruct the jury that where the evidence is susceptible of two constructions, each of which appears to be reasonable, one pointing to the guilt of the defendant and the other to her innocence, it is the jury's duty to adopt that interpretation which points to her innocence. In People v. Merkouris, 46 Cal. 2d 540, 560-563 [297 P.2d 999], where the evidence was entirely circumstantial, one of the four grounds upon which the court found reversible error was the trial court's failure to give the requested two reasonable theories instruction. In People v. Goldstein, supra, it was held error, but not prejudicial, to refuse to give requested instructions embodying the principles in CALJIC 26 and 27 where the court held that the evidence of defendant's guilt was clear. In People v. De Voe, 123 Cal. App. 233 [11 P.2d 26], the court held that the court did not err in refusing such instruction where the circumstantial evidence was merely incidental to and corroborative of the direct.
We believe that the instruction should have been given in the instant case because the proof of appellant's criminal [145 Cal. App. 2d 254] intent was based substantially upon circumstantial evidence, and the evidence was reasonably susceptible of several interpretations: (1) That appellant did not intend to kill her husband; (2) that she acted without malice; and (3) that she acted in self-defense. We are unable to agree with respondent's contention that the court's failure to give it was not prejudicial to appellant.
[7] Appellant contends further that the court erred in refusing to give CALJIC instruction Number 28 which states that each essential fact in a chain of circumstances must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. In People v. Watson, 46 Cal. 2d 818, 830-831 [299 P.2d 243], a case based wholly upon circumstantial evidence, cited by respondent, the Supreme Court held that in a case which rests entirely on circumstantial evidence it was error to refuse an instruction that each fact which is essential to complete a chain of circumstances that will establish defendant's guilt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Such error was not prejudicial where the jury was correctly instructed on the doctrine of reasonable doubt (CALJIC No. 21), the principles embodied in CALJIC Numbers 26 and 27 and other related matters. Respondent quotes in great detail from the Watson case where the Supreme Court reviews various decisions including People v. Mansour, 103 Cal. App. 2d 592 [230 P.2d 52], also cited by respondent. The Supreme Court said, pages 831-832:
"However, the jury here was correctly instructed on the doctrine of reasonable doubt (CALJIC No. 21; Penal Code, §§ 1906, 1906a), the law applicable where evidence is susceptible of different constructions (CALJIC No. 26), the principle that circumstantial evidence of defendant's guilt [145 Cal. App. 2d 255] must be inconsistent with any other rational hypothesis (CALJIC No. 27), and other related matters as above noted. Under the circumstances, it does not appear here that the court's failure to give a further instruction substantially in the language of CALJIC No. 28 has 'resulted in a miscarriage of justice' within the meaning of the constitutional provision as hereinafter discussed. (Const., art. VI, § 4 1/2.)"
[8] Appellant next contends that the court committed prejudicial error in omitting several essential instructions upon a rereading of the instructions to the jury. After the jury had retired to deliberate, it returned to the court and requested the rereading of instructions defining the various offenses included in the charge. Thereupon, the court read the instructions previously given defining first degree and second degree murder, premeditation and deliberation, the presumption that one intends the consequences of his voluntary acts and manslaughter. Then the jury made a further request that the court "read the other side; for the innocence." The court then stated it would read all instructions previously given. Instructions given to the jury when it was first charged and omitted on the rereading were CALJIC instructions Numbers 305-A, 305-B, 320 and 309-A. Appellant urges that because the jury were expecting a rereading of all instructions, the court's omission of these four instructions may have conveyed to the jury the impression that the court believed such instructions not applicable to this case. Number 305-A is to the effect that when the jury is in doubt as to whether the crime is murder of the first or second degree they must convict of second degree. However, as pointed out by respondent, the court did reread Number 115-A which states that if the jury entertains a reasonable doubt as to the degree of the crime it must convict the defendant of the lesser offense. Number 305-B is to the effect that the jury must agree unanimously before they can convict, but as pointed out by respondent, [145 Cal. App. 2d 256] the court did reread Number 115-B which is substantially to the same effect. Number 309-A ("due caution and circumspection" is a relative term) is repetitious of CALJIC Number 309 (definition of term "due caution and circumspection"). This omission was no doubt inadvertent as the court did reread a number of instructions relating to self-defense.
"From the evidence in this case it appears that shortly before the decedent was killed he made an unprovoked assault upon the defendant during which she suffered no serious injury, that she had withdrawn from the scene and that whatever danger to the defendant there might have been in that encounter had subsided. When a few minutes later she reappeared on the scene armed with a rifle, the decedent was [145 Cal. App. 2d 257] seated, or standing, in the living room talking to the witness Shuster. Was the defendant then in any present or imminent danger either actual or apparent of suffering great bodily injury? Were the circumstances then such as to warrant a well founded belief in the mind of a reasonable person that to save herself from death or great bodily injury that it was necessary to kill?
Section 19 of article VI of the California Constitution, adopted in 1934, provides that the court "may make such comment on the evidence and the testimony and credibility of any witness as in its opinion is necessary for the proper determination of the case." This section has been considered [145 Cal. App. 2d 258] by appellate courts in many decisions, the effect of which is well summarized in People v. Huff, 134 Cal. App. 2d 182, at page 187 [285 P.2d 17], as follows:
"While a judge may comment on the evidence, including the credibility of witnesses (Const., art VI, § 19; Pen. Code, § 1127), this privilege has its inherent limitations and must not be of a nature which would invade the province of the jury. (People v. Ottey, 5 Cal. 2d 714 [56 P.2d 193].) Even an expression of opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of a defendant may not be fatal provided the province of the jury is not invaded. (People v. Eudy, 12 Cal. 2d 41 [82 P.2d 359].) However, such comments should be temperately and fairly made and trial courts should be cautious in exercising this power of comment with a view to protecting the rights of the defendant. (People v. Dail, 22 Cal. 2d 642 [140 P.2d 828]; People v. DeMoss, 4 Cal. 2d 469 [50 P.2d 1031].) It has been held that it is improper to commend a witness in the presence of the jury because of the undue weight which would thus be given to the testimony of this witness. (People v. Frank, 71 Cal. App. 575 [236 P. 189].) A judge should be careful not to throw the weight of his judicial position in a case, either for or against the defendant. (People v. Mahoney, 201 Cal. 618 [258 P. 607].) The rule is well established that such comments on the evidence 'must be fair, temperate, judicial, dispassionate, and free from apparent contentiousness, partisanship or advocacy.' (People v. Hooper, 92 Cal. App. 2d 524 [207 P.2d 117].) Such comment must be fair and temperate and not argumentative to a degree that makes it characteristically an act of advocacy. (People v. Robinson, 73 Cal. App. 2d 233 [166 P.2d 17]; People v. DeMoss, 4 Cal. 2d 469 [50 P.2d 1031].)"
Appellant next contends that the trial court erred in rejecting evidence of prior threats and acts of violence by decedent toward appellant, which evidence was offered on the issue of self-defense and to show appellant's state of mind. Appellant argues that the excluded evidence was admissible on the issue of self-defense to show who was the probable [145 Cal. App. 2d 259] aggressor and to assist the jury to determine, in the light of the prior relations between the parties, whether her husband's lurching or diving gesture toward the defendant would naturally cause a reasonable person in her position to act in self-defense. Appellant argues further that such evidence was admissible for the purpose of showing provocation sufficient to reduce the killing to manslaughter.
[10] In California in a prosecution for murder where the defense of self-defense is interposed, the defendant may introduce evidence that the reputation of the deceased for peace and quiet was bad and known to him to be bad. (People v. Brophy, 122 Cal. App. 2d 638, 647-648 [265 P.2d 593], and People v. Keys, 62 Cal. App. 2d 903, 912 [145 P.2d 589], citing names.) The general rule is well expressed in 64 American Law Reports, at pages 1029, 1030, as follows:
A defendant may introduce evidence for the trait in question when the immediate circumstances of the killing are [145 Cal. App. 2d 260] equivocal and raise a doubt in regard to the question whether defendant acted in self-defense. (People v. Lombard, 17 Cal. 316; People v. Murray, 10 Cal. 309; People v. Edwards, 41 Cal. 640; and People v. Lamar, 148 Cal. 564 [83 P. 993].) In the instant case witness Shuster testified, "Well, I was just standing there talking to Don, and I just noticed him make a sudden lurch or dive, and I heard a shot, and he dropped." It could be said that the immediate circumstances of the killing render it doubtful whether the act was justifiable or not. Therefore, the evidence that decedent had a reputation for violence was admissible on the issue of self-defense. [11] Testimony that decedent had made prior threats against defendant is admissible if there is evidence tending to show any act of aggression committed by decedent at the time of the homicide indicating that he intended to attack defendant. Assuming that the act of decedent when he made a lurch or dive forward was such as would have aroused in defendant sufficient apprehension to obscure reason and render the average man liable to act rashly and defendant in fact did so act, the testimony of prior threats was admissible. (People v. Gonzales, 33 Cal. App. 340, 342 [164 P. 1131]; People v. Scoggins, 37 Cal. 676, 683; and People v. Lombard, 17 Cal. 316, 320; People v. Logan, 175 Cal. 45 [164 P. 1121].) See also 2 Wigmore (3d ed.) 44-65, sections 246-248.
In view of the foregoing we are convinced that the court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on circumstantial evidence and also that the court erred in excluding evidence as to the violent and turbulent character of decedent and of his prior threats against and violent conduct toward appellant. We are mindful of the most recent expression of our Supreme Court as to what constitutes reversible error under section 4 1/2 of article VI of our state Constitution, as stated in People v. Watson, 46 Cal. 2d 818 at page 836 [299 P.2d 243], as follows: "That a 'miscarriage of justice' should be declared only when the court, 'after an examination of the [145 Cal. App. 2d 261] entire cause, including the evidence,' is of the 'opinion' that it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error." [13] With this statement in mind we have made a careful study of the entire record and are of the opinion "that it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error."