Opinion ID: 2629972
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Prosecutorial Misconduct Griffin Error

Text: It was significant to the prosecution's case that the automobile defendant had borrowed from his girlfriend, Juanita Washington, had been parked near the scene of the homicide at or near the time of the crime. Washington testified defendant told her that his work had brought him to the neighborhood where he left the vehicle, but defendant's employer testified otherwise. During closing argument, the prosecutor commented upon the above circumstances, noting the close proximity of the vehicle to the scene of the crime, the ease of access from the crime scene to the alley that led to the parking space, and the circumstance that defendant did not reside or work in the area where the crime was committed. The prosecutor continued: Have you heard one single piece of evidence from the defense that tells you why that car was there? [¶] Weren't you waiting for it? Weren't you waiting for it? I'm sure you were waiting for it. You know that's uncontroverted. You knew that can't be denied. The prosecutor questioned the likelihood the vehicle would be parked so near the crime scene if defendant had not been involved in the crime, adding: And what are the odds that we go through this whole trial and not a single witness came in here to take the stand and tell you why. [¶] There is no why. The only why points directly to [defendant], that's why. [¶] There is no other explanation [aside from defendant's guilt]. If there was, you saw the investigator, you know he's been working on a case. You saw witnesses that have been subpoenaed by the defense, they could bring in anybody they want and they could bring in a person to say why that car was parked there. But you already know why. In his rebuttal argument, the prosecutor again stated that the defense didn't bring a single person in here to explain why that car was there. Defendant contends the quoted remarks constituted a comment on his failure to testify in his own defense, a violation of his privilege against self-incrimination as secured by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. (See Griffin v. California (1965) 380 U.S. 609, 615, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106.) We disagree. Although a prosecutor is forbidden to comment `either directly or indirectly, on the defendant's failure to testify in his defense,' the prosecutor may comment `on the state of the evidence, or on the failure of the defense to introduce material evidence or to call logical witnesses.' ( People v. Turner (2004) 34 Cal.4th 406, 419, 20 Cal.Rptr.3d 182, 99 P.3d 505.) The prosecutor's comments fell within the latter category. The presence of Washington's vehicle close to the crime scene and near the time of the crime constituted material inculpatory evidence, and it was fair comment to draw the jury's attention to the failure of the defense to call witnesses who might logically explain the presence of the vehicle. We do not view the prosecutor's argument as a comment upon defendant's failure to testify. We are not persuaded otherwise by defendant's claim that the prosecutor's argument would be understood as a comment on defendant's failure to testify because only defendant could explain the vehicle's location. Defense witness Mackey, who testified he was with defendant much of the day, defendant's employer, or Washington, who lent defendant the vehicle, all were persons who might be expected to know why the vehicle was parked where it was, and the circumstance that they did not testify concerning that point was a fair subject for comment by the prosecutor. Moreover, defendant failed to object to the prosecutor's comments. We are not persuaded that we should overlook this failure, which ordinarily bars consideration of such a claim on appeal, on the ground that a prompt admonition by the court could not have cured any harm. (See People v. Medina (1995) 11 Cal.4th 694, 756, 47 Cal.Rptr.2d 165, 906 P.2d 2; People v. Benson (1990) 52 Cal.3d 754, 794, 276 Cal.Rptr. 827, 802 P.2d 330.) Defendant has not offered any persuasive explanation in support of his theory that the jury would have disregarded any such admonition from the court. [11]