Opinion ID: 1249738
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Prosecution Witnesses' Credibility.

Text: (23) Defendant contends the court erred by not modifying CALJIC No. 2.20 (4th ed. 1980 rev.) as he requested. That instruction reminds jurors to consider witnesses' possible bias, interest, or other motive for giving testimony. Defendant would have had the court specify that the jury must also consider the state's specific promises and payments to certain prosecution witnesses in evaluating credibility. Defendant's requested instruction would have been too argumentative. A criminal defendant is entitled, on request, to an instruction `pinpointing' the theory of his defense. ( People v. Wright (1988) 45 Cal.3d 1126, 1137 [248 Cal. Rptr. 600, 755P.2d 1049]; People v. Sears (1970) 2 Cal.3d 180, 190 [84 Cal. Rptr. 711, 465P.2d 847].) As we recently explained, however, instructions that attempt to relate particular facts to a legal issue are generally objectionable as argumentative ( Wright, supra, at p. 1137), and the effect of certain facts on identified theories `is best left to argument by counsel, cross-examination of the witnesses, and expert testimony where appropriate.' ( Id. at p. 1143.) ( People v. Wharton (1991) 53 Cal.3d 522, 570 [280 Cal. Rptr. 631, 809 P.2d 290].) Here the defense ably attacked the witnesses' credibility throughout the trial, which was the proper place to emphasize the state's promises and payments.