Opinion ID: 1195356
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 23

Heading: Deliberations reading of transcripts to the jury

Text: Defendant contends the trial court erred in permitting certain testimony to be read to the jury during its deliberations without notifying counsel of the jury's request for the reading of this testimony. Although defendant notes that this omission occurred on more than one occasion, he contends the court erred prejudicially in reading the testimony of prosecution witnesses Broomfield and Bentley. Section 1138 provides that a deliberating jury experiencing disagreement regarding testimony or desiring to be informed on any point of law may pose questions to the court, and [u]pon being brought into court, the information required must be given in the presence of, or after notice to, the prosecuting attorney, and the defendant or his counsel, or after they have been called. In the present case, during guilt phase deliberations, and in the stipulated absence of counsel, the jury requested to have read back to it the testimony of Broomfield and Bentley from particular dates of the trial, and this request was granted. When defense counsel learned of this occurrence two days later, he objected to the reading of testimony without notice to him and moved for a mistrial. He noted that the testimony requested included only direct examination, and contended that the jury may have wanted to hear direct examination and cross-examination as to a particular point, but not the entire direct examination for an entire day. He urged that when direct testimony is read to a jury, cross-examination normally should be read as well. He also contended that the reporter might have read sidebar discussions by mistake in counsel's absence. At a hearing on the motion for mistrial held one week after the testimony was read to the jury, it appeared that the court and defense counsel had widely differing interpretations of an earlier sidebar discussion at which it was agreed that counsel and the court would not be present during the reporter's reading of testimony to the jury. The court apparently thought counsel had waived notification of jury requests for the reading of testimony, while counsel believed he had waived only his presence in the courtroom while agreed-upon testimony was read. The court conceded that counsel had received no notification of the jury's request with respect to the reading of the testimony of Broomfield and Bentley. Although it denied the motion for mistrial, it sent an inquiry to the jury to determine whether the reading of additional portions of the testimony of Bentley and Broomfield, including cross-examination, would be useful to it. It also inquired whether the jury wished to have read to it additional testimony of any other witness whose testimony previously had been read back to it. The jury declined both offers. The court also offered to counsel to have Bentley's and Broomfield's testimony read to the jury again in counsel's presence, so he could be certain the reporter did not unduly emphasize certain testimony or read the sidebar discussions. This offer was declined by counsel. It does not appear on this record that trial counsel waived the statutory right to be notified of jury requests for the reading of testimony (See § 1138; see also People v. Jennings, supra, 53 Cal.3d at p. 391, 279 Cal.Rptr. 780, 807 P.2d 1009), so we have no occasion to consider whether such notification may be waived under these circumstances. Nonetheless, [a] conviction will not be reversed for a violation of section 1138 unless prejudice is shown. ( People v. Frye (1998) 18 Cal.4th 894, 1007, 77 Cal.Rptr.2d 25, 959 P.2d 183.) The court's error in failing to notify counsel that the jury had requested the reading of certain testimony of Bentley and Broomfield, thereby depriving counsel of an opportunity to object or be present, was harmless. (See id. at pp. 1007-1008, 77 Cal.Rptr.2d 25, 959 P.2d 183 [noting that cases have applied varying standards of review to claims of error under section 1138, some applying the standard of review for federal constitutional error involving denial of counsel at a critical stage, and some a lower standard for nonconstitutional error]; see also People v. Jennings, supra, 53 Cal.3d at p. 384, 279 Cal.Rptr. 780, 807 P.2d 1009.) Counsel should be notified in order to ensure that counsel has an opportunity to object to the course of action undertaken by the court or suggest an alternative course (see People v. Wright (1990) 52 Cal.3d 367, 402, 276 Cal.Rptr. 731, 802 P.2d 221), but the primary goal served by section 1138 is to provide the jury with the evidence it needs for its deliberations. ( People v. Frye, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 1007, 77 Cal.Rptr.2d 25, 959 P.2d 183.) In the present case, the jury made it clear in its original request that it was interested in hearing only the testimony of Broomfield and Bentley from specified dates; when given an opportunity to hear the cross-examination of these witnesses, it declined the court's invitation. The trial court observed that the court reporter customarily does not read sidebar commentary when reading back testimony to a jury. (See People v. Wader (1993) 5 Cal.4th 610, 661, 20 Cal.Rptr.2d 788, 854 P.2d 80 [applying presumption that official duty has been regularly performed to court reporter's reading of testimony as requested by jury].) We note that the jury asked for the reading of testimony on multiple occasions throughout its lengthy deliberations, and appears to have been very meticulous in requesting that only specific portions of testimony  sometimes including cross-examination  be read. The court's inquiry whether the reading of additional testimony was needed occurred when the jury had not yet concluded its deliberations and thus at a time when clarification still would have been useful, had the jury felt it was needed. (See People v. Jennings, supra, 53 Cal.3d at p. 385, 279 Cal.Rptr. 780, 807 P.2d 1009 [court's ex parte communication with jury found harmless in part because the court offered to give the jury additional curative admonitions].) In light of the court's specific inquiry whether the jury wished to hear additional portions of the testimony of Bentley and Broomfield and the jury's response, and the circumstance that the testimony that was read to the jury clearly was admissible and met the jury's precise request, the tardy notification of counsel and counsel's absence from the reading of the testimony cannot have had any effect upon the verdict.

Defendant contends that he received inadequate notice of evidence the prosecution was permitted to present in aggravation, in violation of section 190.3. He also contends the trial court erred in failing to grant him a continuance to prepare to meet this evidence. Before trial, the prosecution filed notice of the evidence it intended to present in aggravation at the penalty phase. The notice stated that the People would present oral testimony, documentary evidence, and any other conceivable evidence with respect to ... acts, arrests, incidents, and circumstances surrounding listed incidents, including several uncharged robberies and a 1978 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon committed against Horace Monroe, Jr. At a pretrial hearing on a defense motion to strike the notice on the ground it was untimely and vague, the prosecution agreed to delete the uncharged robberies from the list of incidents, and the court denied the motion to strike. After entry of the guilt phase verdict, the prosecution proposed to call witnesses who would testify not only as to the circumstances of the assault upon Horace Monroe, Jr., as to which defendant had pleaded guilty, but also as to the circumstances of a related assault on Horace Monroe, Sr., the following day. Both assaults had been charged in the same information, but the second charge was dropped (along with another charge) pursuant to a plea agreement. Defendant (through counsel) objected that he had received no notice that evidence of the second incident would be presented, and that he was not prepared to respond to the prosecution's evidence regarding the second assault. Counsel contended he would have interviewed witnesses and investigated the matter had he received timely notice. After considering the matter for several days, the court determined that the evidence fell within the notice given, because the dismissed count constituted an arrest[ ], incident[ or] circumstance[ ] surrounding the conviction that the prosecution gave notice it would use in aggravation. No continuance was granted. The trial court did not abuse its discretion. Notice pursuant to section 190.3 that the prosecution will present evidence relating to a prior crime or conviction is sufficient to alert the defense that evidence regarding uncharged crimes or other misconduct committed as part of the same incident or course of conduct as the prior crime or conviction may be offered. ( People v. Arias, supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 166, 51 Cal.Rptr.2d 770, 913 P.2d 980 [reference to circumstances underlying crime described in police report gave adequate notice of the defendant's threat after his arrest]; People v. Visciotti (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1, 70, 5 Cal.Rptr.2d 495, 825 P.2d 388 [notice regarding a specific prior crime puts counsel on notice regarding crimes committed as part of the same course of conduct].) In the present case, the two assaults were interrelated and involved defendant's attempt, over a two-day period, to intimidate or retaliate against members of the same family after one family member had interfered with defendant's automobile. Defendant had pretrial notice that the prosecution intended to present evidence of acts, arrests, incidents, or circumstances surrounding the 1978 assault conviction, and the second assault clearly constituted a circumstance surrounding the conviction. In addition, [a]ctual notice may be provided not only by the statutory notice, but by supplemental information such as police reports. ( People v. Bradford, supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 1359, 65 Cal. Rptr.2d 145, 939 P.2d 259.) As the prosecutor noted, defendant received the police report relating to the second assault long before trial. In any event, no reasonable possibility of prejudice appears from the asserted defect in the notice or the denial of continuance. (See People v. Bradford, supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 1360, 65 Cal.Rptr.2d 145, 939 P.2d 259 [examining record for reasonable possibility of prejudice arising from asserted defective notice].) As noted, defendant received the police report regarding both assaults during pretrial discovery, thus affording him an opportunity to perform any necessary investigation, and the police officer who prepared the crime report regarding the second incident was present in court and available for examination. In addition, defendant (who by this time was representing himself) was able to examine the witnesses to the second assault quite effectively. His examination demonstrated detailed familiarity with the witnesses' statements to the police at the time of the crime and with their testimony at the trial of an accomplice. He successfully impeached them by pointing out gross inconsistencies between their current testimony and both their testimony in the previous proceeding and the police report. Defendant's contention that with earlier notice, he could have contacted the other suspects described in the police report is unavailing. The report contained no names or clues as to the identity of other suspects, and indeed their supposed presence was contradicted by the witnesses at the penalty phase, who stated that only defendant and his accomplice Ali Bryant had been involved. Nor could late notice of the second assault have affected the defense strategy adversely, because this strategy already would have taken into account the closely related assault conviction. In fact, counsel stated that the defense team had been careful in constructing the penalty phase defense not to elicit evidence of defendant's peaceable nature or lack of hostility, in order to avoid opening the door to further evidence of prior misconduct. (See § 190.3.)
Defendant contends that for several reasons the penalty phase of the trial was a sham and that the penalty verdict should be reversed. He asserts that the trial court not only abused its discretion in various respects, but also that the proceedings violated his right to due process of law, his Sixth Amendment rights to represent himself, to counsel, and to present a defense, and his Eighth Amendment right to a fair and reliable penalty determination. Defendant notes that the penalty phase of a capital trial necessarily requires time for preparation. He observes that in his case, the trial court itself assured him at the commencement of the trial that there would be time for penalty phase preparation between the guilt phase and the penalty phase, and noted that the normal period between the two phases was two weeks. Defendant represented himself at the penalty phase and contends that although he concededly impeded his counsel's penalty phase preparation during the guilt phase, he diligently prepared for the penalty phase as soon as he achieved cocounsel status. He complains that counsel effectively withdrew at this point, leaving him completely on his own to prepare. He contends that the court treated him more harshly than it would have treated any counsel or any other pro se defendant, particularly in denying requests for short continuances to prepare his defense and to prepare to meet unexpected evidence presented by the prosecution. He also contends that after he was granted full pro se status, the courtroom bailiff informed him that he would not be permitted to speak with any potential witness in the courthouse. He was unable, he claims, to contact witnesses from the jail after court sessions, because his transport was so delayed that he arrived at the jail after the attorney visiting room was closed and the telephone was off limits. He contends that he was not permitted to meet with his sentencing consultant in court, and that he was cut off from any contact with his investigator. He also alleges he was forced to make telephone calls at his own expense, that he was forced to proceed with the case while ill, and that he was not allowed to place exhibits on the blackboard or approach the jury during closing argument. He alleges that the trial court delegated to the sheriffs department its authority over security at the penalty phase, and abandoned its duty to preside over an impartial proceeding. He further alleges that prosecutorial misconduct occurred during closing argument, and that the court improperly limited his own closing argument. These constraints and violations, he contends, impaired or destroyed his ability to present a defense. Defendant paints a picture of a court that ran roughshod over him, forcing him to proceed pro se to the penalty phase immediately after the guilt verdict, although he was completely unprepared. He asserts that the court refused to allow him any time for preparation and countenanced security measures that made it impossible for him to contact his witnesses, prepare them to testify, or, indeed, determine what they would say. Our careful examination of the record leads us to conclude that many of defendant's contentions are not supported by the record, and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion or violate defendant's constitutional rights in ruling on defendant's motions or in its conduct of the penalty phase. In the limited instances in which the procedures followed by the trial court appear questionable, no prejudice appears.
The record discloses that jury selection commenced in October 1987, and that the jury returned a verdict of guilt on July 27, 1988. On the latter date, the parties agreed that the penalty phase of the trial would commence on August 8, 1988. This afforded defendant, who still was represented by counsel, 12 days for further preparation. On August 1, 1988, defendant requested to proceed pro se. Counsel informed the court that early in counsel's preparation for defendant's trial, defendant had instructed family and friends not to speak to counsel or the defense investigator regarding penalty phase issues, and that defendant refused to call such persons as witnesses at the penalty phase unless he represented himself. Defendant himself explained that although in the early stages of the case he had spoken repeatedly to witnesses who would be useful to him at the penalty phase, these persons wished only to speak to him and were extremely reluctant to speak to his attorney or to his investigator, both of whom they found intimidating. He explained that the witnesses would perform better under his direct examination than under counsel's. Counsel explained that these witnesses, of whose identity and potential testimony counsel seemed well aware, would touch on family matters and emotional issues, and would perform best under defendant's examination. The court suggested that defendant should act as cocounsel and conduct the direct examination of his witnesses. The matter was not resolved. On August 4, 1988, defendant proposed to accept the court's compromise arrangement with respect to his status as cocounsel, but counsel moved for a two-week continuance to contact witnesses and conduct investigation. In connection with the request for a continuance, the court heard the testimony of Dr. Balkan, who had acted as defendant's penalty phase consultant since late in 1986. She stated that it was her duty to obtain a full history of defendant, to interview family, friends, employers, coworkers, and individuals who had known defendant in school, but that defendant had not cooperated with her. When earlier in the proceedings she attempted to contact family and friends on her own, they refused to discuss defendant's history, stating they were acting on his instructions. Defendant confirmed that he had instructed his family and friends not to speak to counsel, the defense investigator, or the penalty phase consultant. Defendant recently had changed his mind and produced a list of 11 or 12 friends and relatives who should be interviewed, including two brothers, a friend who had observed his efforts to save the life of a stranger, and his aunt. He had changed his mind because the court proposed to permit him to conduct direct examination of his witnesses. He explained that he had known all along that if there were a penalty phase, he would present his own case. The court denied the motion for a two-week continuance, observing that the case in mitigation would not take a great deal of preparation because of defendant's familiarity with what his witnesses would testify to concerning his background. The court stated: He admits he knows the witnesses and the aspects of his character and history that they would testify to. The court acknowledged that the case was a very serious one, but observed that jury selection had commenced the previous October, that defendant had failed to cooperate in preparing for the penalty phase, that a continuance would be an inconvenience for the People's witnesses who were already under subpoena pursuant to counsel's earlier agreement that the penalty phase would commence on August 8, 1988, and that a continuance would present a great inconvenience to the jurors. The court concluded that these considerations outweighed the benefit to be gained by a continuance and the need defendant had attempted to establish in support of his motion. The court pointed out that the People's case would take time, and that defendant could commence with his local witnesses, giving time for out-of-town witnesses to fly in. Counsel objected, stating that interviews with existing witnesses might produce other evidence that would necessitate further investigation. He reiterated his request for a two-week continuance and then asked for one week. The court refused, suggesting the defense start with local witnesses, then make an offer of proof as to when other witnesses could be made available. Counsel complained again, stating that his investigator was out of town, that counsel was occupied with another case on the following day, and that they needed time to interview witnesses and follow up leads. The court instructed counsel that if he needed breaks in the presentation of evidence to obtain the presence of witnesses, he should inform the court. On August 8, 1988, counsel explained that there had been an irremediable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship, and that defendant insisted on relitigating guilt phase issues and had told counsel that if defendant were not permitted to conduct the case his own way, he would not participate and would direct his witnesses not to honor any subpoenas. Defendant requested to proceed pro se, stating that counsel had tricked him. He said:  I am prepared and I know the issues of what to ask the witnesses, my witnesses that I will call. I am prepared for that. I worked all weekend on this .... [ T ] o hear [ counsel ] tell me that I am not prepared to do the direct examination on my own witnesses ... that is absurd.  Counsel renewed the motion for continuance, stating there was compelling mitigating evidence that was not readily available. He produced the consultant, Dr. Balkan, who said that she had been unable to reach crucial witnesses and that family witnesses should be produced to testify regarding defendant's background and their love for him, his mother's mental health problems, and his experience in foster care. She stated defendant had two brothers in Kansas City who were stable and law abiding and should be called as witnesses. Counsel listed 13 key witnesses  most of whom actually testified at the penalty phase, as it turned out. The court pointed out that many of the witnesses lived locally, and that the prosecutor's case and the local witnesses' testimony would take long enough to provide time to contact and secure the presence of out-of-town witnesses. The court assured counsel that the penalty phase would proceed at a leisurely pace, pointed out days on which the court would not be in session, and said there was no deadline by which defendant would have to complete the defense case. It commented that difficulties defendant might experience in interviewing the witnesses were part of the dilemma of proceeding pro se. It also pointed out that if granting defendant's motion to proceed pro se required a continuance, that would be one ground not to grant the motion. The court then examined defendant, who acknowledged that he would receive no additional time or services beyond what were afforded to counsel, and granted the motion to proceed pro se. Counsel remained as advisory counsel, stating that he was willing to handle legal matters such as jury instructions, but that he would be unable to handle evidentiary matters. [25] Counsel again asked for a continuance, stating that defendant was not prepared to proceed. The court reiterated that defendant would not need to produce a witness until August 15, and that defendant had known who his penalty phase witnesses would be all along. The prosecution presented its evidence in aggravation on August 8 and 9, 1988. On August 9, 1988, defense counsel, still serving in an advisory capacity, requested that the court allow Dr. Balkan to make a statement. She stated that she was unable to perform her duties without the involvement of a lawyer and without more time to prepare. The court reminded her that defendant had elected to proceed without counsel. Dr. Balkan complained that she was unable to confer with defendant while court was in session because no facilities existed in the courthouse to permit this, and the court advised her to consult with him at the county jail the following day. She replied she was busy on another matter the following day. The court stated she could confer with him briefly in the courtroom. She stated she needed to speak with him for many hours, that there were 25-40 witnesses to cover, that she had to interview these persons, and that defendant needed to know what to ask them. Advisory counsel agreed that there had been insufficient time to prepare. When the prosecution rested on August 9, 1988, the court inquired whether defendant had witnesses ready for Thursday, August 11, 1988. Defendant stated he needed to consult advisory counsel, but counsel objected that he did not know what was going on and had no responsibility for securing witnesses. On Thursday, August 11, 1988, defendant requested a continuance to locate other suspects who a police report indicated might have been involved in one of the prior criminal acts relied upon by the prosecution in aggravation. The court denied the motion, stating that the police officer who had prepared the report was present and available to testify, and pointing out that defendant had received the police report in discovery a year before. Defendant then stated his expert witness from Florida would not come unless counsel contacted him, which counsel agreed to do. The court stated that defendant was not required to complete the defense case by early the following week, but instead that there was absolutely no time limit on your evidence in mitigation. Counsel stated he would not help contact witnesses, apart from the recalcitrant expert, but that the defense investigator, Rohman, would do so. The court advised defendant to make use of the defense investigator in contacting and interviewing witnesses, and pointed out that defendant himself would be able to contact witnesses over the weekend. The court ordered that defendant be given access to the telephone at the jail. The bailiff announced that defendant would be unable to interview witnesses at the courthouse, and would have to interview them at the jail. Counsel then announced that Dr. Balkan was withdrawing from her duties. He filed a motion for a continuance based upon Balkan's declaration that she needed more time for investigation of existing witnesses and potential other witnesses. Counsel stated the consultant was unable to speak to defendant at the jail because the attorney visiting room was closed on the weekend, defendant returned to the jail so late on court days that visiting hours were over, and she was not permitted to speak with defendant at the courthouse. When the prosecutor pointed out that there had been no court session the day before and that there would be none the following day, a Friday, it appeared that the consultant was not available on either of those days. The court observed that the consultant had not stated how much more time was needed, that defendant had agreed at the time of the guilt verdict that the penalty phase would commence on August 8, that defendant then asked for continuance until August 22, or at least August 15, and that now that defendant could commence the main part of his case on August 15, he stated that he needed unspecified additional time in order to prepare. The court ordered that defendant be afforded unlimited visiting time at the jail and that the attorney visiting room be made available to the consultant, including during weekend hours. Defendant then proceeded with the defense case, calling two witnesses. The matter was adjourned until the following Monday, August 15, 1988. On August 15, 1988, Dr. Balkan testified further in support of the motion for continuance, stating that she had had her first significant interview with defendant over the weekend, that defendant was completely unprepared, that she needed to spend extended periods of time with potential witnesses, follow up investigative leads, and develop an elaborate social profile of defendant's life. She stated defendant was ignorant regarding aspects of his own history, including the identity of his father. She stated that defendant's family and friends should not be permitted to testify until she had developed a cohesive theme for the penalty phase, and that defendant would be unable to examine them without further consultation with her. She stated finally that if she were not given another two weeks to prepare, she would resign as defendant's consultant. The court requested that the members of the jury write down their schedules for the next few weeks, and after reviewing these schedules announced that the court would lose between two and four jurors if it continued the matter for two weeks. The court stated its belief that the defense was engaging in a tactic to attempt to change the composition of the jury or to make it impossible for the matter to proceed before the jury that had rendered the guilt verdict. The court pointed out that defendant had brought his difficulties on himself by failing to cooperate with the defense's penalty phase investigation at an earlier stage. It refused to grant a two-week continuance, but offered to continue the matter for two days. Dr. Balkan announced that two days was not enough and that she would resign. She had other obligations during the next two days. The court asked defendant whether he desired a two-day continuance, and he responded that without Balkan's assistance, there was no point in it. Defendant proceeded to call his next witness. On Tuesday, August 16, 1988, defendant complained that he had been accorded only 10 minutes on the telephone, that this was insufficient to contact all his witnesses, and that Dr. Balkan, counsel, and investigator Rohman were not assisting him. The court stated that Rohman was supposed to assist him, and directed Rohman to do so. Defendant claimed he needed to contact witnesses himself, as they were reluctant to speak to Rohman, but the court observed defendant had chosen to proceed pro se. Defendant proceeded to call and examine several witnesses. On Wednesday, August 17, 1988, the county jail transport did not bring defendant to court until late in the day, and he complained that he had been shackled and unable to work for hours. The jail authorities had told him in the morning that he was not going to court, so he called off his witnesses. The court informed him that his witnesses had been contacted and told to appear, and that one was waiting. Defendant asked for a few moments to complete his notes and speak with the witness, with whom he had not previously spoken. The court gave him five minutes to review his notes but refused to permit him to speak to his witness. A sergeant stated defendant had been offered as much telephone time as he wanted but had declined the offer. Defendant called his witness, but the witness's testimony was excluded as irrelevant after repeated conferences between defendant and his advisory counsel. Defendant had no further witnesses in court and was uncertain whether the witnesses he had called off could be present the following day. The court informed him that if he had no witnesses and was unable to inform the court when they would be available, he would have to rest the defense case. On Thursday, August 18, 1988, defendant stated he had called his brother and his cousin in Kansas City, but neither would be available until the week of August 29, 1988. He alleged they would provide crucial evidence regarding his mother's condition when defendant was placed in a foster home as a child, and regarding his experience in foster care. He stated that investigator Rohman had spoken with a psychiatrist who had treated defendant's mother, and that it would take a week to subpoena her file and analyze it. Thereafter it would be necessary, defendant claimed, to contact those psychiatrists noted in the file who previously had treated his mother. The court stated that other witnesses had testified regarding defendant's mother's condition, and that a brother and sister who resided locally could provide the same information regarding defendant's background as could be derived from the out-of-town witnesses. The court stated its belief that defendant was attempting to manipulate the system, knowing that jurors would be unable to continue their service on the case. Defendant then rested his case.
With respect to defendant's contention that the court erred in denying his various requests for continuance, the trial court has broad discretion to determine whether good cause exists to grant a continuance of the trial. (§ 1050, subd. (e); People v. Frye, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 1012, 77 Cal.Rptr.2d 25, 959 P.2d 183.) A showing of good cause requires a demonstration that counsel and the defendant have prepared for trial with due diligence. ( People v. Mickey, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 660, 286 Cal.Rptr. 801, 818 P.2d 84; People v. Grant (1988) 45 Cal.3d 829, 844, 248 Cal.Rptr. 444, 755 P.2d 894.) When a continuance is sought to secure the attendance of a witness, the defendant must establish he had exercised due diligence to secure the witness's attendance, that the witness's expected testimony was material and not cumulative, that the testimony could be obtained within a reasonable time, and that the facts to which the witness would testify could not otherwise be proven. ( People v. Howard, supra, 1 Cal.4th at p. 1171, 5 Cal.Rptr.2d 268, 824 P.2d 1315.) The court considers `not only the benefit which the moving party anticipates but also the likelihood that such benefit will result, the burden on other witnesses, jurors and the court and, above all, whether substantial justice will be accomplished or defeated by a granting of the motion.' ( People v. Zapien, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p. 972, 17 Cal.Rptr.2d 122, 846 P.2d 704.) The trial court's denial of a motion for continuance is reviewed for abuse of discretion. ( People v. Mickey, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 660, 286 Cal.Rptr. 801, 818 P.2d 84.) The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant's requests for continuance. When, as in the present case, the asserted need for continuance is caused by the defendant's persistent failure in the period leading up to the penalty phase to cooperate with counsel and his deliberate obstruction of his own counsel's reasonable attempts to determine the nature of the proposed witnesses' testimony, the denial of a continuance [is] neither arbitrary nor a violation of due process. ( People v. Grant, supra, 45 Cal.3d at p. 844, 248 Cal.Rptr. 444, 755 P.2d 894.) In addition, to the extent defendant contends a continuance should have been granted to permit his penalty phase consultant to undertake an open-ended investigation of his character and background, the court was within its discretion in refusing to grant a continuance, because defendant had not demonstrated that a continuance would be useful in producing specific relevant mitigating evidence within a reasonable time. (See People v. Peeler, supra, 9 Cal.4th at pp. 1003-1004, 39 Cal.Rptr.2d 607, 891 P.2d 153 [a continuance properly was denied when the defendant's request was based upon new evidence of speculative value].) Although it appeared that the consultant was determined to investigate defendant's case at a pace suited to her other commitments, despite the late stage of the proceedings, the court properly could consider the burden such a pace would place upon witnesses, jurors, and the court. In addition, the trial court properly could find that defendant had not credibly shown a need for a continuance, because defendant had stated he was prepared for the penalty phase and had consulted with his prospective witnesses. Indeed, when defendant sought pro se status, he angrily rejected counsel's claim that he was unprepared. Further, the court warned defendant that a request for a continuance would constitute a basis for denying his motion to represent himself, and defendant accepted pro se status on the understanding that no additional time would be granted. Further, as the court observed, although counsel stated defendant needed more time to contact and interview witnesses, the witnesses listed by counsel at the time of the first motion for continuance were friends and family whose knowledge of defendant's character and background were familiar to defendant. As noted, most of the witnesses who were on the list alluded to by counsel before the commencement of the penalty phase actually did testify. The court was justified in believing that the missing witnesses, including potential psychiatric experts who might be able to describe defendant's mother's condition, would provide testimony that was largely cumulative to similar available testimony. Finally, the court was within its discretion in denying the requested continuances on the ground the court reasonably believed the requests were based upon a desire to delay the proceedings in an effort to affect the composition of the jury or to cause a mistrial. (See People v. Pride, supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 255, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 636, 833 P.2d 643.) Defendant contends that once the court granted his motion to proceed pro se, the denial of a reasonable continuance for preparation deprived him of due process of law. In People v. Bigelow (1984) 37 Cal.3d 731, 209 Cal.Rptr. 328, 691 P.2d 994, this court in dictum stated that the defendant could not reasonably be expected to proceed to trial without any time for preparation, and that if the trial court did not intend to deny the motion for self-representation as untimely ... it should have considered granting a continuance. ( Id. at p. 741, fn. 3, 209 Cal.Rptr. 328, 691 P.2d 994.) We cited an earlier Court of Appeal opinion characterizing failure to provide an adequate continuance in these circumstances as a denial of due process of law. ( Ibid. ) We observed in People v. Clark, supra, 3 Cal.4th 41, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 554, 833 P.2d 561, that a necessary continuance must be granted if a motion for self-representation is granted. ( Id. at p. 110, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 554, 833 P.2d 561.) On the other hand, in the Clark case we also stated that it also is established that a midtrial Faretta motion may be denied on the ground that delay or a continuance would be required, and sanctioned the trial court's decision to condition the granting of the right of self-representation on defendant's waiver of a continuance. ( Ibid. ) In the present case, in ruling on defendant's midtrial motion to represent himself, the court correctly noted that it had authority to deny the motion if self-representation required a continuance, and in advising the defendant of the perils of self-representation, it asked defendant whether he understood, among other things, that he would receive no extra time for preparation. Defendant indicated he understood. In addition, when defendant secured permission to proceed pro se, the court already had denied counsel's request for a continuance for further investigation and preparation for the penalty phase of the trial. Defendant was no more entitled to a continuance when he became his own counsel than he was entitled to a continuance at former counsel's request. This was especially true when, as in the present case, defendant had been afforded research facilities for many months, so that he had a full opportunity to prepare independently for trial even while he was represented by counsel. ( People v. Clark, supra, 3 Cal.4th at pp. 110-111, 10 Cal. Rptr.2d 554, 833 P.2d 561.) Indeed, defendant not only had access to research facilities, but asserted that he had known all along that if there were a penalty phase of the trial, he would conduct it, and that he had contacted his witnesses and was ready to proceed. No denial of due process appears in the court's refusal to grant defendant's motions for continuance. [I]t is not every denial of a request for more time that violates due process even if the party fails to offer evidence or is compelled to defend without counsel. ( Ungar v. Sarafite (1964) 376 U.S. 575, 589, 84 S.Ct. 841, 11 L.Ed.2d 921.) Instead, [t]he answer must be found in the circumstances present in every case, particularly in the reasons presented to the trial judge.... ( Ibid. ) Even in a capital case, if the defendant cannot show he or she has been diligent in securing the attendance of witnesses, or that specific witnesses exist who would present material evidence, [g]iven the deference necessarily due a state trial judge in regard to the denial or granting of continuances, the court's ruling denying a continuance does not support a claim of error under the federal Constitution. ( Id. at p. 591, 84 S.Ct. 841; see People v. Howard, supra, 1 Cal.4th at p. 1172, 5 Cal.Rptr.2d 268, 824 P.2d 1315.)
Defendant next contends that he was left bereft of all assistance and unable to contact and interview witnesses due to restrictive conditions of confinement at the county jail and restrictive security measures in the courtroom, pointing to federal cases establishing that it is a violation of the constitutional right of self-representation to deprive a defendant of all means of presenting a defense. It is certainly true that a defendant who is representing himself or herself may not be placed in the position of presenting a defense without access to a telephone, law library, runner, investigator, advisory counsel, or any other means of developing a defense ( Milton, supra, 767 F.2d at pp. 1445-1446), but this general proposition does not dictate the resources that must be available to defendants. Institutional and security concerns of pretrial detention facilities may be considered in determining what means will be accorded to the defendant to prepare his or her defense. ( Id. at p. 1446; United States v. Nash, supra, 73 F.3d at p. 1491; United States v. Robinson, supra, 913 F.2d at p. 717; State v. Drobel, supra, 815 P.2d at p. 736, fn. 23.) When the defendant has a lawyer acting as advisory counsel, his or her rights are adequately protected. ( Milton, supra, 767 F.2d at p. 1446; United States v. Wilson, supra, 690 F.2d at pp. 1271-1272; State v. Henry, supra, 863 P.2d at p. 876.) The record demonstrates that defendant's investigator and his sentencing consultant sometimes had difficulty in securing adequate opportunities to speak with defendant, that the courtroom bailiff prohibited defendant from speaking to his assistants or his witnesses at the courthouse, and that defendant returned to the county jail too late on some court days to telephone witnesses or meet with his investigator or his consultant. We do not believe defendant was deprived of the ability to act as his own counsel and to present a defense. The court ordered that defendant be given unlimited access to the telephone once defendant's difficulties were brought to the court's attention, and similarly ordered that the county jail make the attorney visiting room available to defendant over the weekend to permit further consultation with his assistants. The record also establishes that defendant worked assiduously in the county jail law library and worked closely with counsel during the extended guilt phase of the trial, and that counsel asserted that defendant knew the facts and issues in the case better than most attorneys would. The adequacy of the resources made available to defendant also is demonstrated by the circumstance that before undertaking pro se status, defendant stated he had contacted his prospective penalty phase witnesses repeatedly during the guilt phase. When he sought pro se status, he reiterated that he had contacted his witnesses, knew what they would say, and was prepared to go forward. He thereafter was able  perhaps on a limited basis  to meet with his investigator and his consultant, and it appears that counsel and the investigator did contact some witnesses. It also appears that defendant preferred to speak to witnesses himself and had access to a telephone in the county jail, that several of the days between the time he assumed pro se status and rested the defense case were not court days, affording defendant additional time and opportunity to prepare free from the limitations imposed upon him while he was in court, and finally that defendant refused the two-day continuance offered him on August 18, 1988  22 days after the entry of the guilt verdict  that would have afforded him additional time to telephone witnesses. Defendant's contention that he was deprived of the ability to present a defense also is belied by the defense case he actually presented at the penalty phase. Defendant called 13 witnesses, examined them at length over a period of three days, and introduced 26 exhibits. He performed remarkably well in examining his witnesses and in performing redirect examination. He elicited testimony regarding his mother's chronic mental illness, his placement in a foster home, his merit as a father, his love of children, his lack of racial prejudice, and his acts of kindness to his family and in his community and also to strangers. We do view with concern the court's refusal to permit defendant to interview an out-of-state expert witness with whom defendant never had spoken  and whom counsel refused to interview  before defendant called him to testify. Assuming error, however, no prejudice appears, because the witness's testimony was excluded as irrelevant after extended colloquy between defendant, advisory counsel, and the court, and defendant does not contend that an opportunity to interview the witness before his testimony would have altered the court's decision to exclude the evidence as irrelevant. Accordingly, we reject defendant's contention that he was deprived of the ability act as his own counsel and to put on a defense.
Defendant apparently contends that he did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to counsel, because the court did not warn him of the restrictions that would be imposed on his ability to meet with his investigator and his consultant and to contact and interview witnesses, before it accepted his waiver of the right to counsel. After an extended period of pretrial incarceration in which he was accorded advisory counsel status, however, defendant would have known when he secured full pro se status what sort of access to the telephone he could expect, that he often returned to the county jail late at night on court days, and that normally the attorney interview room in the county jail was not open on weekends. The court did advise him that he would not receive any additional pro se privileges. Defendant does not cite any authority establishing that the court must advise a defendant seeking pro se status of each limitation upon his ability to act effectively as counsel that will flow from security concerns and facility limitations, and we have stated, to the contrary, that [a]s long as the record as a whole shows that the defendant understood the dangers of self-representation, no particular form of warning is required. ( People v. Pinholster, supra, 1 Cal.4th at pp. 928-929, 4 Cal. Rptr.2d 765, 824 P.2d 571.) Finally, when defendant sought pro se status, he asserted that he already had contacted his witnesses, knew what they would say, and was prepared to present his case, so it seems highly unlikely that any misapprehension about his ability to conduct further investigation entered into his decision to waive his right to counsel. The record as a whole indicates that defendant understood the disadvantages of self-representation and knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to be represented by counsel. (See Godinez v. Moran (1993) 509 U.S. 389, 400, 113 S.Ct. 2680, 125 L.Ed.2d 321; People v. Bloom (1989) 48 Cal.3d 1194, 1224-1225, 259 Cal.Rptr. 669, 774 P.2d 698.)
Defendant contends that the trial court abdicated its responsibility over courtroom security to the bailiffs serving in the courtroom, and that the security measures imposed upon defendant were excessive and unnecessary. In addition to the circumstances, reviewed above, that he was not permitted to interview witnesses or speak to his investigator or penalty consultant at the courthouse, or to use the telephone at the courthouse, defendant complains that he was not permitted to approach witnesses or to approach the jury during closing argument or to move about the courtroom as he wished to set up exhibits on a blackboard that was located near a door. We find no abuse of discretion. (See People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 841, 72 Cal.Rptr.2d 656, 952 P.2d 673 [abuse of discretion standard applies to court's decision to shackle the defendant]; see also United States v. Carter, supra, 815 F.2d at p. 1231 [courtroom security within trial court's discretion].) The court was within its discretion in accepting the bailiffs statement that the courthouse did not have secure facilities  such as obviously would be necessary for an in-custody defendant convicted of special circumstance murder  for the interviews defendant wished to undertake. (See People v. Hill, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 841, fn. 7, 72 Cal. Rptr.2d 656, 952 P.2d 673.) The court did arrange for the attorney visiting room at the county jail to be made available to defendant for extended hours. For the same obvious security reasons, the court was within its discretion in agreeing with the bailiffs reasonable admonition that defendant should not be permitted to move about the courtroom during the penalty phase of the trial. As for defendant's use of exhibits on the blackboard, the court observed that advisory counsel could place the exhibits on the blackboard, if defendant wished.
Defendant contends that he was forced to proceed at the penalty phase although he was seriously ill, but the record does not support this contention. The record reflects that the court noticed on August 11, 1988, that defendant had laryngitis. At defendant's request, the court ordered that defendant receive medical attention. Apparently, defendant received treatment, and he appeared the following day and continued to represent himself without any indication that he was too ill to proceed.
Defendant also contends that the prosecutor committed misconduct in closing argument, but this claim is waived because defendant did not object below to any of the three asserted instances of prosecutorial misconduct. (See People v. Millwee, supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 149, 74 Cal.Rptr.2d 418, 954 P.2d 990.) In any event, no error appears. In the first comment, the prosecutor suggested that defendant had destroyed several lives, including those of the codefendants, that he now wanted forgiveness, but that he never had admitted he had done anything terrible and that [h]e has no compassion and he has no soul.... Lack of evidence of remorse, however, is a proper subject for consideration at the penalty phase. (See People v. Ervin (2000) 22 Cal.4th 48, 103, 91 Cal.Rptr.2d 623, 990 P.2d 506; People v. Carrera (1989) 49 Cal.3d 291, 339, 261 Cal.Rptr. 348, 777 P.2d 121.) The prosecutor's comment that defendant had children by different women, none of whom he had married, was based upon the evidence and was a proper response to defendant's evidence in mitigation that he was a good family man and excellent father. Finally, the prosecutor's comment that he had heard someone talking about the present case and saying that they used a machine gun in the shadow of a cross, while perhaps unduly melodramatic, properly referred to evidence establishing that the murder of Detective Williams occurred in front of a church daycare center.
Defendant contends the court improperly limited his closing argument to the jury when it sustained the prosecutor's objection to his statement that the police and the district attorney had conferred and determined that they were not pleased with Tyrone Hicks's statements to the police. In sustaining the objection, the court stated I would ask you to please not characterize. Just summarize the evidence. It was proper to sustain the prosecutor's objection when defendant began commenting on matters not within the evidence, such as the motivation of the prosecutor and the police during interviews of Tyrone Hicks. Although defendant certainly was entitled to urge his interpretation of the evidence, he was not entitled to assert as fact matters as to which no evidence had been presented. In the context of defendant's argument, the court's admonition adequately conveyed this point, and it certainly did not prevent defendant from continuing to urge his interpretation of events upon the jury.
Defendant has failed to demonstrate that the circumstances under which the penalty phase was conducted violated his right under the Eighth Amendment to a fair and reliable penalty determination. As we have explained: `the required reliability is' attained when the prosecution has discharged its burden of proof at the guilt and penalty phases pursuant to the rules of evidence and within the guidelines of a constitutional death penalty statute, the death verdict has been returned under proper instructions and procedures, and the trier of penalty has duly considered the relevant mitigating evidence, if any, which the defendant has chosen to present. A judgment of death entered in conformity with these rigorous standards does not violate the Eighth Amendment reliability requirements.' ( People v. Clark, supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 109, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 554, 833 P.2d 561.) Our consideration of the claims reviewed above demonstrates that defendant has failed to establish any significant violations of proper procedure at the penalty phase of the trial, and the penalty verdict conforms with the standards required by the Eighth Amendment.
Defendant contends that circumstances that occurred during penalty phase deliberations require reversal both of the guilt and the penalty verdicts. He contends first that there were indications during penalty phase deliberations that one of the jurors had not reached an independent verdict at the guilt phase, and that the court committed reversible error in failing to inquire into this juror's state of mind to determine whether defendant's constitutional and statutory right to an independent decision by each juror had been violated. Defendant also asserts that as it now stands, the record reflects an eleven-person verdict at the guilt phase. He contends that, because there is no valid guilt judgment, and because the circumstances demonstrate the jury's unfitness to serve, the penalty verdict must be reversed. Finally, defendant asserts that inflammatory publicity prejudicially affected the penalty phase deliberations.
Our examination of the record discloses that one morning during penalty phase deliberations, the court received a note from the jury foreperson asking whether the jury must be unanimous in order to return a verdict of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The court replied in the affirmative. In the afternoon of the same day, the court received another note from the foreperson stating: One juror has informed us that he/she voted with the majority in the prior proceeding instead of reaching an independent decision of guilt or innocence. [¶] Much discussion has shown this juror does not or is not capable of understanding the requirements of the judicial process. [¶] What do we do? During the in camera hearing that ensued, the trial court directed that any motion to impeach the guilt verdict should be made in the context of a motion for new trial, not during penalty phase deliberations. (See § 1181 [setting out appropriate grounds for motion for new trial]; see also In re Stankemtz (1985) 40 Cal.3d 391, 393, 220 Cal.Rptr. 382, 708 P.2d 1260 [motion for new trial is the usual method for raising the issue of misconduct by a juror during deliberations].) After hearing extended argument from counsel, the court examined the foreperson at some length, limiting its inquiry to the jury's penalty phase deliberations, in order to determine the basis for his assertion that the unidentified juror was incapable of deliberation. The foreperson provided vague answers regarding the basis for his opinion that the juror was unable to understand the judicial process; it appeared that the foreperson largely was concerned that the unidentified juror recalled the evidence differently from the rest of the jury. After that examination, defense counsel [26] concluded the unidentified juror was the sole hold-out in favor of a sentence less than death. In response to the prosecutor's contention that the juror should be excused, defense counsel argued that there was no evidence indicating the juror was refusing to obey the law, and in heated terms accused the court and the prosecutor of attempting to ensure a verdict of death by removing the juror. The juror was not excused. Defense counsel stated that he was not attempting to impeach the guilt verdict during the mid-penalty deliberation hearing held to consider the jury foreperson's note. We note that although defense counsel did request further inquiry into the unidentified juror's conduct during the guilt phase deliberations, he stated he was not making a motion to impeach the guilt verdict but wished to secure a better understanding of the juror's ability to serve during the penalty phase deliberations. Counsel theorized that the juror was the holdout juror who was merely voting his conscience and opined that this juror had lingering doubts with respect to the guilt verdict. Defendant thereafter made a motion for new trial based in part upon the assertion that the guilt verdict did not represent the opinion of each juror as indicated by the foreman's note stating that one juror did not vote his/her own independent mind concerning guilt or innocence, but merely went along with the majority. His motion was not supported by any affidavits. The trial court denied the motion, stating that no evidence had been introduced demonstrating improper conduct on the part of the jury. It was at the time of the motion for new trial, and not at the mid-penalty deliberation hearing, that the court determined that no basis existed to impeach the guilt verdict. Defendant does not contend on appeal that the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial. There is no merit in defendant's contention that the trial court erred with respect to the guilt verdict in failing to examine the foreperson regarding his opinion that one juror had failed to deliberate, because the court determined and counsel conceded that any effort to impeach the guilt verdict was to be conducted by way of a motion for new trial. In bringing such a motion, it was defendant's responsibility to present admissible evidence to impeach the verdict. (See People v. Von Villas (1992) 10 Cal.App.4th 201, 251, 13 Cal.Rptr.2d 62 [party seeking to impeach the verdict must present admissible evidence in support of motion]; see also People v. Peavey (1981) 126 Cal. App.3d 44, 50-51, 178 Cal.Rptr. 520 [juror's statement she voted for guilt only to go along with the majority was demonstrative of mental processes and considerations that influenced her verdict and thus was inadmissible to impeach the verdict].) Defendant fails to persuade us that the trial court erred in failing to provide a hearing related to the validity of the guilt verdict while penalty deliberations were under way, particularly in light of defense counsel's statement that he was not attempting to impeach the guilt verdict at that time.
i. With respect to defendant's contention that the jury's penalty phase deliberations were tainted by the same juror's inability to deliberate and follow instructions, and that the court erred in failing to examine the juror regarding his or her capacity and in permitting the juror to continue to serve, as we have noted after the court examined the jury foreperson under oath, defense counsel concluded from some of the foreperson's statements that the juror who assertedly was unable to deliberate in fact was a holdout juror who was the sole supporter of a sentence less than death. The prosecutor sought further examination and asserted the juror should be excused, but defense counsel vigorously opposed the prosecutor's request on the ground that there was no indication the juror was unable to follow the law, and that further examination could coerce the holdout juror to go along with the majority and vote for a sentence of death. Under the circumstances recited above, we agree with respondent that any claim of error is waived. (See People v. Burgener (1986) 41 Cal.3d 505, 521, 224 Cal.Rptr. 112, 714 P.2d 1251, disapproved on another point in People v. Reyes (1998) 19 Cal.4th 743, 80 Cal. Rptr.2d 734, 968 P.2d 445 [the defendant may not challenge the verdict on appeal on the ground the court conducted an insufficient inquiry of a juror said to be unable to deliberate, when he objected at trial on tactical grounds to examination of the juror]; see also People v. Wisely (1990) 224 Cal.App.3d 939, 947-948, 274 Cal.Rptr. 291 [claim of jury misconduct may be waived for failure to object below].) ii. Defendant next contends that jurors were prejudiced by inflammatory publicity regarding defendant that was disseminated during the penalty phase, that the court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry into the possibility that jurors were affected by the publicity, and that the court erred in failing to discharge Juror Ad., who had heard other jurors mention the publicity and who showed distress upon learning that those jurors had been discharged from the jury. Defendant also contends the court erred in refusing to instruct the jury as a whole that the information contained in the news reports was false. During penalty phase deliberations, news accounts were published in the local media regarding allegations that defendant's wife possessed a list of persons whom defendant wanted killed in retaliation for their participation in the prosecution of defendant. Defendant brought these reports to the attention of the court and urged that the jury's deliberations had been tainted by them. He contended that any juror who was exposed to this publicity should be discharged. He later made a motion for mistrial on the basis of the assertedly prejudicial publicity. The court separately examined each member of the jury under oath, including the three alternates, to determine whether the jurors had been exposed to the publicity or had heard other persons, including other jurors, mention it. The court also admonished the jurors to refrain from reading or listening to any news reports and from listening to any discussion of the case among other persons. Upon examination, it appeared that six of the jurors had heard nothing, four jurors and two alternates had heard that there had been news reports about the case but were not aware of their content, and three jurors  including one alternate  had heard something about the content of the news reports. Of these three, one juror and one alternate were discharged. The jurors who were discharged had more than passing knowledge of the content of the news reports, and one of them had lied about his exposure to the publicity. The last of the three, Juror Ad., was not discharged. He had not been exposed to news reports himself but had been exposed to them involuntarily by the two jurors who had been discharged. He had heard very little regarding the content of the news reports, had cut off the conversation in which the matter was discussed among the jurors, and stated that he could be fair to defendant and would not be affected by the publicity. The trial court commented that it found him credible and conscientious. This juror was the only one who was not specifically readmonished to avoid exposure to publicity, but during the court's inquiry he demonstrated awareness of his duty to do so. The court instructed the juror that the content of the news reports was false, and the juror appeared to accept this statement with some relief. This juror also appeared to be distressed that the other two jurors with whom he had spoken of the matter had been excused, but after inquiry by the court and a period of reflection concluded that he could be fair, nonetheless. No error appears in the trial court's determination that only the two jurors should be discharged because of their exposure to prejudicial publicity. It is settled that it is misconduct for a juror to read or listen to news accounts relating to the case in which he or she is serving. ( People v. Hernandez (1988) 47 Cal.3d 315, 338, 253 Cal.Rptr. 199, 763 P.2d 1289.) In the present case, the court examined each juror and conducted a clearly adequate inquiry into whether and to what extent the jury as a whole may have been affected and whether there was good cause to discharge any of the jurors. ( Ibid.; see also People v. Burgener, supra, 41 Cal.3d at pp. 519-520, 224 Cal.Rptr. 112, 714 P.2d 1251 [once on sufficient notice that a juror may be subject to improper influence, the court is to make such inquiry as appears reasonably necessary to determine whether the juror should be discharged].) Persons with detailed knowledge of the contents of the news reports were discharged; the remaining juror who had any idea of the content of the news reports knew very little, asserted that he could be fair to defendant and that the publicity would not affect him, seemed relieved when informed that the content of the news reports was false, and appeared to the court to be particularly conscientious. We 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, 66 Cal.Rptr.2d 454, 941 P.2d 87.) We see no substantial likelihood that Juror Ad., or any of the other jurors who became aware that publicity existed, were actually biased, that is, unable to put aside [their] impressions or opinions based upon the extrajudicial information [they] received and render a verdict based solely upon the evidence received at trial. ( Id. at p. 583, 66 Cal.Rptr.2d 454, 941 P.2d 87.) We conclude that no error appears in the court's decision not to discharge additional jurors, and that the presumption of prejudice arising from the jurors' inadvertent exposure to publicity was rebutted. (See People v. Cummings, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p. 1332, 18 Cal.Rptr.2d 796, 850 P.2d 1.) In addition, the court was under no obligation to inform the remainder of the jurors, who were unaware of the content of the news reports, that the reports were false, nor would such an instruction have benefited defendant in view of the jurors' ignorance. Defendant asserts that shortly after the court concluded its inquiry regarding juror exposure to publicity, there was an additional news report regarding the payment of $65,000 to counsel under shady circumstances, and asserts that the court should have acceded to counsel's request that jurors be examined regarding their possible exposure to this report. No error appears in the court's refusal to conduct further inquiry, because there was no indication the news report had come to the jury's attention, the court was aware that the remaining jurors had obeyed the court's earlier admonition to avoid exposure to publicity, and the jury very recently had been reminded of its obligation to avoid exposure to news reports regarding the case. We may assume that the jurors paid particular attention to this admonition because two of their number had been discharged for failing to obey the admonition, even after months of service on the jury. Finally, defendant claims cumulative prejudice arising from errors during penalty phase deliberations, but no errors have been established that demonstrate cumulative prejudice to defendant, and we reject this contention.
Defendant contends the trial court was not impartial, and this deprived him of the state and federal constitutional guarantee of due process of law. He contends that a trial presided over by a judge who is not fair and impartial constitutes a structural defect that is reversible per se. This claim is made pro forma. Defendant concedes that judicial bias at the guilt phase probably cannot be shown, and accordingly we do not consider the contention in the context of the guilt phase. His contention with respect to the penalty phase is offered without any citation to the record, in violation of rule 15(a) of the California Rules of Court. It essentially is a restatement of the contentions, discussed ante, that conditions imposed on defendant at the penalty phase rendered that proceeding a sham. We have examined the record of the penalty phase, and although it does indicate that the court experienced some frustration at what it believed to be defendant's attempts to manipulate the court and to cause a risk of mistrial, nothing in the record demonstrates that the court lost its impartiality.
Defendant attacks the constitutionality of California's death penalty statute in a number of respects. Defendant contends that section 190.2 violates the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution because it assertedly is overinclusive, and because by its terms and as interpreted by this court's decisions, it does not meaningfully narrow the class of persons subject to the death penalty, particularly by providing that the commission of a felony murder constitutes a special circumstance. We reject this claim in light of our decisions holding that the special circumstances set forth in that statute are not overinclusive by their number or by their terms, and that they have not been construed in an unduly expansive manner. ( People v. Arias, supra, 13 Cal.4th at pp. 186-187, 51 Cal.Rptr.2d 770, 913 P.2d 980; People v. Ray, supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 356, 52 Cal.Rptr.2d 296, 914 P.2d 846; People v. Crittenden (1994) 9 Cal.4th 83, 155, 36 Cal.Rptr.2d 474, 885 P.2d 887.) Defendant contends section 190.3, factor (a), permitting the jury to consider the circumstances of the crime in aggravation, has been applied in such a wanton and freakish manner, without the application of any reasonable limiting construction by this court, that it violates the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. Defendant contends the provision is unconstitutionally vague as applied, because it has permitted prosecutors to argue that any conceivable circumstance of a charged crime should be considered in aggravation. He points out that rather contradictory circumstances may be considered in aggravation in different cases, and contends that prosecutors point to circumstances of the crime that cover the entire spectrum of [facts] inevitably present in every homicide. He urges that the provision is applied in an arbitrary and capricious manner so as to violate the federal guarantee of due process of law. Defendant's contention corresponds in substance to a contention found in Justice Blackmun's dissent in Tuilaepa v. California (1994) 512 U.S. 967, 114 S.Ct. 2630, 129 L.Ed.2d 750. ( Id. at pp. 986-988, 114 S.Ct. 2630 (dis. opn. of Blackmun, J.).) It is evident that this contention was not persuasive to a majority of the United States Supreme Court when it determined that section 190.3, factor (a), is not violative of the Eighth Amendment on the basis of vagueness or other grounds. Instead, the court's majority opinion stated that our capital jurisprudence has established that the sentencer should consider the circumstances of the crime in deciding whether to impose the death penalty, and that this California factor instructs the jury to consider a relevant subject matter and does so in understandable terms. ( Tuilaepa v. California, supra, 512 U.S. at p. 976, 114 S.Ct. 2630.) The court observed that [t]he circumstances of the crime are a traditional subject for consideration by the sentencer, and an instruction to consider the circumstances is neither vague nor otherwise improper under our Eighth Amendment jurisprudence. ( Ibid. ) Defendant contends it cannot be appropriate under the Eighth Amendment or as a matter of due process to permit the jury to consider in aggravation, for example, that a murder was committed in a calculated manner, while a jury in another case may be urged to consider in aggravation that the murder was committed in a frenzy of violence. It is not inappropriate, however, that a particular circumstance of a capital crime may be considered aggravating in one case, while a contrasting circumstance may be considered aggravating in another case. The sentencer is to consider the defendant's individual culpability; there is no constitutional requirement that the sentencer compare the defendant's culpability with the culpability of other defendants. (See People v. Crittenden, supra, 9 Cal.4th at pp. 156-157, 36 Cal.Rptr.2d 474, 885 P.2d 887.) The focus is upon the individual case, and the jury's discretion is broad: In providing for individualized sentencing, it must be recognized that the States may adopt capital sentencing processes that rely upon the jury, in its sound judgment, to exercise wide discretion. ( Tuilaepa v. California, supra, 512 U.S. at p. 974, 114 S.Ct. 2630.) Thus, for example, in Tuilaepa the high court rejected the defendant's claim  substantially identical to defendant's claim in the present case  that section 190.3, factor (i), permitting consideration of the defendant's age, is vague, although, the defendant claimed, prosecutors typically argue in favor of the death penalty based on this factor, no matter whether the defendant is old or young. It is neither surprising nor remarkable that the relevance of the defendant's age can pose a dilemma for the sentencer. But difficulty in application is not equivalent to vagueness. Both the prosecution and the defense may present valid arguments as to the significance of the defendant's age in a particular case. Competing arguments by adversary parties bring perspective to a problem.... ( Tuilaepa v. California, supra, 512 U.S. at p. 977, 114 S.Ct. 2630.) Defendant contends that the high court's discussion in the Tuilaepa case does not dispose of his claim, because there the high court examined the California statute on its face, while he asks that we examine its alleged infirmities as applied. As noted, he draws our attention to various cases in which apparently inconsistent claims were made by the prosecution with respect to the relevance of certain circumstances of the charged crimes. He also refers us to various cases in which, he alleges, prosecutors made broad use of section 190.3, factor (a) to argue to the jury that facts inevitably present in every homicide constitute circumstances in aggravation. [27] He contends that these cases demonstrate that section 190.3, factor (a), permits arbitrary and capricious imposition of the death penalty in violation of the guarantee of due process of law. He offers no relevant authority in support of his claim. Defendant's contention is inconsistent with the rationale of the high court's decision in Tuilaepa. Defendant's claim essentially is that section 190.3, factor (a) is so vague and open-ended that it has resulted in prosecutors making inconsistent or overinclusive arguments with respect to the significance of circumstances of the charged crime. This result is not improper in view of the circumstance that factor (a) provides adequate guidance to the jury in selecting the appropriate penalty. It is not so vague as to risk `wholly arbitrary and capricious action' ( Tuilaepa v. California, supra, 512 U.S. at p. 973, 114 S.Ct. 2630); the jury is engaged in an individualized sentencing process ( id. at p. 972, 114 S.Ct. 2630), and the jury appropriately has very broad discretion in determining whether the death penalty should be imposed. ( Id. at pp. 978-980, 114 S.Ct. 2630.) A jury should consider the circumstances of the crime in determining penalty ( id. at p. 976, 114 S.Ct. 2630), but this is an individualized, not a comparative function. The jury may conclude that the circumstance that a murder was committed with cold premeditation is aggravating in a particular case, while in another case another jury may determine that the circumstance that a murder was committed in a murderous frenzy is an aggravating factor. The ability of prosecutors in a broad range of cases to rely upon apparently contrary circumstances of crimes in various cases does not establish that a, jury in a particular case acted arbitrarily and capriciously. As with the factor of the defendant's age, the adversary process permits the defense, as well as the prosecution, to urge the significance of the facts of the charged crime. Defendant fails to persuade us that these circumstances deprive him of due process of law. Defendant contends that the California death penalty statute violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution because certain procedural safeguards are lacking: juries are not required to make written findings regarding circumstances in aggravation, or to achieve unanimity as to aggravating circumstances. Defendant also asserts that the statute is constitutionally flawed in that juries are not required to find beyond a reasonable doubt that aggravating circumstances have been proved and outweigh the mitigating circumstances, or that death is the appropriate sentence. Each of these contentions has been rejected, and we decline to reconsider them. ( People v. Arias, supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 190, 51 Cal.Rptr.2d 770, 913 P.2d 980; People v. Marshall, supra, 50 Cal.3d at pp. 935-936, 269 Cal.Rptr. 269, 790 P.2d 676; People v. Rodriguez, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 777, 230 Cal.Rptr. 667, 726 P.2d 113.) Alleging the same constitutional flaws, defendant complains that the statute is defective in not requiring intercase proportionality review, and in such review not being performed. As we consistently have done in the past, we reject this contention, as we do the contention that the capital sentencing scheme denies capital defendants equal protection of the laws because other convicted felons receive some comparative sentence review under the determinate sentencing law. ( People v. Arias, supra, 13 Cal.4th at pp. 192-193, 51 Cal. Rptr.2d 770, 913 P.2d 980; People v. Marshall, supra, 50 Cal.3d at p. 945, 269 Cal. Rptr. 269, 790 P.2d 676; People v. Lang (1989) 49 Cal.3d 991, 1043, 264 Cal.Rptr. 386, 782 P.2d 627; People v. Allen, supra, 42 Cal.3d at pp. 1286-1288, 232 Cal.Rptr. 849, 729 P.2d 115.) We also reject the related contention that the failure to provide the comparative sentence review provided to persons convicted of noncapital felony offenses constitutes a denial of substantive due process of law. Defendant contends, without citation to authority, that due process of law requires that significant benefits not be withheld arbitrarily from individuals or classes of defendants. It already has been determined, however, that the distinction in treatment in this regard between capital defendants and other persons convicted of felonies is not arbitrary. ( People v. Allen, supra, 42 Cal.3d at pp. 1286-1287, 232 Cal.Rptr. 849, 729 P.2d 115.) We also reject defendant's contention that the California death penalty law violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments because the jury is not instructed as to any burden of proof in selecting the penalty to be imposed. As we have explained, [u]nlike the guilt determination, `the sentencing function is inherently moral and normative, not factual' [citation] and, hence, not susceptible to a burden-of-proof quantification. ( People v. Hawthorne (1992) 4 Cal.4th 43, 79, 14 Cal. Rptr.2d 133, 841 P.2d 118.) The instructions as a whole adequately guide the jury in carrying out their moral and normative function. Defendant contends that the use of evidence of unadjudicated criminal activity as a circumstance in aggravation pursuant to section 190.3, factor (b), renders his death sentence unreliable and violates the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the federal Constitution. He acknowledges that we have rejected such contentions in the past ( People v. Barnett, supra, 17 Cal.4th at p. 1178, 74 Cal. Rptr.2d 121, 954 P.2d 384; People v. Bradford, supra, 15 Cal.4th at p. 1376, 65 Cal. Rptr.2d 145, 939 P.2d 259; People v. Melton (1988) 44 Cal.3d 713, 756, fn. 17, 244 Cal.Rptr. 867, 750 P.2d 741; People v. Gates (1987) 43 Cal.3d 1168, 1203, 240 Cal.Rptr. 666, 743 P.2d 301), but asserts that our decisions were wrongly decided. We decline to reconsider them. He also contends that the use, in aggravation, of evidence of defendant's assault upon Mr. Monroe, Sr., despite the circumstance that the charge as to that assault had been dropped pursuant to a plea agreement, constituted a breach of an implied term of the agreement as well as a consequence of the guilty plea of which he was not informed when he entered the plea. The introduction of evidence, pursuant to section 190.3, factor (b), of the facts underlying charges dismissed as part of a plea agreement does not suffer the constitutional infirmities identified by defendant. ( People v. Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th 622, 711, 55 Cal.Rptr.2d 26, 919 P.2d 640 [introduction of evidence of crime as to which a charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement does not constitute a violation of the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment]; People v. Garceau, supra, 6 Cal.4th at p. 199, 24 Cal.Rptr.2d 664, 862 P.2d 664 [same]; People v. Morris, supra, 53 Cal.3d at p. 217, 279 Cal.Rptr. 720, 807 P.2d 949 [no violation of rights in introducing assertedly stale evidence of prior criminal activity as to which the statute of limitations had run]; People v. Frank (1990) 51 Cal.3d 718, 728, 274 Cal.Rptr. 372, 798 P.2d 1215 [rejecting due process claim arising from introduction of aggravating evidence of circumstances of charge dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement]; People v. Melton, supra, 44 Cal.3d at pp. 755-756, and fn. 17, 244 Cal.Rptr. 867, 750 P.2d 741 [no unfairness in permitting capital jury to consider, in aggravation, evidence relating to charges dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement].) Moreover, as respondent points out, defendant has not offered any support in the record for the contention that he was promised that evidence of the assault against Mr. Monroe, Sr., would not be used against him in future proceedings. Despite defendant's urging, we decline to reconsider our conclusion that [u]se of the words `extreme' and `substantial' in section 190.3, factors (d) and (g), does not impermissibly limit consideration of mitigating factors in violation of the federal Constitution. ( People v. Barnett, supra, 17 Cal.4th at pp. 1178-1179, 74 Cal.Rptr.2d 121, 954 P.2d 384.) Defendant finally contends, in two conclusory sentences, that section 190.3, factor (f), improperly limits consideration of mitigating factors. Factor (f) provides that the jury may consider Whether or not the offense was committed under circumstances which the defendant reasonably believed to be a moral justification or extenuation for his conduct. Defendant maintains the jury should be permitted to consider a defendant's unreasonable belief in the existence of some moral justification or extenuation of the crime. In his own case, he states, the jury should have been permitted to consider even his unreasonable belief that Detective Williams had set him up for prosecution in the Carpenter robbery and assault. No improper limitation on the jury's consideration of mitigating evidence occurs by virtue of the wording of factor (f); the mitigating value of defendant's unreasonable belief in moral justification for, or extenuation of, the crime may be considered pursuant to section 190.3, factor (k) and the instruction, as given in the present case, that the jury may consider `any other circumstance which extenuates the gravity of the crime even though it is not a legal excuse for the crime.' ( People v. Lang, supra, 49 Cal.3d at p. 1037, 264 Cal.Rptr. 386, 782 P.2d 627.)
Defendant contends that the violations he has alleged of state and federal constitutional law  particularly the right to fair trial and to be free from invidious discrimination imposed by the state on the basis of race  also constitute violations of various international treaties and other embodiments of international law. We need not consider the applicability of those treaties and laws to this appeal, because defendant has failed to establish the premise that his trial involved violations of state and federal constitutional law, or that his rights to due process of law and to be free from invidious discrimination on the basis of race have been violated. Although he contends that international law on the issue of racial discrimination would differ from our equal protection and Eighth Amendment jurisprudence, in that international law would permit the use of the kind of statistical evidence rejected by the United States Supreme Court in McCleskey v. Kemp (1987) 481 U.S. 279, 107 S.Ct. 1756, 95 L.Ed.2d 262 to demonstrate that the death penalty is imposed in a racially discriminatory manner, he provides no authority in support of this proposition. Defendant in other respects does not appear to contend that international law would condemn a criminal trial that had been conducted in a manner consistent with due process of law or other federal and California constitutional provisions, and he certainly does not set out in what manner the two bodies of law may differ. Accordingly, his claim is rejected.
Defendant contends the cumulative prejudicial effect of the various errors he has raised on appeal requires reversal of the guilt and penalty judgments. We have rejected his assignments of error, with limited exceptions in which we found the error to be nonprejudicial. Considered together, any errors were nonprejudicial. Contrary to defendant's contention, his trial was not fundamentally unfair, even if we consider the cumulative impact of the few errors that occurred.