Opinion ID: 2575997
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Relevancy objection to Ron Woods's testimony

Text: Ron Woods testified about a March 19, 1993, gunfight at his apartment that occurred a few days after defendant's arrest. Defendant claims that the testimony identifying the participants in the gunfight was irrelevant and prejudicial. The police arrested defendant and Ron Woods at the latter's apartment on Dawn Court in Sacramento. Woods, who was in custody when he testified, stated on direct examination by the prosecution that defendant and Doreen Westbrook brought the murder victim's credit cards and defendant's gun to Woods's apartment. Woods also testified that defendant told him he had shot someone and had taken the victim's credit cards. On cross-examination, the defense sought to impeach Woods by showing that he had received favorable treatment from the prosecution. The defense also elicited testimony by Woods that he was not charged with anything relating to the murder or arising out of his detention at his apartment, and defendant's arrest there, although drugs were found at his apartment and he had committed the offense of being a felon in possession of guns. On redirect examination by the prosecution, Woods testified that two men, John Hancock and Richard Kiyoka, were involved in the shoot-out at his apartment during which time they shot at him and he shot at them; neither Hancock nor Kiyoka reported the incident to the police. Defendant did not object to Woods's testimony identifying Hancock and Kiyoka as participants in the shoot-out. He thus has not preserved this issue for appeal. (Evid.Code, ง 353.) In any event, admission of this testimony by Woods did not prejudice defendant. The testimony concerning the shoot-out and the identity of the participants was not linked to defendant in any way. It arose in the context of an attempt by the defense to impeach Woods by showing that Woods received favorable treatment from the prosecution in connection with the shooting incident that was not related to the murder charge against defendant.