Opinion ID: 1195356
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Severance of trials

Text: Defendant contends that the prosecutor obtained a severance of defendant's (and codefendant Moss's) trial from that of codefendants Duane Moody, Voltaire Williams, and Reecy Cooper for the impermissible purpose of obtaining a jury composed of White persons. Defendant contends the prosecutor's improper purpose is demonstrated by the prosecutor's statement that he wanted the trial to be conducted in Van Nuys, and not in Central Los Angeles, in the context of the court's indication that a transfer to Van Nuys was possible only if the case was broken into more manageable units. Defendant concedes he did not oppose the prosecutor's severance motion on the ground asserted on appeal. In fact, defense counsel agreed prior to trial that severance was appropriate, although counsel stated he would oppose any transfer of the case to Van Nuys. The court agreed with defense counsel that the question of the transfer to the Van Nuys court was a separate matter that would be heard on another date. Similarly, at trial defense counsel conceded that severance was appropriate and that the question of the transfer of the trial to Van Nuys was not at issue in the context of the severance motion. Accordingly, any claim regarding the prosecutor's motivation in moving for severance was waived. (See People v. Williams (1997) 16 Cal.4th 153, 254, 66 Cal.Rptr.2d 123, 940 P.2d 710 [claim of prosecutorial misconduct generally is waived if defendant does not object below]; People v. Hawkins (1995) 10 Cal.4th 920, 940, 42 Cal.Rptr.2d 636, 897 P.2d 574 [defendant who fails to move to sever counts waives claim on appeal]; People v. Mitcham (1992) 1 Cal.4th 1027, 1048, 5 Cal. Rptr.2d 230, 824 P.2d 1277 [defendant waives claim that court erred in denying codefendant's severance motion when defendant did not join in the motion].) In any event, the record discloses that the prosecutor was motivated by a desire to sever the case in which the prosecution sought the death penalty (involving defendant and Moss) from the case in which the death penalty was not being sought (involving the other defendants) and to avoid an unmanageable trial involving too many defendants, that the prosecutor wanted to try both cases in Van Nuys because this was the location in which the crime was committed, and that he disavowed any ulterior purpose.