Opinion ID: 2600609
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Unconstitutionality of the Consciousness of Guilt Instruction

Text: The trial court instructed with CALJIC No. 2.03, an instruction permitting the jury to infer a defendant's consciousness of guilt from a false or misleading statement. Defendant contends this instruction was unconstitutional because it was impermissibly argumentative and allowed the jury to draw irrational inferences. Defendant acknowledges we have previously rejected both arguments, and we summarily reaffirm our previous holdings. ( People v. Stitely, supra, 35 Cal.4th at p. 555; People v. Benavides (2005) 35 Cal.4th 69, 100 [24 Cal.Rptr.3d 507, 105 P.3d 1099]; People v. Nakahara, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 713.)