Opinion ID: 2639471
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Right to Effective Cross-examination

Text: Defendant conclusorily alleges that he was denied the right to cross-examine Joanna as a result of the prosecutor's reference to the polygraph examination. However, defendant does not explain how, where, or when this alleged deprivation took place. While this claim may stem from defense counsel Forester's statement, outside the jury's presence at the mistrial hearing, that the polygraph reference prevented him from asking questions about Joanna's being a witness to Denise's killing and finding Debbie's clothes on August 10, 1984, Forester assured the court that at the time [I] come to that particular [point] in cross-examination, [I will] put in the record that I am not asking these questions for that reason. However, Forester made no such representation during cross-examination. As the issue was not preserved for appeal, it is deemed to have been forfeited. ( People v. Poggi (1988) 45 Cal.3d 306, 331, 246 Cal.Rptr. 886, 753 P.2d 1082.) Regardless, a careful review of the record reveals that counsel was not precluded from pursuing these areas in his cross-examination of Joanna. Nor was counsel prevented from asking Larry Wright about his and Joanna's discovery of Debbie's clothes. In short, this claim is without merit.