Opinion ID: 2584774
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Request to Give Postverdict Testimony

Text: The trial court explained to defendant his right to testify at the penalty phase, in which event he would be subject to cross-examination. Defendant asked if he would be able to testify after I find out the verdict or whatever it might be? The trial court replied that he could not. Defendant asserts that his request to testify was a request for allocution, which he defines as an unsworn statement to the sentencing judge or jury that is not subject to cross-examination in which the defendant can ask for mercy, apologize, or say anything else in an effort to lessen the impending sentence. The trial court's ruling, defendant asserts, violated his federal constitutional right to allocute. We disagree. (18) As defendant concedes, we have repeatedly held there is no right of allocution at the penalty phase of a capital trial. ( People v. Lucero (2000) 23 Cal.4th 692, 717 [97 Cal.Rptr.2d 871, 3 P.3d 248]; accord, People v. Davenport (1995) 11 Cal.4th 1171, 1209 [47 Cal.Rptr.2d 800, 906 P.2d 1068]; People v. Clark (1993) 5 Cal.4th 950, 1036 [22 Cal.Rptr.2d 689, 857 P.2d 1099].) In addition, defendant did not make a request for allocution as he defines that term. Defendant asked to make a statement only after the jury reached its penalty verdict. Because in a capital case the trier of fact, here a jury, determines the sentence at the penalty phase of the trial (§ 190.3), a request to make a statement after the jury has already determined the sentence cannot be an effort to lessen the impending sentence. Nor, contrary to defendant's assertion, could his statement later have affected the judgment of death. (19) The jury's penalty verdict is reviewed by the trial court on an automatic motion to modify the death verdict. (§ 190.4, subd. (e).) The trial court at the hearing on the motion to modify is limited to considering the evidence presented at the penalty phase of the trial. ( People v. Cleveland (2004) 32 Cal.4th 704, 766 [11 Cal.Rptr.3d 236, 86 P.3d 302].) A statement made by defendant after the jury rendered its verdict would not be evidence presented at the penalty phase, and therefore the trial court could not consider it in ruling on the modification motion.