Opinion ID: 2594480
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Cross-examination of Elizabeth Gerencser

Text: The prosecutor engaged in the following exchange with witness Elizabeth Gerencser: Q: Elizabeth, you're afraid right now, aren't you? A: Yes. Q: More afraid than the last time you came in here; is that correct? A: Yes. Q: Can you tell us why? A: [Defendant's] girlfriend. [¶] ... [¶] Q: And you saw her out in the hallway? A: Right. Defendant argues the prosecutor created the false impression that defendant had threatened the witness. Defendant did not raise this specific objection in the trial court, and therefore he forfeited the issue. ( People v. Williams (1997) 16 Cal.4th 153, 208-209, 66 Cal.Rptr.2d 123, 940 P.2d 710.) Moreover, as the prosecutor explained at a bench conference, he had a right to inquire into matters relating to the witness's credibility, and therefore he appropriately elicited evidence that defendant's girlfriend, who had been sitting in the courtroom, made the witness afraid. (See, e.g., People v. Carpenter (1999) 21 Cal.4th 1016, 1054, 90 Cal.Rptr.2d 607, 988 P.2d 531.) In compliance with the court's order, the prosecutor did not press this issue further and did not suggest to the jury that defendant had threatened the witness. We find no misconduct.