Opinion ID: 2584774
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Victor Can

Text: The record reflects the following during the prosecution's penalty phase direct examination of Victor Can concerning prior violent conduct of defendant in being involved in an assault on Can with a knife: [Prosecutor]: And what did you do as a result of this group surrounding you and at knifepoint demanding your money? [Witness]: Well, I told them that I didn't have anything. Q Okay. [¶] How afraid were you when they were doing this to you? A Well, the truth is a lot. [¶] I didn't know what to do. I was there alone at the bus stop. Q And at some point, it is your testimony, that you see the police driving by? A Yes. Q And that is still while you have the knife to your throat? A Yes. And I said: [¶] And if I have to die, I would rather die here like this. [¶] So then I got up and the officer saw me. Q And what happens at that point? A So then the officer arrived and two of them ran this way and the other two ran this way and then the officer came and asked me what happened (indicating). Q And at some point after you told the officer what happened, did the officer catch some of the people involved? A Yes. Q And over the next 10 or 15 minutes, did various police officers bring four of the five guys back to you so you could get a look at them? A Yes. Because the officer put me in his patrol car. Q All right. [¶] Did you identify those three, recognize and indentify those three, as three of the four robbers? A Yes. Q Now, Mr. Can, I don't want you to guess, but do you remember today what those three looked like? The Interpreter: Your honor, may I ask for a clarification? The Court: Yes. (Interpreter spoke with witness.) [Witness]: Since I came in here, I saw him right from here as if I were in front of him right now. [¶] Yes. Uh-huh. [Prosecutor]: Again, I am not asking you to guess, but do you recognize anybody in court today as being one of the three that the police caught? A Well, if I see his face, I do. Q All right. [¶] Can you say whether the gentleman in the orange jump suit at the end of the table is one of the three or not? [¶] Again, I don't want you to guess, but do you remember the face well enough to tell me if he was one of the three? A Well, the truth is The Interpreter: Your honor, may I inquire? The Court: Yes. (The interpreter conferred with the witness.) [Witness]: Well the truth is, the way he is wearing his hair now, it's not the way he had his hair then. [Prosecutor]: Okay. The Court: Indicating the defendant for the record. [¶] The record should reflect that the defendant has had a haircut as well since we have come back in court having shaved it over the weekend. [Prosecutor]: Mr. Can, what did you do after the police took those three suspects to jail for robbing you? [Witness]: They took me to the police station on Temple and Rampart. And then The Interpreter: You honor, may I inquire. The Court: Yes. (The interpreter conferred with the witness.) The Witness: Then the officer at 1:00 in the morning took me to work.