Opinion ID: 2525107
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Mandich's credibility

Text: Defendant's third allegation of misconduct concerns the prosecutor's characterization of David Mandich. Defense counsel had argued Mandich displayed extreme bias and that his credibility on that identification issue was ridiculous. The prosecutor answered by arguing, [Mandich] was about 90 percent certain [of his lineup identification] because he wanted to leave room for the possibility that the defendant had a twin brother standing in this lineup. So that's how careful he was. [¶] There is an honest man. This is one of the best witnesses you can ever have in a murder case. And the defense has to stoop to the level of calling this man, not only a liar, but a criminal himself is one of the most outrageous things I've ever heard in my career. And I don't think you should pay any attention to that. And, Ladies and Gentlemen, that is the testimony of an honest witness, of a good witness, the kind of witness that I wish I had more of in these kind[s] of cases. Defendant now objects to this argument, but failed to do so at trial, and therefore has waived this claim on appeal. ( Hart, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 619, 85 Cal. Rptr.2d 132, 976 P.2d 683.) Furthermore, there is no merit to the allegation. The prosecutor exhorted the jury to credit Mandich's account based on matters within the record, not matters within her personal knowledge. ( Stansbury, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p. 1059, 17 Cal.Rptr.2d 174, 846 P.2d 756, distinguishing People v. Gates (1987) 43 Cal.3d 1168, 1187, 240 Cal.Rptr. 666, 743 P.2d 301.) Finally, any possible misconduct was harmless. (Stansbury, at p. 1057, 17 Cal.Rptr.2d 174, 846 P.2d 756.)