Opinion ID: 1345383
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Contentions Relating to Both Phases of the Trial

Text: [7a] Robinson first urges that it was error to admit over his objection evidence of the parole status and joint criminal activities of defendants during the approximately three weeks preceding the incident which resulted in the death of Officer Du Puis. (See fn. 4, ante, and accompanying text.) This contention relates to both phases of the trial; during the penalty phase the jury was properly instructed that in its determination as to penalty it should consider all evidence received throughout the trial before this jury. (CALJIC No 306.1 (New).) We first consider the contention in question as it relates to the guilt phase of the trial. The relevant principles were fully stated by us in the recent cases of People v. Kelley (1967) 66 Cal.2d 232, 238-239 [57 Cal. Rptr. 363, 424 P.2d 947], and People v. Haston (1968) 69 Cal.2d 233, 244-245 [70 Cal. Rptr. 419, 444 P.2d 91]. [8] As we there indicated in greater detail, evidence of other crimes is inadmissible as regards guilt when it is offered solely to prove criminal disposition because the probative value of such evidence as to the crime charged is outweighed by its prejudicial effect. However, such evidence may be properly admissible if it is offered to prove a fact material to the charged crime and meets the general tests of relevancy as to such fact. [9] [T]he general test of admissibility of evidence in a criminal case is whether it tends logically, naturally and by reasonable inference to establish any fact material for the People or to overcome any material matter sought to be proved by the defense. ( People v. Kelley, supra, 66 Cal.2d 232, 239, paraphrasing People v. Peete (1946) 28 Cal.2d 306, 315 [169 P.2d 924].) [10] Such evidence should be scrutinized with great care however, in light of its inherently prejudicial effect, and should be received only when its connection with the charged crime is clearly perceived. [7b] As we have indicated above (see fn. 4, ante ), the evidence here in question was admitted against Robinson at the guilt phase of the trial only upon careful and thorough consideration by the court. It was concluded by the court that the evidence was relevant and material on the issues of premeditation, motive and intent; [14] the jury was so instructed in the terms of CALJIC No. 33. Defendant Robinson contends that the evidence of his participation in the other crimes and acts in question was not sufficient to warrant consideration of such evidence by the jury. Suffice it to say that our examination of the record convinces us that there was ample evidence in the record upon the basis of which the jury could reasonably find that Robinson had participated in such acts and crimes. [15] Defendant Robinson also contends that the evidence in question should not have been received because its probative value was slight in comparison to its prejudicial effect. In making this contention he overlooks the great probative value of the evidence throwing light upon his state of mind at the moment of confrontation. [11] There is ample authority for the admission of evidence of prior criminal activity when such evidence provides considerable circumstantial proof of the actor's mental state at the time of the charged offense. The early case of People v. Woods (1905) 147 Cal. 265, [81 P. 652, 109 Am.St.Rep. 151], involved the prosecution of the person who had directly committed the homicide which we have described above in our summary of People v. Kauffman, supra, 152 Cal. 331. (See pp. 182-183, ante. ) There defendant Woods contended that evidence relating to the plan to rob the cemetery should not have been admitted against him because it had no bearing upon the actual confrontation which resulted in the death of the police officer. We rejected that contention, observing that the evidence bore directly upon the mental state of the malefactors at the moment of the killing. Apart from all other evidence except that going to show that the parties met and fought and that one was wounded and the other killed, a jury might not be warranted in finding that the survivor [defendant] was not acting in self-defense. But when they are informed that the slayer was one of a party of burglars returning from an unsuccessful attempt, in preparation for which they had armed themselves with loaded pistols and provided dynamite and burglars' tools, then in their possession, that the person killed was a police officer attracted to the spot by a loud outcry followed by the discharge of a pistol by one of the party, they would be warranted in concluding that the officer did nothing more than his duty under the circumstances, because he had no motive to do more, and that the parties who had armed themselves for just such a contingency, and who had the strong motive to prevent the discovery of the burglars' tools in their possession, that they, or some of them, would put their pistols to the use for which they were provided, and that they deliberately murdered the officer to escape detection. (147 Cal. at p. 271.) The case of People v. Bringhurst (1923) 192 Cal. 748 [221 P. 897], involved the prosecution of the person who had directly committed the homicide which we have described above in our summary of People v. Wheaton, supra, 64 Cal. App. 58. (See pp. 183-184, ante. ) There defendant Bringhurst contended that the court erred when it admitted over objection evidence of a robbery committed by the same parties three days prior to the criminal expedition which resulted in the death of the officer. We rejected the contention. Without discussing any other points raised by the contention, the testimony was `admissible as tending to show a motive on the part of the defendants for the homicide of the two policemen. It explained why the defendants were so anxious to prevent arrest ... knowing that they were all guilty of the crime of robbery, it is easy to understand why they might take life before they would suffer themselves to be arrested, their crime found out, and the severe punishment meted out to them which the law affixes to the crime of robbery. [Citations.]' (192 Cal. at p. 752.) (See also People v. Pool (1865) 27 Cal. 572; People v. Lapierre (1928) 205 Cal. 462, 468-469 [271 P. 497]; People v. La Vers (1933) 130 Cal. App. 708, 713 [20 P.2d 967].) The case of People v. Robillard (1960) 55 Cal.2d 88 [10 Cal. Rptr. 167, 358 P.2d 295, 83 A.L.R.2d 1086], although it did not involve multiple defendants, clearly demonstrates the probative value of prior specific acts and offenses in regard to the mental state of the actor at the time of the charged offense. There defendant, who was on probation for prior offenses and had committed other recent offenses for which he had not been apprehended, was driving a stolen car with stolen license plates. A police officer, suspecting that the car had been stolen, stopped defendant and radioed to headquarters in order to check on the car. Before the answer arrived over the radio the officer was shot to death by defendant, who used for the purpose a pistol which he had hidden on his person. At the trial defendant objected to the admission of all evidence of his prior offenses and the fact of his probation. On appeal we held that the evidence was properly admitted. This evidence was relevant to establish defendant's motive for the killing, the prosecution's case being based on the theory that defendant had premeditatedly killed Officer Doran in order to avoid apprehension for such crimes. (55 Cal.2d at p. 100.) (See also People v. Combes (1961) 56 Cal.2d 135, 146-148 [14 Cal. Rptr. 4, 363 P.2d 4].) [7c] We hold that evidence of defendant Robinson's parole status and his criminal activities in conjunction with Durham was of ample probative value to outweigh its prejudicial effect, and that it was properly admitted at the guilt phase of the trial. Robinson additionally argues that the jury was improperly allowed to consider the evidence in question at the penalty phase of the trial. [12] As we have pointed out (see fn. 15, ante ) uncharged offenses must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt before the jury may consider them in its deliberations as to penalty. [7d] The jury was so instructed in this case. Again we say without a detailed summary of the evidence that it was sufficient to permit its consideration by the jury. [16] Defendant Robinson's second general contention relating to both phases of the trial is that he was denied his constitutional right to the assistance of counsel. Again, this contention is made in two parts. It is first contended that his constitutional right to counsel was infringed when the court denied his pretrial motion to relieve retained counsel and to appoint other counsel or allow him to proceed in propria persona. In connection with this contention it appears that the indictment was returned on November 3, 1966; that Robinson was represented by the public defender at arraignment and thereafter obtained continuances as to plea in order that he might retain private counsel; that on November 23, 1966, the public defender was relieved as counsel and Robert Fitzpatrick, Esq. was substituted; that Mr. Fitzpatrick represented Robinson on the entry of his plea and on various pretrial motions; that on February 27, 1967, when the cause was called for trial, Mr. Fitzpatrick moved in Robinson's behalf that he (Fitzpatrick) be relieved as counsel of record and that new counsel be appointed or Robinson be permitted to proceed in propria persona; that the sole reason given for said requests was that Robinson and his retained counsel were in disagreement as to how the defense should be conducted in certain undisclosed particulars; and that all of said motions were denied after the court had consulted relevant authorities and had made the additional determination that Robinson was not competent to defend himself against a charge of murder in which a request for the death penalty was contemplated. The sole authority cited by Robinson in support of his claim that the denial of these motions infringed his constitutional rights is People v. Crovedi (1966) 65 Cal.2d 199 [53 Cal. Rptr. 284, 417 P.2d 868]. That case, however, as well as the recent case of Smith v. Superior Court (1968) 68 Cal.2d 547 [68 Cal. Rptr. 1, 440 P.2d 65], involved a defendant who, having settled upon arrangements for the conduct of his defense by a particular attorney, was confronted with an order of the trial court requiring that he alter those arrangements and proceed with the representation of a different attorney. We held in such circumstances that the state should keep to a necessary minimum its interference with the individual's desire to defend himself in whatever manner he deems best, using any legitimate means within his resources  and that that desire can constitutionally be forced to yield only when it will result in significant prejudice to the defendant himself or in a disruption of the orderly processes of justice unreasonable under the circumstances of the particular case. ( People v. Crovedi, supra, 65 Cal.2d 199, 208.) [13] The instant case, in contrast to Crovedi and Smith, involves a defendant who, having retained a particular attorney for the conduct of his defense (which attorney has pursuant to said retainer prepared a defense and made various pretrial motion), seeks to discharge said attorney on the first day of trial on the ground that he, the defendant, is in disagreement with the attorney as to the conduct of the defense. In order to grant the request the trial court was faced with two alternatives: either to grant a continuance so that a new attorney could prepare for trial, [17] or to allow defendant to proceed in propria persona. The first alternative was unsatisfactory because it clearly would have resulted in a disruption of the orderly processes of justice unreasonable under the circumstances of the particular case. (65 Cal.2d at p. 208.) The second was equally unsatisfactory because, as the trial court determined after conducting an inquiry as to the defendant's capability to defend himself, allowing him to proceed in propria persona would have result[ed] in significant prejudice to the defendant himself. (65 Cal.2d at p. 208.) The motions were properly denied. [14a] Robinson's second argument urging denial of his right to counsel is grounded in the fact that his attorney called no witnesses in his behalf at the penalty phase of the trial. [18] It is urged that this failure reduced that phase of the trial to a farce or a sham ( People v. Ibarra (1963) 60 Cal.2d 460, 464 [34 Cal. Rptr. 863, 386 P.2d 487]), and thus denied him the effective aid of counsel. It is suggested that there must have been some available evidence in mitigation of penalty which might have been produced in his behalf, and that the failure to produce any such evidence resulted in constitutional infirmity. We do not accept this suggestion. [15] Allegations of representation so inadequate as to amount to constitutional defect must be supported by more than speculative arguments. (Cf. Adams v. United States ex rel. McCann (1942) 317 U.S. 269, 281 [87 L.Ed. 268, 63 S.Ct. 236, 143 A.L.R. 435].) [14b] Defendant has pointed to no specific evidence in mitigation which might have been presented in his behalf; he has named no witnesses who, if called in his behalf, would have testified favorably to him on penalty issues. On the other hand, it appears that counsel presented to the penalty jury a well-reasoned argument in defendant's behalf which emphasized the momentary nature of the confrontation resulting in Officer Du Puis' death, reminded the jury that Robinson had suffered only one previous conviction six years prior to the incident, and generally appealed to the mercy of the jury in a persuasive manner. It further appears from the record that counsel intended to place defendant himself upon the stand during the penalty phase in order to testify concerning an earlier offense of sodomy upon which the prosecution had offered evidence at that phase  and that he finally decided against doing so after a careful consideration as to the scope of cross-examination which such testimony might warrant. Finally, counsel subjected each witness presented by the prosecution at the penalty phase to cross-examination. In view of the totality of circumstances we cannot conclude that the representation afforded defendant at the penalty phase herein resulted in a denial of his right to the effective aid of counsel in that proceeding.