Opinion ID: 1182062
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Evidence of Defendant's Threat to Go Crazy in the Courtroom

Text: (37) Officer Watkins, one of defendant's jailers, testified that during a noon recess between preliminary hearing sessions, defendant banged on the door of his cell and demanded to be taken back to the jail for lunch. Defendant told the officer that if he did not get his lunch, he was going to act crazy in court. Defendant points to no objection to this evidence in the trial court; he has, therefore, waived the right to challenge its admission on appeal. (Evid. Code, § 353.) Moreover, contrary to defendant's argument, the evidence permits an inference of a purposeful feigning of mental illness and was, therefore, proper rebuttal to evidence of mental illness. Defendant was permitted to cross-examine the officer and to argue to the jury contrary inferences that might be derived from his testimony. Neither error nor prejudice appears.