Opinion ID: 1190445
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Alleged statement by McCray

Text: The defense was that McCray killed the Brices. Defendant testified that he was present at the jewelry store when McCray entered and began shooting. Defendant also testified that shortly after he fled the store he saw McCray driving on Foothill Boulevard, that McCray stopped his car, and that he spoke with defendant. The prosecutor objected on hearsay grounds when defendant's counsel asked what McCray had said. Defendant's offer of proof was that McCray had handed a bag of jewelry to defendant and told him, Here's the jewelry. Would you sell it? or something like Would you sell the jewelry? I want you to sell it. The trial court sustained the prosecutor's hearsay objection. (7a) Defendant contends the alleged statement was not being offered for the truth of the matter asserted but was nonassertive background material that explained defendant's state of mind and conduct. Such extrajudicial statements are not hearsay. (Evid. Code, § 1200; People v. Roberson (1959) 167 Cal. App.2d 429, 431 [334 P.2d 666]; 1 Jefferson, Cal. Evidence Benchbook (2d ed. 1982) § 1.4, illus. 2, p. 58.) Respondent does not dispute that the proffered testimony would have been relevant to such a showing, but argues that defendant's state of mind was not a material issue. Defendant has the better view. To undercut defendant's contention that McCray killed the Brices, the prosecutor introduced evidence that several witnesses had observed defendant with a large quantity of jewelry like that taken from Brice's store. Defendant attempted to rebut this damaging evidence by showing that he had taken the jewelry from McCray because defendant knew McCray was the killer and feared that McCray would kill him if he did not follow McCray's commands. Defendant's state of mind and ensuing conduct  more particularly, the alleged reason why he took the jewelry from McCray  were disputed intermediate facts. (8) An intermediate fact of consequence in an action is a fact from which the ultimate fact may reasonably be inferred. Intermediate facts include facts such as the state-of-mind ... and similar facts from which it may be inferred that the person possessing the particular state of mind or emotion conducted himself in conformity with that state of mind.... (1 Jefferson, Cal. Evidence Benchbook (June 1990 supp.) § 21.3, p. 199.) (7b) If the jury believed defendant's assertion that he took the jewelry from McCray because defendant feared for his own safety, the jury could have reasonably rejected the prosecution's implication that defendant had taken the jewelry from the store, which implication pointed to defendant as the killer. The reason defendant had some of the jewelry from Brice's store was therefore an intermediate fact of consequence. McCray's alleged statement to defendant was relevant to this intermediate fact. (Respondent does not contend otherwise.) Proffered evidence is relevant to prove or disprove a disputed fact if: [¶] ... [¶] [s]uch evidence, in the light of logic, reason, experience, or common sense, has, by reasonable inference, a tendency to prove or disprove such disputed fact. (1 Jefferson, Cal. Evidence Benchbook, supra, § 21.3, p. 198; Evid. Code, § 210.) McCray's alleged statement, if believed by the jury, would have tended to prove defendant's explanation of why he had possession of the jewelry. The alleged statement by McCray was therefore relevant, nonhearsay evidence. The trial court erred in excluding defendant's proffered testimony as to McCray's alleged statement. The error, however, was not prejudicial. After the trial court sustained the hearsay objection, defendant was nevertheless allowed to testify as follows: Q: You cannot say what Michael [McCray] said to you. Did Michael give you anything at that time? A: Yes, he did. Q: What did he give you at that time? A: A bag of costume jewelry. Q: Did he tell you what  don't tell me what he did [say], but did he tell you what to do with it? A: Yes, he did. Q: Did you take this bag of costume jewelry? A: Yes, I did.... Q: Did you recognize as best you can that kind of jewelry? A: Yes, I did. Q: And where had you seen that type of jewelry before? A: At Anthony's [Brice's] shop. Defendant was allowed to support his contention that he received the jewelry from McCray. Similarly, although the trial court excluded the alleged statement by McCray, defendant was not precluded from testifying as to why he was afraid of McCray or why defendant attempted to sell the stolen jewelry. Finally, in light of the entire record, it is not reasonably probable that a result more favorable to defendant would have been reached in the absence of the error. ( People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 837 [299 P.2d 243].) [1]