Opinion ID: 2631807
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Impact on Ryoko's family

Text: Kazumi and Dean each explained the various ways they were adversely affected by their loss of Ryoko's care and companionship. Victim impact evidence of this kind, directed toward showing the impact of the defendant's acts on the family of his victims, is admissible at the penalty phase of capital trials. (See Payne v. Tennessee, supra, 501 U.S. at pp. 826-827, 111 S.Ct. at p. 2609; People v. Edwards (1991) 54 Cal.3d 787, 832-836, 1 Cal.Rptr.2d 696, 819 P.2d 436.) Our review of the record indicates the evidence was relevant and not so voluminous or inflammatory as to divert the jury's attention from its proper role or invite an irrational response. (See People v. Sanders (1995) 11 Cal.4th 475, 549-550, 46 Cal. Rptr.2d 751, 905 P.2d 420; People v. Love (1960) 53 Cal.2d 843, 854-857, 3 Cal.Rptr. 665, 350 P.2d 705 [unduly prejudicial victim impact evidence, including tape-recorded groans of dying victim].)