Opinion ID: 2607459
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficiency of Evidence Identity

Text: (23) Defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to identify him as the perpetrator of the charged crimes. We disagree. Viewed most favorably to the People ( People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578 [162 Cal. Rptr. 431, 606 P.2d 738, 16 A.L.R.4th 1255]), the record discloses the following facts: Defendant, the janitor, had ample opportunity to commit the crimes. Testimony by the pathologist and the victims' relatives indicates that Kimele was probably killed between 2:15 and 3:30 p.m., and that Catherine was probably killed around 4 p.m. Other witnesses testified that defendant was working in the building from 9 a.m. until at least 1:30 p.m.; that his car was still there at 3:30 p.m.; and that he did not arrive home until 5 p.m. Defendant admitted that it usually took him only 30 minutes to drive home. The jury could reasonably infer that he was present at the scene when both murders occurred. Recent events in defendant's work history supplied a possible motive for the killings. It was undisputed that defendant's supervisor, Rubalcaba, told defendant about the Progressive complaint a few days before the crimes, and that Rubalcaba's supervisor, Leppington, discussed the problem with defendant as little as 45 minutes before Kimele was killed. Though defendant disputed the claim, Rubalcaba insisted defendant threatened to harm the person who had criticized his work  a person defendant knew was likely to be Kimele. The jury could reasonably conclude that Kimele's murder was not an amazing coincidence, and that defendant acted on the apparent threat at the earliest possible opportunity. The jury could also have accepted the prosecutor's plausible claim that Catherine was killed because she surprised defendant while he was committing, or cleaning up after, the crimes against Kimele. This inference is supported by evidence that defendant believed he and Kimele were alone in the building when Leppington left at 1:30 p.m.; that Catherine did not arrive at work until sometime after 1:45 p.m. (according to her sister-in-law); and that Catherine was attacked in the women's restroom, near the janitor's closet, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes after the crimes against Kimele. Prosecution and defense witnesses basically agreed that defendant owned a knife similar to the one found near Progressive and identified as the probable murder weapon. The jury could infer from the distinctive appearance of the weapon that it was defendant's knife and that  contrary to his postarrest statements to Brenda  it had not been stolen before the crimes. Incriminating physical evidence also connected defendant to the crimes. The pubic hair found underneath Kimele could have belonged to defendant but not to the victims or any other possible suspect. Cigarette butts found near the victims' bloodstains were defendant's brand and tested positive for his blood type. Other evidence strongly suggested defendant attempted a hasty cleanup after the crimes. ABM manager Leppington testified that the building, including the women's restroom, was clean and that only the vacuuming remained to be done when he left at 1:30 p.m. However, investigators found janitorial supplies in apparent disarray in the women's restroom, where Catherine was evidently stabbed. A fingerprint positively identified as defendant's, and another print that could have been his, were discovered on each of two bloody paper towels crumpled together near Catherine's body. The jury was not required to draw the contrary and incredibly coincidental inference that one or both prints were placed on the towels when defendant stocked the dispensers earlier that day. Finally, defendant engaged in postcrime behavior from which the jury could infer a consciousness of guilt. He placed a jumpsuit over his work clothes before arriving home, and uncharacteristically laundered the same clothes immediately after Brenda left the house. In addition, his statements to police and the jury differed on several key issues, such as the time he left work the day of the crimes, whether he was still wearing the jumpsuit when he arrived home, the type of car problems he supposedly experienced along the way, and whether he owned or carried a knife near the time of the crimes. On balance, the jury could believe defendant was attempting to conform his trial testimony to facts discovered by detectives after he had spoken to them. We therefore find ample evidence to support the jury's identification of defendant as the perpetrator of the crimes.