Opinion ID: 2600609
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Refusal to Give Additional Instruction on Premeditation and Deliberation

Text: Defendant contends the trial court erred in refusing to give his proposed additional instruction defining premeditation and deliberation. Alternatively, defendant contends the definition of premeditation and deliberation in CALJIC No. 8.24, the instruction concerning first degree murder by torture, is inadequate because it does not contain as detailed a description of premeditation and deliberation as that found in CALJIC No. 8.20, the instruction for first degree premeditated and deliberate murder, which the trial court also gave. As we explain, we conclude that the trial court did not err in refusing defendant's additional instruction, and that CALJIC No. 8.24 adequately instructed the jury on the element of premeditation and deliberation in first degree murder by torture. The defense, citing People v. Thomas (1945) 25 Cal.2d 880, 901 [156 P.2d 7], requested the following additional instruction elaborating on the definition of premeditation and deliberation: The word `deliberate' is an antonym of `Hasty, impetuous, rash, impulsive' [citation] and no act or intent can truly be said to be `premeditated' unless it has been the subject of actual deliberation or forethought.... The trial court refused this additional instruction. Defendant acknowledges we previously have upheld a trial court's refusal to give additional instructions on premeditation and deliberation on the ground that CALJIC No. 8.20, the standard instruction for first degree premeditated and deliberate murder, was sufficient. ( People v. Moon (2005) 37 Cal.4th 1, 31-32 [32 Cal.Rptr.3d 894, 117 P.3d 591].) We draw the same conclusion in the instant case. Alternatively, defendant contends that, assuming CALJIC No. 8.20 adequately instructed on first degree premeditated and deliberate murder, the trial court nonetheless erred in instructing with CALJIC No. 8.24, the first degree murder by torture instruction, because its explanation of premeditation and deliberation is shorter than that of CALJIC No. 8.20. [11] Defendant notes that while CALJIC Nos. 8.20 and 8.24 share the same essential definition of deliberate and premeditated, CALJIC No. 8.20 has four additional paragraphs, which further elaborate the concepts of premeditation and deliberation. [12] This issue was never raised below, but defendant contends his refused additional instruction on premeditation and deliberation preserves his claim on appeal about the adequacy of the definition of premeditation and deliberation in CALJIC No. 8.24. But even assuming defendant's claim is preserved, we conclude it is meritless. First degree murder by torture requires the same proof of deliberation and premeditation as is required of other types of first degree murders. ( People v. Steger, supra, 16 Cal.3d at p. 546.) This required element is the willful, deliberate, and premeditated intent to cause extreme pain or suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or another sadistic purpose. ( People v. Cook, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 602.) We have previously concluded that the version of CALJIC No. 8.24 used in defendant's trial adequately instructs on first degree murder by torture, including the willful, deliberate, and premeditated intent element. (See People v. Cook, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 602.) The mere fact that CALJIC No. 8.20 has a lengthier exposition of premeditation and deliberation does not render the description of premeditation and deliberation in CALJIC No. 8.24 inadequate. Furthermore, in assessing a claim of instructional error, we consider the entire charge to the jury, and not simply the asserted deficiencies in the challenged instruction. ( People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal.4th 610, 649 [106 Cal.Rptr.2d 629, 22 P.3d 392].) Here, the trial court instructed the jury to consider the instructions as a whole and each in light of all the others, under CALJIC No. 1.01. Therefore, it was not necessary for the court to modify CALJIC No. 8.24 so as to repeat definitions of premeditation and deliberation which were already provided to the jury through CALJIC No. 8.20.