Opinion ID: 1121458
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Knife Fight

Text: (46) Defendant next contends that the prosecutor impermissibly argued that evidence relating to a fight between defendant and his younger brother, which involved the use of a knife by one or both siblings, could be considered as a factor in aggravation. [38] Defendant's claim lacks merit. First, defendant waived this claim by failing to object at trial. (E.g., People v. Noguera, supra, 4 Cal.4th at p. 638.) Second, the prosecutor's statement was proper. The inferences that could be drawn from the testimony regarding the knife fight could properly be considered under section 190.3, factor (k), since it was relevant to dispute defendant's mitigating evidence that he was a nonviolent, nonaggressive person, whose role in fights was generally to stop them. [39] Finally, despite defendant's contentions, there was an adequate evidentiary basis to support the prosecutor's argument that defendant stabbed his brother. Although he claimed during trial that it was not true, the brother admitted having previously stated that defendant stabbed him.