Opinion ID: 1199062
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Instructional Error Defendant's Character and Background

Text: The trial court instructed the jury that in determining penalty it was to consider [a]ny other circumstance which extenuates the gravity of the crime even though it is not a legal excuse for the crime. (§ 190.3, factor (k).) (46) Defendant contends that because this instruction did not also state that the jury could consider any aspect of defendant's character or background, the jury was not able to consider all of the mitigating evidence. We disagree. A reasonable jury, unless it has been misled, should understand this instruction as including consideration of mitigating character and background evidence. ( Boyde v. California, supra, 494 U.S. 370, 380-383 [108 L.Ed.2d 316, 329-331, 110 S.Ct. 1190, 1198-1199]; People v. Gonzalez, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 1225.) Our task is to examine the record to ascertain whether there was a reasonable likelihood that the jury was misled and applied the instruction in a way that prevented jury consideration of the mitigating evidence. ( People v. Hayes, supra, 52 Cal.3d at p. 640; People v. Allison (1989) 48 Cal.3d 879, 899-901 [258 Cal. Rptr. 208, 771 P.2d 1294]; compare Penry v. Lynaugh (1989) 492 U.S. 302 [106 L.Ed.2d 256, 109 S.Ct. 2934] [instructions not allowing consideration of mitigating evidence].) The jury in this case was instructed that in deciding penalty it could consider pity, sympathy, or mercy for the defendant. Also, defense counsel argued this instruction to the jury. In addition, defense counsel asked the jury to consider in mitigation defendant's childhood experiences, his father's dislike of him, his wretched life, and his prior kindness to the two children. The prosecutor never suggested in closing argument that the jury could not consider such evidence. There is no reasonable likelihood that in this case the trial court's failure to add to the instruction that the jury could also consider any aspect of defendant's character or background, impaired the jury's consideration of relevant mitigating evidence. ( People v. Hayes, supra, 52 Cal.3d at pp. 640-641.)