Opinion ID: 1355634
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: guilt phase and special circumstances issues

Text: (1) Defendant first contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to have written copies of the jury instructions given to the jurors for use during their deliberations at the guilt and penalty phases. Instead, the court advised the jurors that although they would not have the written instructions, should you at any time wish to have any portion or all of the instructions read again, all you have to do is so indicate and we will do it. The jury did not request a rereading of any guilt phase instruction, although it did ask the court to repeat its penalty instructions. Defendant concedes that at the time of trial the applicable statutes and case law gave the court discretion to provide the jury with written instructions. (See former §§ 1093, subd. (6), 1137; People v. Anderson (1966) 64 Cal.2d 633, 640 [51 Cal. Rptr. 238, 414 P.2d 366] [upholding denial of written instructions, despite request by jury foreman, because compliance would unduly delay trial].) In 1986, section 1093, subdivision (6), was amended to provide for written jury instructions upon request by the jury. The section continues to provide for an exercise of discretion in the absence of such a request. Defendant observes, however, that in the present case, unlike Anderson, supra, 64 Cal.2d 633, the trial court stated no reason for denying defendant's motion. Moreover, the instructions comprise more than 60 pages of reporter's transcript, magnifying the likelihood of jury confusion regarding the various charges. According to defendant, the trial court both abused its discretion and denied defendant his constitutional rights by failing to provide written instructions. In essence, defendant's premise is that jurors generally are unable fully to comprehend orally delivered instructions. As he states the argument, a jury which is forced to rely on the court's oral presentation cannot be expected to remember, understand, and apply the instructions in a rational manner consistent with the applicable law. He cites law review articles which refer to various studies confirming the difficulty jurors have in comprehending legal issues based on oral instructions, and urging the availability of written instructions in the jury room. (See also United States v. Miller (9th Cir.1976) 546 F.2d 320, 324, fn. 3.) It does not appear that any of the studies or articles cited by defendant took into consideration the alternative of a rereading of instructions, such as was available here. Indeed, the jurors asked for a rereading of the penalty instructions, and the record contains no further indication of uncertainty or confusion on the jury's part regarding the instructions. Although numerous criminal acts were charged, no complex legal issues were involved. Indeed, the jury's guilt phase deliberations were completed in two days. The penalty phase jury announced a possible deadlock after deliberating for two days, but reached a verdict after two more days of deliberations. There is no indication that instructional confusion contributed to the deadlock. We conclude that the trial court did not err, or abuse its discretion, in denying defendant's motion for written jury instructions.
After the commencement of trial, a hearing was held to determine the necessity of shackling defendant with leg irons. A handcuff key had been found in the possession of defendant's confederate, McFadden. Hearsay evidence from a confidential informant, admitted without objection, indicated defendant might also have access to such a key; in addition, he had committed five assaults on other inmates, and was facing a life prison term in Nevada. The testifying officer deemed defendant a high escape risk. The court ordered defendant shackled, after finding that the restraints probably could not be seen from the jury box. Later, during voir dire, one of the jury panel members indicated to the court that she had viewed defendant's restraints. (Evidently, the panel was so large in number that some members were seated in the spectator section of the courtroom, where they were able to see the shackles.) Thereupon, the court stated to the assembled panel that apparently some of its members may have noted that defendant was in custody, and admonished the panel that such custody had no relevance to the issue of his guilt, and should not in any way affect the verdict. Defense counsel, who had proposed a general admonishment of this kind, made no objection to the phrasing chosen by the court. (2a) As defendant observes, because of its potentially prejudicial impact on the jury, shackling is to be employed only as a last resort, based on a showing of manifest need for such restraints. (See People v. Allen (1986) 42 Cal.3d 1222, 1261 [232 Cal. Rptr. 849, 729 P.2d 115; People v. Duran (1976) 16 Cal.3d 282, 290-291 [127 Cal. Rptr. 618, 545 P.2d 1322, 90 A.L.R.3d 1]; People v. Jacla (1978) 77 Cal. App.3d 878, 883 [144 Cal. Rptr. 23].) According to defendant, there was no manifest need for shackling in this case. He contends that shackling cannot be justified solely on the basis of earlier prison disciplinary violations, and that the other evidence was insufficient to sustain the trial court's ruling. We disagree. (3) The court's shackling decision cannot be successfully challenged on review except on a showing of a manifest abuse of discretion. ( Duran, supra, 16 Cal.3d at p. 293, fn. 12; Allen, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 1263.) (2b) Here, the evidence summarized above was a sufficient basis for shackling, for it indicated a substantial risk that defendant might attempt an escape. Moreover, the court made a good faith, although inaccurate, determination that defendant's shackles would not be viewed by the jury. Defendant also challenges the adequacy of the court's subsequent admonition, which referred merely to the fact that defendant was in custody. Yet the court's euphemistic description was perhaps a more appropriate tactic than placing additional emphasis on defendant's shackles by directly mentioning them. It appears that many of the panelists remained unaware of the shackles, and the few jurors who actually observed them apparently had only a brief look at them. (See People v. Rich (1988) 45 Cal.3d 1036, 1084-1085 [248 Cal. Rptr. 510, 755 P.2d 960] [brief viewing of defendant in shackles not prejudicial error]; People v. Duran, supra, 16 Cal.3d at p. 287, fn. 2 [same].) As previously noted, defense counsel neither objected to the admonition nor requested clarifying language. We conclude that no abuse of discretion occurred here.
The court gave the standard instructions regarding the corroboration and evaluation of accomplice testimony (CALJIC Nos. 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.16 and 3.18). In addition, the court gave CALJIC No. 2.11.5, which admonished the jury not to discuss or consider (1) why persons, other than defendant, who may have been involved in the offenses nonetheless were not being prosecuted in this trial, or (2) whether they have been or will be so prosecuted. (4) Defendant correctly observes that CALJIC No. 2.11.5 should not be given where such other persons actually appear at trial and testify for the prosecution. In such a case, it is entirely proper for the jury to consider whether cooperating accomplices avoided prosecution in return for testifying against defendant. (See People v. Williams (1988) 45 Cal.3d 1268, 1313 [248 Cal. Rptr. 834, 756 P.2d 221].) (5a) In the present case, defendant's wife, Denise, testified against defendant in return for a reduced sentence. (As the People point out, the instruction could also have applied to accomplice McFadden, who refused to testify at defendant's trial.) Defendant fears that CALJIC No. 2.11.5 may have hampered the jury's evaluation of Denise's highly inculpatory testimony. He observes that, in view of the clear cut nature of the felony-murder rule, he does not contend that the instructional error affected the guilt verdicts. He maintains, however, that the error was sufficiently serious to require reversal of the special circumstances findings and penalty judgment. According to defendant, a properly instructed jury might well have found that Denise played a greater role in the murder than defendant. (Denise testified that everything she did was at defendant's direction.) Although defendant fails to indicate how the error could possibly have affected the special circumstances findings (which likewise seem clear cut once the felony-murder counts are sustained), he makes the following argument regarding the effect on penalty: In sum, the error made it more likely that the jury would find appellant took a leading role and that he therefore was the actual perpetrator of the murder or at least an intentional aider of it. The error also made it more likely that the jury's sense of proportionality and fairness would not be offended by sentencing appellant to death in the face of Denise's eight-year sentence. (6) As we recently stated in a case involving a similar challenge to the giving of CALJIC No. 2.11.5, In determining whether an instruction interferes with the jury's consideration of evidence presented at trial, we must determine `what a reasonable juror could have understood the charge as meaning.' [Citation.] While the initial focus is on the specific instruction challenged [citation], we must also review the instructions as a whole to see if the entire charge delivered a correct interpretation of law. [Citation.] ( People v. Garrison (1989) 47 Cal.3d 746, 780 [254 Cal. Rptr. 257, 765 P.2d 419]; see People v. Williams, supra, 45 Cal.3d 1268, 1312-1313.) We held in Garrison, supra, 47 Cal.3d 746, that any error in giving CALJIC No. 2.11.5 was cured by other instructions, and that the same result would have obtained in the absence of this error. (See People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836 [299 P.2d 243].) (5b) We reach a similar conclusion here. In the present case, apart from Denise's testimony, there was substantial evidence, both direct and circumstantial, of defendant's guilt. There was very little evidence supporting the speculative theory that Denise may have taken a major role in the murder and other offenses. Moreover, defendant had full opportunity to cross-examine Denise, and to explore and argue to the jury any possible bias or collateral motive on her part. Finally, as previously noted, the jury was given the full set of instructions for evaluating accomplice testimony, including the admonition that accomplice testimony should be viewed with distrust. Accordingly, although error occurred in giving CALJIC No. 2.11.5, nonetheless as in Garrison, supra, 47 Cal.3d 746, it is unlikely that the instruction prejudiced defendant in any way. Despite the nonprosecution instruction, the jury remained free to discredit Denise's testimony.