Opinion ID: 1167454
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Prosecutor's charge of false testimony.

Text: [8] The court did not err in overruling a defense objection to the prosecutor's charge in oral argument that defendant testified falsely. In view of defendant's conflicting statements, the prosecutor drew a legitimate inference from the evidence that defendant falsely stated that during the weekend of the crimes he had used dangerous drugs. Such inferences, limited to the evidence adduced at trial, constitute proper argument. ( People v. Terry (1962) 57 Cal.2d 538, 562 [21 Cal. Rptr. 185, 370 P.2d 985]; People v. Lopez (1913) 21 Cal. App. 188, 191 [131 P. 104]; People v. Glaze (1903) 139 Cal. 154, 159-160 [72 P. 965].) The prosecutor emphasized that defendant had told the police that he had not been under the influence of drugs or narcotics. At that time defendant volunteered If I thought it would do me any good in court I would tell you I was really strung out. Subsequently defendant testified that on the Saturday afternoon immediately preceding the crimes he had obtained a quantity of dangerous drugs in Tijuana, had taken an excessive dosage, and would not have committed the crimes if he had not been under the influence of the drugs. Yet Jack Drummond, his companion on the Saturday in question, testified that he and defendant had been together most of the day; such testimony practically nullified defendant's opportunity to leave the country to purchase the drugs. The only testimony in support of defendant's contention that he had obtained and consumed drugs that Saturday was that of a fellow tankmate, facing trial for a felony narcotics violation, who maintained that he and defendant had been in Tijuana. The prosecution, however, seriously impeached that testimony. Under the circumstances, the prosecution merely emphasized one reasonable interpretation of the evidence.