Opinion ID: 2508322
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Special instruction D

Text: Defendant also requested, but the trial court refused, this special instruction (special instruction D): If a party has it peculiarly within his power to produce a witness whose testimony would be material on any matter in issue, the fact that he does not creates the presumption that the testimony, if produced, would be unfavorable to that party. In requesting this instruction, defense counsel noted that the prosecution had the power to produce Richard Johnson and Olin Davis's roommate Moe but did not do so, and claimed that their testimony would have been material to the murders themselves and to defendant's admission to the murders. In refusing the instruction, the trial court noted it was not satisfied that the requested instruction correctly stated the law. Defendant contends the court's refusal to give this instruction violated his right to a fair trial. Defendant argues that special instruction D reflects the provisions of Evidence Code section 412. That section provides: If weaker and less satisfactory evidence is offered when it was within the power of the party to produce stronger and more satisfactory evidence, the evidence offered should be viewed with distrust. We need not decide whether special instruction D is consistent with Evidence Code section 412, for instruction on this issue was inapplicable in any event. It was undisputed at trial that the prosecution tried to locate Johnson for trial but could not do so. As for the purported application of the requested instruction to Moe, from the record it appears that no one had any information about him beyond his first name. Thus, the prosecution did not have enough information about Moe to produce him as a witness. Further, there was no evidence that Moe was present at the scene of the murders or when defendant made his admission to Davis. Davis testified that Moe was in the room when defendant came to his house a day or two after the murders, but that Davis and defendant walked out to the porch before defendant admitted to Davis that he killed Thompson and Robinson. Davis also testified that Moe was present when defendant returned to the house the next day with the newspaper clipping of the double murders, but that he was not present when defendant and Davis further discussed the murders. Therefore, even if the prosecution could have found Moe, his testimony would not have been material. Accordingly, the court did not err, under state or federal law, in refusing to give special instruction D.