Opinion ID: 1215480
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Constitutionality of the 1978 Sentencing Statute

Text: (23) Defendant contends that section 190.3 is invalid on the ground that it lacks the necessary procedural safeguards essential to a constitutional capital sentencing scheme, namely, that the statute: (1) does not specifically enumerate aggravating and mitigating factors, (2) permits consideration of aggravating evidence other than that specified in the statute, (3) does not require written findings of aggravating factors, (4) does not require that aggravating factors be found beyond a reasonable doubt, (5) does not require jury unanimity regarding aggravating factors supporting a sentence of death, and (6) does not require comparative appellate review to prevent arbitrary and disproportionate imposition of the death penalty. With the exception of defendant's second argument above, we recently rejected each of these arguments. ( People v. Rodriguez (1986) 42 Cal.3d 730, 777-779 [230 Cal. Rptr. 667, 726 P.2d 113].) Defendant presents no arguments which would lead us to reconsider the holding in Rodriguez or in the cases on which it relies. The second argument was addressed in People v. Boyd (1985) 38 Cal.3d 762, 773 [215 Cal. Rptr. 1, 700 P.2d 782]. We held in Boyd that the court should admit in aggravation only that penalty phase evidence which is relevant to the statutory listed factors (exclusive of factor (k)). Defendant's second argument is therefore based on an incorrect premise, because the statute, properly interpreted, does require exclusion of aggravating evidence not relevant to the specified aggravating factors. Defendant made no objection to the admission of any of the other-crimes evidence on the ground that the evidence did not relate to one of the statutory factors. In addition, our review of the record finds only one item of evidence introduced at the penalty trial which was not admissible under section 190.3, factors (b) or (c). Deputy Sheriff Clich testified to defendant's stabbing of another inmate, his possession while in prison of a shank (a stabbing weapon); and to his assault on deputies trying to obtain a hair sample pursuant to a court order. During that testimony, however, Clich also stated that defendant had threatened him after the last incident involving the hair sample. It is not clear that the threat constituted criminal activity or the express or implied threat of force or violence. [32] ( People v. Boyd, supra, 38 Cal.3d at pp. 777-778.) No objection was made to this testimony, however, and the point may be deemed waived on appeal. Moreover, even if admission of the evidence was erroneous, we find it nonprejudicial under any standard.
(24) Defendant contends the prosecutor committed misconduct in his comments regarding the testimony of a defense psychiatrist. [33] Defendant did not object to the prosecutor's comments at trial. A claim of prosecutorial misconduct made for the first time on appeal will not be considered if a timely objection and admonition would have cured the harm. ( People v. Green, supra, 27 Cal.3d at pp. 27-34.) We are satisfied that a timely admonition would have cured any possible harm here, and therefore reject defendant's claim of misconduct. In any event, any error was harmless on this record under any standard. The judgment of guilt, the findings of two special circumstances and the judgment of death are affirmed.