Opinion ID: 2387577
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Arguing based on speculation

Text: (19) Defendant contends the prosecutor improperly speculated that defendant would pose an ongoing threat to prison personnel if he were not sentenced to death. As defendant concedes, a prosecutor properly may argue the potential risk of a capital defendant's future violence when the argument is based on evidence of past crimes. (See, e.g., People v. Zambrano (2007) 41 Cal.4th 1082, 1179 [63 Cal.Rptr.3d 297, 163 P.3d 4].) The prosecutor's argument concerning defendant's dangerousness in prison was proper rebuttal of an expert witness's testimony about defendant's ability to function in a highly structured environment. (See People v. Davis (1995) 10 Cal.4th 463, 540 [41 Cal.Rptr.2d 826, 896 P.2d 119].) Given defendant's murder of Catalina Correa, the numerous armed robberies, and his expert's concession that his MMPI results were similar to those of persons who have problems adjusting to prison life, the prosecutor's argument was a reasonable commentary on the evidence.