Opinion ID: 765436
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Failure to move for new trial or to quash indictment.

Text: 29 A motion for a new trial, based on the James declaration, would have been to no avail. Because Wilson admits that he and his attorney knew of the James declaration before the end of the trial, it was not newly discovered evidence that could support a motion for a new trial under California Penal Code S 1181(8). And, because the motion almost certainly would have failed, Wilson has not demonstrated that he was prejudiced by counsel's refusal to make it. See Kimmelman, 477 U.S. at 373-74. (The grand jury was not required to find premeditation to indict Wilson on a murder charge, and he could be charged with and convicted of first degree murder even if the indictment did not specify a degree. See Cummiskey v. Superior Court of Sacramento County, 839 P.2d 1059, 1069 (Cal.1992) (holding that a grand jury does not have the duty of determining a degree of murder; that task is for the trial jury (quoting People v. Nichol , 34 Cal. 211, 217 (1867), disapproved on other grounds by People v. Gorshen, 336 P.2d 492 (Cal. 1952))). Thus, although the grand jury may have indicted Wilson without considering premeditation, this is not grounds to quash the indictment. See also Bank of Nova Scotia v. United States, 487 U.S. 250 (1988) (refusing to dismiss an indictment for errors in federal grand jury proceedings, in absence of a showing of prejudice). 30 Also, Baines, who was involved in the fight, told the Grand Jury about the beating of Wilson. Further testimony on this point was not necessary to fulfill the prosecution's obligation under state statute to present evidence tending to negate guilt. See Cummiskey, 839 P.2d at 1068-69; see also United States v. Williams, 504 U.S. 36 (1992) (holding there was no constitutional duty to disclose exculpatory evidence to federal grand jury). 31 Because the motion almost certainly would have been denied, no prejudice accrued to Wilson from his counsel's failure to make a motion on these grounds. See Kimmelman, 477 U.S. at 373-74. 32 AFFIRMED.