Opinion ID: 2614001
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Denial of pretrial motion to set aside torture-murder special circumstance

Text: (22) Defendant, maintaining that the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing was insufficient to establish that the murder of William involved torture, contends the trial court erred in denying his pretrial motion (pursuant to section 995) to set aside the allegation of the torture special circumstance. [12] First, we disagree with defendant's claim that the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing as to the nonfatal injuries indicative of torture did not supply probable cause to hold defendant to answer as to that allegation. Second, even an erroneous denial of a section 995 motion justifies reversal of a judgment of conviction only when a defendant is able to demonstrate prejudice at trial flowing from the purportedly inadequate evidentiary showing at the preliminary hearing. ( People v. Alcala (1984) 36 Cal.3d 604, 627-628 [205 Cal. Rptr. 775, 685 P.2d 1126]; People v. Pompa-Ortiz (1980) 27 Cal.3d 519, 529 [165 Cal. Rptr. 851, 612 P.2d 941].) Defendant has not made such a showing here. Where the evidence produced at trial amply supports the jury's finding, any question whether the evidence produced at the preliminary hearing supported the finding of probable cause is rendered moot. Even `[i]f there is insufficient evidence to support the commitment, the defendant cannot be said to be prejudiced where sufficient evidence has been introduced at ... trial' to support the jury's finding as to the charge or as to the truth of the allegation. ( People v. Moreno (1984) 158 Cal. App.3d 109, 114 [204 Cal. Rptr. 17]; People v. Moore (1987) 185 Cal. App.3d 1005, 1017-1018 [230 Cal. Rptr. 237]; People v. Hunt (1982) 133 Cal. App.3d 543, 552-553 [184 Cal. Rptr. 197]; People v. Fagalilo (1981) 123 Cal. App.3d 524, 532, fn. 3 [176 Cal. Rptr. 698]; People v. Hampton (1981) 116 Cal. App.3d 193, 199 [172 Cal. Rptr. 25]; People v. Chambers (1980) 108 Cal. App.3d 985, 991 [166 Cal. Rptr. 815].) Therefore, because, as discussed, post, the evidence received at trial is sufficient to support the finding that the alleged special circumstance of murder involving torture was true, defendant's contention with regard to the section 995 motion is without merit.