Opinion ID: 1042995
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Coperpetrators’ sentences and immunity

Text: Defendant contends that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury that it could consider as a mitigating circumstance the immunity granted certain coperpetrators and the life sentences received by others. We have consistently held that evidence of an accomplice‘s sentence or of the leniency granted an accomplice is irrelevant at the penalty phase because ― ‗it does not shed any light on the circumstances of the offense or the defendant‘s character, background, history or mental condition.‘ ‖ (People v. McDermott (2002) 28 Cal.4th 946, 1004-1005; see People v. Johnson (1989) 47 Cal.3d 1194, 1249; People v. Danielson (1992) 3 Cal.4th 691, 718.) Nothing in Parker v. Dugger (1991) 498 U.S. 308, relied on by defendant, compels a different result. (People v. Brown (2003) 31 Cal.4th 518, 563.)