Opinion ID: 2594480
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 28

Heading: Adverse inference from failure to testify

Text: Defendant argues the trial court should have instructed the jury sua sponte not to draw any adverse inference from the fact that defendant did not testify. Defendant points out that the court gave an instruction of this kind at the guilt phase, but it instructed the jury at the penalty phase to disregard guilt phase instructions. On this basis, defendant asserts the jury may have thought it was appropriate at the penalty phase to draw an adverse inference from defendant's failure to testify. We have repeatedly rejected similar contentions (see, e.g., People v. Holt (1997) 15 Cal.4th 619, 687, 63 Cal. Rptr.2d 782, 937 P.2d 213), and do so again here. Defense counsel may have a tactical reason for not wanting the instruction defendant proposesparticularly at the penalty phaseand the court does not err in failing to give the instruction sua sponte.