Opinion ID: 1196421
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 40

Heading: Transcript Testimony

Text: (50) The testimony of Dr. Rosander, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy in the Pierce killing, and the testimony of Jane B., the 1975 rape victim, were presented to the jury from trial transcripts as both witnesses were unavailable at the time of trial. Defendant maintains the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury sua sponte that it was to consider this evidence as if it were given live, subject to the same rules applicable to live witnesses. (See CALJIC No. 2.12.) [21] Even if the omission was error, however, no prejudice is apparent and defendant does not suggest how he was harmed by the omission other than to make the unsupported claim that the instruction was vital for the jury's proper consideration of the transcript testimony.