Opinion ID: 1113193
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 26

Heading: Hearsay regarding 1968 family argument.

Text: (28) Deputy Fowler was one of two deputies who responded to the 1968 incident, in which defendant's brother Antonio was apparently stabbed. Fowler said Richard, Sr., told him at that time, among other things, that defendant had been berating Hortencia shortly before Antonio was cut. Defendant now suggests his counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to challenge this inflammatory and irrelevant hearsay. The contention lacks merit. In earlier testimony, Richard, Sr., purported to recall details of the 1968 incident in a manner favorable to defendant. However, he consistently, and unconvincingly, denied remembering any unfavorable statements to responding deputies. Given the witness's evasiveness, Fowler's hearsay description of their 1968 conversation was admissible for its truth as a prior inconsistent statement. (Evid. Code, ง 1235; People v. Green (1971) 3 Cal.3d 981, 985-991 [92 Cal. Rptr. 494, 479 P.2d 998].) Moreover, the evidence was clearly relevant, and more probative than prejudicial, to the dispute whether Antonio's injury was accidental or intentionally inflicted. The information aided the prosecution's theory that Antonio's attempt to protect Hortencia from defendant led to a fight in which defendant stabbed his brother. Hence, no basis for reversal appears. [27]