Court Opinion

ID: 9557663
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 16:54:31.114021+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:11.208518
License: Public Domain

WHITE, J.
— I dissent.
As I read the majority opinion in this case it concedes, as therein stated, “Undoubtedly, in a proper case, and in a proper manner, testimony of the ‘state of mind’ of the declarant, where that is an issue in the case is admissible, but only when such testimony refers to threats as to future conduct on the part of the accused, where such declarations are shown to have been made under circumstances indicating that they are reasonably trustworthy, and when they show primarily the then state of mind of the declarant and not the state of mind of the accused. But there are and should be rigid limitations on the admission of such testimony. One of these limitations is that such testimony is not admissible if it refers solely to alleged past conduct on the part of the accused.” (Emphasis added.)
In the instant case defendant sought to absolve himself of the prosecution’s contention that he went to Estella’s home with an evil intent by his testimony that he had an appointment, solicited by Estella, to see her at her home, which accounted for his visit there. Thus, Estella’s “state of mind,” that is, her attitude toward the defendant was put in issue by the defendant. Manifestly, if she was in fear of the defendant serious doubt would thus be cast on the defendant’s story that she had invited him to her home, by evidence of those fears. If the purpose of admitting such evidence is to show the “state of mind” of the declarant where, as in the instant ease, it was concededly an issue in the ease, then I am at a loss to understand why declarations of threats to do future violence should be regarded as less prejudicial than the narration of alleged past conduct. And surely if the purpose of admitting “state of mind” testimony is to be achieved, then as in the instant ease, such a state of mind as fear of the defendant could be engendered by past actions of brutality, probably more so than by unexecuted threats of promised future harm to the declarant. Complaint is made in the majority opinion that testimony of past conduct tends more to establish the state of mind of the accused rather than of the declarant. Would not such a conclusion be as applicable to threats of future violence as to prior executed acts of violence ? *903This would appear to be a distinction without a difference.
I agree that evidence of this character may be excluded as legally irrelevant if the court determines that its value is outweighed by policy considerations of undue prejudice, lapse of time or surprise. The majority opinion seems to hold that the evidence here was so highly prejudicial that it outweighed any probative value and should have been excluded. I feel that these are matters primarily addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. The majority would completely emasculate the rule providing for “state of mind” testimony unless it refers to threats as to future conduct on the part of the accused, thereby withholding from the trier of facts evidence of past conduct which would materially aid the arbiter of facts in determining whether the declarant was actually in fear of the accused. I am apprehensive lest such a rule would militate against convictions of murder in proper cases.
In the case now engaging our attention, the court admittedly throughout the trial carefully pointed out to the jury that the evidence was being admitted for the limited purpose of showing the deceased’s state of mind and they were to consider it for that purpose only. On one occasion the trial judge stated: “Such testimony is not admissible to prove that such threats or acts of violence did occur and you are not to consider it as proof of the truth thereof. Now I appreciate that is a very difficult concept, but this testimony along this line, whatever it may be, is not to be taken by you as proof that those things actually did occur. It simply throws whatever light you may want to put on it as to the frame of mind of Estella Hamilton towards the defendant Ray Hamilton.”
On another occasion the trial judge stated: “I think the Jury understands that regardless of who was right or wrong in these altercations, would make no difference. This is a very limited purpose to show the state of mind of Estella toward the defendant, Ray Hamilton. That’s all. Regardless of who was right or wrong on these differences that may have existed between them.”
Again in the instructions to the jury, the court stated: “Testimony as to threats made by the defendant or any acts of violence by him upon the decedent, Estella Hamilton, or the decedent, Lorenzo Bernard, would of course be admissible if given by witnesses who state that they heard the defendant make such threats or who saw such acts of violence committed, but testimony of any witness which is based upon what such *904decedent told him, is hearsay, and is ordinarily not admissible. However, when the state or frame of mind of a decedent is material and relevant, such testimony is admitted for a limited purpose only, that is, for such bearing, if any, as it may have on showing what the state of mind of said decedent was on the night of May 20th, 1959. Such testimony is not admissible to prove that such threats were uttered or such acts of violence did occur, and you are not to consider it as proof of the truth thereof.
“However, if you should find from the evidence that either decedent did make a statement or statements to such effect prior to May 20th, 1959, you must then also consider whether such a statement was made in good faith and in honest belief as to the truth thereof. In other words, to put the question conversely, was the decedent who made such statement, actually in fear of defendant or was such statement to that effect merely a sham and not a true expression of the state of mind of such decedent?”
Manifestly, whether the value of material evidence is outweighed by its prejudicial character is a matter within the discretion of the trial court, and its decision should not be overturned on appeal unless it can be shown that the court has substantially abused its discretion.
To me it seems a sad commentary upon the intelligence of jurors, in the light of the court’s constant, painstaking and specific admonitions, to say that they were unable to follow them or that in violation of their sworn obligations as jurors they cast aside such admonitions. I cannot indulge in either of those assumptions, particularly where, as in this case, the evidence not only established defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt but was demonstrative thereof.
Since the question of whether defendant went out to the home of one of his victims (Estella) on the evening of the homicides, upon the invitation of the latter, was an important issue to be determined by the jury, I am impressed it was well within the court’s discretion to conclude that the value of proper and material inferences warranted by the testimony far outweighed any undue prejudice which might have resulted to the defendant, particularly where, as stated, the court gave frequent, meticulous and proper instructions designed to eliminate any such undue prejudice.
I concede that it was improper for the district attorney in his opening statement to the jury to state, in setting forth what he expected to prove, that a motive would be found in *905defendant’s conduct toward Estella during and after his marriage in that during this period defendant made threats against the life of Estella as is more fully pointed out in the majority opinion, when the only evidence offered at the trial was the declarations admitted to prove “state of mind” of the deceased Estella. However, I am satisfied that any prejudice to defendant in this regard was cured by the foregoing admonitions of the trial judge, and that no miscarriage of justice has resulted. (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 4%.)
For the foregoing reasons, I would affirm the judgment and the order denying defendant’s motion for a new trial.
Sehauer, J., and McComb, J., concurred.
Respondent’s petition for a rehearing was denied June 21, 1961. Sehauer, J., McComb, J., and White, J., were of the opinion that the petition should be granted.