Court Opinion

ID: 9853127
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:42:54.44113+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:41.166234
License: Public Domain

PETERS, J.
I agree with the majority that reversible error was committed in the penalty trial, and so I agree with the reversal of the penalty judgment. But I dissent from the majority opinion insofar as it affirms the determination of *532guilt. I believe that there was some evidence of intoxication, and that defendant was therefore entitled to a manslaughter, instruction based on the concept of diminished responsibility.
The law on this point is well settled. It is not whether there was “substantial” evidence to support the defense of diminished capacity, as stated by the majority, but whether there was “any” evidence, no matter how “weak” or “incredible” to support that defense. These principles were summarized in People v. Carmen, 36 Cal.2d 768, at page 773 [228 P.2d 281], where it was said: “Section 1127 of the Penal Code provides: ‘. . . The court shall inform the jury in all cases that the jurors are the exclusive judges of all questions of fact submitted to them and of the credibility of the witnesses.’ (Emphasis added.) It has been held that a defendant is entitled to instructions on his theory of the case as disclosed by the evidence, no matter how weak. As so ably stated in People v. Burns, 88 Cal.App.2d 867, 871 [200 P.2d 134], with ample citation of authority: ‘It is elementary that the court should instruct the jury upon every material question upon which there is any evidence deserving of any consideration whatever. (People v. Quimby, 6 Cal.App. 482, 486 [92 P. 493]; People v. Foster, 79 Cal.App. 328, 337 [249 P. 231] ; People v. Hill, 76 Cal.App.2d 330, 343 [173 P.2d 26].) The fact that the evidence may not be of a character to inspire belief does not authorize the refusal of an instruction based thereon. (People v. Perkins, 75 Cal.App.2d 875, 881 [171 P.2d 919] ; People v. Peete, 54 Cal.App. 333, 356, 359 [202 P. 51] ; People v. Wong Hing, 176 Cal. 699, 705-706 [169 P. 357].) That is a question within the exclusive province of the jury. However incredible the testimony of a defendant may be he is entitled to an instruction based upon the hypothesis that it is entirely true. (People v. Perkins, supra, p. 881; People v. Williamson, 6 Cal.App. 336, 339 [92 P. 313] ; People v. Keefer, 65 Cal. 232, 234 [3 P. 818].) . .
This principle has been reaffirmed on many occasions. In People v. Modesto, 59 Cal.2d 722 [31 Cal.Rptr. 225, 382 P.2d 33], Carmen was not only reaffirmed but it was held that if the instruction should have been given failure to give it was per se reversible. (See also People v. Conley, 64 Cal.2d 310 [49 Cal.Rptr. 815, 411 P.2d 911].)
In the instant case there was some- evidence, pe'rhaps weak, and perhaps not very convincing, that defendant was under the influence of alcohol sufficient to affect his judgment when *533the crimes were committed. As the majority opinion correctly discloses, defendant was in the company of Smith and Thomas from 8 p.m. until about 2 a.m. The evidence is uncontradicted that all were drinking during this period. Smith was so visibly drunk that several bars refused to serve him any more drinks. While the evidence is that defendant was not visibly intoxicated there is evidence, referred to by the majority, that defendant “was not seen to have had more than six or seven beers.” Thus he was observed to have had at least six or seven beers. If each bottle contained a pint of beer that would mean defendant consumed at least three and one-half quarts, or nearly a gallon, in less than six hours. If each glass contained only 10 ounces that would equal 70 ounces, or substantially over two quarts. The majority necessarily hold that, as a matter of law, that quantity of beer could not have affected the judgment of defendant. In so holding the majority are, in my opinion, improperly weighing the evidence, refusing to indulge in possible inferences in favor of defendant, and setting themselves up as experts in the field of alcoholism. There is, of course, substantial evidence that defendant did not appear affected by his consumption of the liquor, but the point is that there is some evidence to support an inference that he had consumed enough liquor so that his judgment could have been affected. There certainly is some evidence “no matter how weak” to support such an inference and to bring this case within the ambit of the rule requiring an instruction on diminished responsibility.