Court Opinion

ID: 9726516
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 12:54:40.908875+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:27.983906
License: Public Domain

SMITH, J.
I concur in the judgment only.
The law is clear that the obligation of a trial court to instruct sua sponte with regard to defenses arises “only if it appears that the defendant is relying on such a defense, or if there is substantial evidence supportive of such a defense and the defense is not inconsistent with the defendant’s theory of the case.” (People v. Sedeno (1974) 10 Cal.3d 703, 716 [112 Cal.Rptr. 1, 518 P.2d 913].)
The defendant testified on both direct and cross-examination that he did not strike or hit the victim. He repeatedly stated that the victim “fell into the pool stick.” Further, the defendant at trial disclaimed prior statements to the effect that he had struck the victim. The defendant’s testimony, and his attorney’s argument, emphasized defendant’s theory that the incident was accidental. Additionally, there was an absence of evidence that defendant held an honest but unreasonable belief in the need for self-defense. It would also appear that an act in self-defense, as an explanation of what took place, would be inconsistent with the defendant’s “accidental” theory.
Therefore, the evidence presented and George McKelvy’s defense do not create an obligation upon the trial court to instruct sua sponte on an *708“honest but unreasonable belief in the need for self-defense.” I therefore see no need for the discussion in the lead opinion regarding the sua sponte requirement to instruct with regard to this defense.
Rouse, J., concurred.