Court Opinion

ID: 8488337
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-21 20:02:23.089245+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:50:10.184502
License: Public Domain

Filed 11/21/22 P. v. Johnson CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

                IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
                            THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                    (Sacramento)
                                         ----

 THE PEOPLE,                                                                                   C094159

                    Plaintiff and Respondent,                                      (Super. Ct. No. 93F07155)

           v.

 ALONZO JOHNSON,

                    Defendant and Appellant.

         In 1993, defendant Alonzo Johnson drove away from William Land Park in his
white sports utility vehicle (SUV) with codefendant, Darrick Jacques Dobynes. A jury
found defendant guilty of murder when Dobynes shot the victim from the SUV on
Freeport Boulevard. Defendant appeals the trial court’s denial of his petition for
resentencing under Penal Code former section 1170.95 (statutory section citations that
follow are found in the Penal Code unless otherwise stated ) because the prosecutor failed
to prove beyond a reasonable doubt defendant and his codefendant were not acting in
self-defense or as a result of a sudden quarrel. We affirm the trial court’s order.

                                                             1
                     FACTS AND HISTORY       OF THE   PROCEEDINGS
       By amended information, the prosecution charged defendant and Dobynes with
first degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a); count 1), and alleged three enhancements to this
count: this was a serious felony, Dobynes used a firearm, and defendant was a principal
in the crime and one or more of the principals were armed with a firearm (§§ 1192.7,
subd. (c)(7), 12022.5, subd. (a), 12022, subd. (a)). The information also charged
defendants with willful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle (§ 246; counts 2 & 3) and
alleged counts 2 and 3 were serious felonies (§ 1192.7, subd. (c)(8)). The information
further alleged defendant allowed Dobynes to discharge a firearm from his vehicle.
(§ 12034, subd. (b); counts 4, 5 & 6.) Finally, the information alleged defendants
committed counts 1 through 3 for the benefit of a street gang. (§ 186.22, subd. (b)(1).)
       One Sunday in June 1993, defendant, Dobynes, and their friends went to William
Land Park (Land Park) in defendant’s SUV. Defendant drove and Dobynes was in the
front passenger seat. A month prior to this trip, defendant’s SUV was hit by bullets while
it was parked in Oak Park in an apparent warning for defendant to stay out of Oak Park
Blood territory.
       Dobynes was a member of the Meadowview Bloods street gang. Defendant was a
member of the Del Paso Heights Manor Mob Gangsters, a faction of the Del Paso
Heights Bloods. At the time, the Oak Park Bloods considered Land Park part of their
territory. Further, at the time, there was an ongoing feud between the Meadowview
Bloods, the Del Paso Heights Bloods, and the Oak Park Bloods.
       Before they went to Land Park, defendant and his friends stopped at a home where
Dobynes armed himself with a .50-caliber handgun. When he returned to the SUV,
Dobynes put the weapon under his seat.
       The victim and his cousin S.K. also went to Land Park that day. They were
members of the Oak Park Bloods.

                                             2
          When defendant and his friends arrived at Land Park, they spoke with various
women and some rap music artists.
          Later that evening, a fight broke out between two women. One of defendant’s
friends, A.A. noticed a large group of the Oak Park Bloods starting to come together.
Defendant, Dobynes, and the other men decided it was time to leave and got into
defendant’s SUV. Shots were fired at the SUV as they drove out of Land Park.
Defendant drove through two cars that attempted to blockade him. Dobynes fired his gun
out of the car window into the air once or twice.
          Defendant turned south onto Freeport Boulevard. He drove approximately a mile
and a half before he encountered the victim and S.K. in a blue Oldsmobile Cutlass at
Freeport Boulevard and Wentworth Avenue. At this location, the parties agree the
evidence shows Dobynes fired two shots from the SUV at the blue Cutlass killing the
driver.
          Although defendant did not testify at trial, his videotaped statements to police
officers were played for the jury. In the first statement, defendant said he did not have
the SUV with him when he was at Land Park. He claimed he went to Land Park with a
friend named S.R. and they left Land Park via Sutterville Road to I-5 after the shooting
started.
          In the second interview with police, defendant admitted he drove his friends to
Land Park in the SUV and he knew Dobynes had a gun with him. After the shooting at
Land Park, but before the fatal confrontation at Freeport Boulevard and Wentworth
Avenue, defendant claimed to have stopped at the Kentucky Fried Chicken parking lot on
Freeport to see if he had any bullet holes in his car. When he saw none, he drove back
onto Freeport. It was then that the blue Cutlass drove up on them and the shooting that
killed the victim occurred. Defendant also admitted to having prior problems with the
Oak Park Bloods when they shot his car. Defendant did not tell the officers he heard or
saw anyone shooting at him while he was driving down Freeport Boulevard.

                                                3
       An independent witness, E.R., testified she was in the bank parking lot adjacent to
the shooting when it happened. She testified at trial she heard a loud boom and then
looked up and saw the blue Cutlass come up into the left-hand turn lane and stop. In her
testimony at the preliminary hearing and when she originally spoke to police officers,
however, she said the first sound she heard was the tires screeching. Next, E.R. saw
defendant’s SUV come up quickly next to the blue Cutlass and stop. She saw a person in
the SUV fire at the blue Cutlass from the SUV’s driver’s side window. The SUV then
turned right onto Wentworth and drove away.
       The prosecution also presented the testimony of A.A., who was one of the
passengers in defendant’s SUV. His statement to the police and his testimony at trial
were contradictory.
       In his original statement to the police, he did not tell the police the occupants of
the blue Cutlass were shooting at defendant’s white SUV and he affirmatively said he did
not see anyone shooting any guns on Freeport Boulevard. A.A. reported when the
victim’s blue Cutlass caught up to them, defendant stared at the blue Cutlass for a minute,
and then said, “There they go, there they go.” Defendant sped up and got right next to
the blue Cutlass and Dobynes shot at it twice through the driver’s side window.
       At trial, A.A. testified that while they were traveling down Freeport Boulevard,
A.A. saw Dobynes with a gun in his lap. His testimony about whether they were shot at
and where the shots came from was inconsistent. First he said, the occupants of the blue
Cutlass were following the SUV, shooting at them while they were traveling on Freeport
Boulevard. Next, however, he testified shots were being fired at them but not from the
blue Cutlass. Ultimately, A.A. testified he never saw anyone firing weapons on Freeport
Boulevard.
       A.A. testified he saw the blue Cutlass pass them and get in the left-turn lane as if it
was going to make a U-turn. At that time, Dobynes said, “There go them fools that shot
at us right there.” A.A. testified the defendant sped up his car to catch up to the blue

                                              4
Cutlass and defendant said, “That’s the fool that was shooting.” A.A. testified he heard
shots and then saw defendant duck down as Dobynes fired at the blue Cutlass. Later, he
clarified that he did not see shots coming from the blue Cutlass, but there were gunshots
hitting their car.
       A second witness in the defendant’s SUV, J.D., Dobynes’ cousin, testified at trial
he heard gunshots as the car went down Freeport Boulevard about a block or two from
the park. Shortly thereafter, he heard two more gunshots coming from right next to or
inside the car. J.D. denied telling a detective on the day of the shooting that he observed
a blue Cutlass following him, but admitted he did tell officers he did not see anyone in
that car fire a weapon. He also testified he told the detective, the only time he heard any
unusual noise was when the car first turned on to Freeport Boulevard from Land Park.
       Another witness in the SUV, A.Q., testified he did not hear any gunshots after
Dobynes fired his gun out of the car while leaving Land Park. As they drove down
Freeport Boulevard, he noticed two cars behind the SUV. The blue Cutlass pulled up
beside them at the light where they were stopped. He heard a loud noise that sounded
like a backfire or gunshot from behind the SUV. He ducked down and heard a shot from
inside the SUV. When he looked up, the SUV was pulling off Freeport Boulevard. He
could not identify who fired the weapon from the SUV and did not see any of the
occupants of the SUV with a gun.
       A.Q. testified a second blue Cutlass followed them when they made a turn from
the intersection of the shooting for about five minutes. Defendant pulled the car to the
side of the road and the second blue Cutlass passed them, made a U-turn and passed them
again, and made a second U-turn and as it was coming up; Dobynes fired a shot at the
Cutlass.
       The prosecution also presented the jury with the preliminary hearing testimony
from S.K., the passenger in the victim’s car. S.K. testified he saw defendant’s white
SUV leave Land Park and a couple guys running after the SUV shooting at it. S.K. and

                                             5
the victim got into their blue Cutlass and drove out of Land Park and turned south onto
Freeport Boulevard intending to go to the victim’s home in Oak Park. Because there
were too many cars trying to turn left on to Sutterville Road, they drove past that street
and got into the left-hand turn lane to make a U-turn to go back. S.K. had no idea how he
and the victim caught up to and passed the SUV. While they were stopped at a light
waiting to make a U-turn, the SUV pulled up beside them and started shooting at them.
The victim said, “I’m hit,” and slumped over.
        A gang expert testified that gang members would retaliate for perceived acts of
disrespect by shooting at rival gang members or hurting members of their family. The
expert also opined that if a person were to go into another gang’s territory armed with a
weapon, they were attempting to protect themselves, to commit criminal activity or to
retaliate.
        S.K. testified he threatened defendant when he confronted him in jail for his part
in the actions to let him know someone from the Oak Park Bloods would take revenge on
him.
        As noted by A.Q.’s testimony, shortly after shooting the victim, defendant and his
friends happened upon another blue Cutlass driven by L.S., a former rival gang member.
L.S. testified he followed the SUV in this car for 10 or 15 minutes and then the SUV
pulled to the side of the road. As L.S. drove by, Dobynes shot at him.
        The jury convicted defendant of second degree murder (§ 187, subd. (a)), two
counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle (§ 246), and three counts of permitting another
to shoot from a vehicle (§ 12034, subd. (b)). The jury also found true a principal was
armed with a firearm (§ 12022, subd. (a)) and the murder and shooting at a vehicle
offenses were gang related (§ 186.22, subd. (b)).
        The trial court sentenced defendant to 15 years to life on the murder charges plus a
determinative term of eight years four months.

                                              6
       In 2020, defendant filed a petition under Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg.
Sess.) to have his murder conviction vacated and to be resentenced. Senate Bill No. 1437
created a special procedural mechanism for those convicted under the former law to seek
retroactive relief under the law as amended. This provision was originally codified as
section 1170.95. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in People v. Lewis (2021)
11 Cal.5th 952, the Legislature amended section 1170.95 to adopt certain of Lewis’s
holdings. (Stats. 2021, ch. 551, § 1, subd. (b).) The Legislature later renumbered the
provision section 1172.6 without substantive change, effective June 30, 2022. (Stats.
2022, ch. 58, § 10.) Unless otherwise noted, citations in this opinion are to former
section 1170.95, the section in place when the petition was filed and denied by the trial
court. Defendant attached a declaration from Dobynes stating that defendant did not
know Dobynes was going to shoot the victim, nor did defendant help or encourage him.
Dobynes averred he and defendant “were only on [the street] for a couple of minutes,
driving quickly, and in fear, fleeing the park.” Defendant submitted a brief where he
affirmed under penalty of perjury he did not know he was being chased after he left Land
Park until Dobynes fired at the vehicle that pulled up alongside his SUV.
       The trial court issued an order to show cause (OSC) for the prosecution to
demonstrate why defendant should not be granted relief pursuant to former section
1170.95, subdivision (c). At the OSC hearing, the prosecution presented the clerk’s and
reporter’s transcripts for the underlying trial, the preliminary hearing testimony of S.K.
read to the jury (summarized above), and the transcripts of the police interview
statements of defendant and A.A. that were provided to the jury.
       Although they did not testify at trial, defendant and Dobynes testified in support of
the petition. Dobynes testified he heard gunshots when he was getting into the car to
leave Land Park and heard bullets strike the SUV. Dobynes claimed he was scared so he
shot his gun twice in the air to try to get people to stop shooting at him. He heard more
gunshots and bullets hitting the SUV as they drove away. Dobynes testified he believed

                                             7
they were being followed by a blue Cutlass and another car as they drove down Freeport
Boulevard. Dobynes claimed he was in fear for his life. Dobynes testified the SUV got
caught at a red light and had to stop. When the blue Cutlass pulled up on the left side,
Dobynes heard a couple of shots, so he reached out of the back driver’s side window of
the SUV and shot at the blue Cutlass two times.
       Dobynes admitted he told the parole board he was angry when he committed this
crime. He also told them he had a fear of being rejected and losing respect in the gang
culture he was involved in at the time. When asked if he remembered telling the
commissioner, “In the moment, I feel disrespected, you know? I said, I’m gonna kill
these guys. I’m gonna make them pay[,]” Dobynes replied, “I don’t quite remember that
dialogue, but I do remember saying that I feel disrespected, yes.” He also told the parole
board, he made a conscious decision to kill.
       Defendant testified he heard shots when he got into the SUV at Land Park. He
looked in his rear-view mirror and saw someone with a gun. While they were on
Freeport Boulevard, someone in the SUV said, “Man, here they go. They coming right
now.” Defendant testified he was still hearing shots, saw cars chasing him, and feared for
his life. When he stopped at the light, the blue Cutlass pulled up on the side of the SUV.
Just before he started to drive forward, he heard gunshots and then Dobynes fired the shot
that killed the victim. He testified three to five minutes passed between the time he left
Land Park and the time of the shooting. On cross-examination, defendant admitted he
knew Dobynes was armed in his SUV and he lied to officers about this at the time he was
interviewed.
       The trial court considered the petition and the evidence submitted by the parties.
In its ruling, the trial court liberally cited our prior appellate opinion for the basic facts of
the events of the evening, but also focused on the underlying evidence submitted at the
original trial and the additional evidence submitted in support of the petition on the key
disputed point—did the defendant and Dobynes believe they were being chased by the

                                                8
victim or had they escaped harm and killed in retaliation. The trial court reviewed the
relevant legal standards and found the prosecution met its burden of proving beyond a
reasonable doubt defendant could be convicted of murder under the new law.
          The court’s findings rested on four key points. First, the trial court rejected the
self-serving and controverted testimony of Dobynes and defendant that they were being
chased and fired upon and found the testimony of A.A., who was in the SUV, and E.R.,
an independent witness, more credible. These witnesses established defendant was the
one who accelerated to catch up to the blue Cutlass to allow Dobynes to shoot and kill the
victim.
          Second, the court found that while defendant and Dobynes might have been in fear
for their lives at the time they left Land Park, at the time they encountered the victims in
the blue Cutlass, they were no longer being shot at and they were no longer in fear,
reasonably or otherwise, but were the aggressors pursuing the victims.
          Third, the trial court found Dobynes’s statements at the parole hearing about being
angry, his fear of loss of respect, and wanting to make the victims pay, demonstrated the
nature of the gang culture to which both Dobynes and defendant were a party. This was
further bolstered by the jury’s finding these crimes were undertaken for the benefit of,
and in support of a criminal street gang.
          The court also stated a final compelling piece of evidence was the encounter later
that evening after the shooting where defendant maneuvered his car in a position to allow
Dobynes to shoot at L.S., another rival gang member.
          The trial court found defendant knew Dobynes intended to commit the crime of
murder; defendant intended to aid and abet Dobynes in the commission of that crime; and
defendant did so by his words and acts. Specifically, defendant, who already had
problems with the Oak Park Bloods, brought Dobynes into Land Park (in Oak Park
Bloods territory) with a loaded firearm. Despite having escaped, defendant and Dobynes
identified the victim, defendant accelerated the SUV into position next to him and ducked

                                                 9
down to allow Dobynes to shoot them. The trial court found the prosecution proved
beyond a reasonable doubt defendant committed second degree murder.
       Defendant filed this appeal.

                                        DISCUSSION
       Defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to find beyond a reasonable
doubt he could be convicted of murder because the prosecution did not prove that the
killing was not justified, and that defendant did not kill as a result of a sudden quarrel or
in the act of perfect or imperfect self-defense. In his reply, he further argues the trial
court erred in considering our prior opinion in his direct appeal.

       A.     Senate Bill No. 1437

       Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) was enacted “to amend the felony
murder rule and the natural and probable consequences doctrine, as it relates to murder,
to ensure that murder liability is not imposed on a person who is not the actual killer, did
not act with the intent to kill, or was not a major participant in the underlying felony who
acted with reckless indifference to human life.” (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1, subd. (f).)
       As relevant here, the bill amended section 188, which defines malice. Section
188, subdivision (a), now provides, in relevant part: “(a) For purposes of Section 187,
malice may be express or implied. [¶] . . . [¶] (2) Malice is implied when no
considerable provocation appears, or when the circumstances attending the killing show
an abandoned and malignant heart. [¶] (3) Except as stated in subdivision (e) of Section
189, in order to be convicted of murder, a principal in a crime shall act with malice
aforethought. Malice shall not be imputed to a person based solely on his or her
participation in a crime.” (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 2.) The import of the change to
section 188 requires “the prosecution to prove that all principals to a murder acted with
malice aforethought. (§ 188, subd. (a)(3).) Though this change abolished the natural and
probable consequences doctrine, it maintained the viability of murder convictions based

                                              10
on implied malice, and the definition of implied malice remains unchanged. (§ 188.)”
(People v. Clements (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 276, 298 (Clements).)
       Senate Bill No. 1437 also added former section 1170.95, which provides the
procedure by which those convicted of murder premised on either a felony murder or
natural and probable consequences theory can petition for resentencing if they could not
be convicted of first or second degree murder because of changes to sections 188 or 189
by the bill. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 4; former § 1170.95, subd. (a).)
       Upon the issuance of an OSC, the prosecution has the burden “to prove, beyond a
reasonable doubt, that the petitioner is ineligible for resentencing.” (Former § 1170.95,
subd. (d)(3).)

       B.        Substantial Evidence Standard of Review

       In reviewing a trial court’s findings the prosecution has proven defendant is guilty
of murder under current law, “[w]e review the trial judge’s factfinding for substantial
evidence.” (Clements, supra, 75 Cal.App.5th at p. 298.) “We ‘ “examine the entire
record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it contains
substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value that
would support a rational trier of fact in finding [the defendant guilty] beyond a reasonable
doubt.” ’ [Citation.] Our job on review is different from the trial judge’s job in deciding
the petition. While the trial judge must review all the relevant evidence, evaluate and
resolve contradictions, and make determinations as to credibility, all under the reasonable
doubt standard, our job is to determine whether there is any substantial evidence,
contradicted or uncontradicted, to support a rational fact finder’s findings beyond a
reasonable doubt.” (Ibid.)

       C.        Consideration of Appellate Opinion Facts

       In his reply brief, defendant argues for the first time the trial court erred when it
considered the recital of facts contained in our prior opinion. We will not normally

                                              11
consider arguments raised for the first time in a reply brief (People v. Duff (2014)
58 Cal.4th 527, 550, fn. 9), however, we requested supplemental briefing from the
Attorney General on this subject and granted its motion to augment the record to include
the clerk and reporter’s transcripts of the original jury trial submitted to the trial court in
conjunction with the petition. We disagree with defendant.
       At the time of the evidentiary hearing in this case, former section 1170.95,
subdivision (d)(3) allowed “[t]he prosecutor and the petitioner [to] rely on the record of
conviction or offer new or additional evidence to meet their respective burdens.” (Stats.
2018, ch. 1015, § 4, subd. (d)(3).) It provided no definition as to what the record of
conviction included, or how items in that record could be used by the trial court. Our
Supreme Court had held an appellate opinion is generally “part of the record of
conviction that the trier of fact may consider in determining whether a conviction
qualifies under the sentencing scheme at issue.” (People v. Woodell (1998) 17 Cal.4th
448, 457.) Shortly after the trial court ruled in this case, our Supreme Court reaffirmed
appellate opinions are considered a part of the record of conviction in People v. Lewis,
supra, 11 Cal.5th at page 972, but cautioned an appellate opinion may not supply all the
answers.
       Effective January 1, 2022, the Legislature amended former section 1170.95,
subdivision (d)(3) with Senate Bill No. 775 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) to clarify what
evidence can be admitted at the OSC hearing and to limit the use of the prior appellate
opinions to “the procedural history of the case recited.” (Stats 2021, ch. 551, § 2; now
codified at § 1172.6, subd. (d)(3).) As a result, a trial court is no longer allowed to rely
on the factual summaries in prior appellate court decisions when deciding a former
section 1170.95 petition after an evidentiary hearing. (Clements, supra, 75 Cal.App.5th
at p. 292.)
       While the trial court cited our prior opinion in its recitation of facts, it had the full
trial record, and relevant exhibits before it. The record indicates the trial court reviewed

                                               12
that record when making its ruling rather than blindly relying on the summary of facts in
our prior decision. The prosecution submitted the record as part of its opposition to the
petition and the parties cited that record during argument at the hearing on the former
section 1170.95 petition. Defendant points to no facts stated in the factual summary of
our prior opinion but not contained in the underlying record, and our independent review
of that record confirms the prior decision is in accord with the facts presented to the trial
court at the prior trial. We conclude the trial court did not ignore any relevant evidence
and its use of our opinion that summarized the facts does not invalidate its ruling.

       D.     Substantial Evidence Supports the Trial Court’s Determination

       The key question defendant argues is whether the prosecution proved beyond a
reasonable doubt the killing was not the result of a sudden quarrel or committed in self-
defense (perfect or imperfect). The trial court’s finding the prosecution met its burden of
proving beyond a reasonable doubt defendant could still be convicted of murder is
supported by substantial evidence.
       In response to a petition for resentencing, the trial judge need not hold a whole
new trial, rather, “the parties will focus on evidence made relevant by the amendments to
the substantive definition of murder.” (Clements, supra, 75 Cal.App.5th at p. 298.) To
prove second degree murder, the prosecution must demonstrate “ ‘the unlawful killing of
a human being with malice aforethought but without the additional elements, such as
willfulness, premeditation, and deliberation, that would support a conviction of first
degree murder.’ (People v. Knoller (2007) 41 Cal.4th 139, 151.)” (Clements, at p. 299.)
In this case, the elimination of the natural and probable consequences doctrine raises the
question whether the evidence supports a second degree murder verdict under an implied
malice theory beyond a reasonable doubt. Here, it does.
       “[T]o be liable for an implied malice murder, the direct aider and abettor must, by
words or conduct, aid the commission of the life-endangering act, not the result of that

                                             13
act. The mens rea, which must be personally harbored by the direct aider and abettor, is
knowledge that the perpetrator intended to commit the act, intent to aid the perpetrator in
the commission of the act, knowledge that the act is dangerous to human life, and acting
in conscious disregard for human life.” (People v. Powell (2021) 63 Cal.App.5th 689,
713, italics omitted.)
       Substantial evidence supports the trial court’s finding the prosecution proved
beyond a reasonable doubt defendant knew Dobynes intended to shoot at the victim from
the car; intended to aid Dobynes in the commission of this act; knew that shooting into a
car is dangerous to human life; and acted in conscious disregard for that life.
       The evidence before the trial court was defendant had preexisting problems with
the Oak Park Bloods when they shot up his car. There was an ongoing feud between
defendants’ gang and the Oak Park Bloods, and further, the Oak Park Bloods considered
Land Park in their territory. Despite this, defendant brought Dobynes into Land Park,
knowing Dobynes was armed with a .50-caliber handgun. After a fight broke out and
shots were fired, defendant left Land Park in his SUV. On the way out, defendant
allowed Dobynes to fire his weapon into the air from his SUV. After he escaped the
immediate threat and was a mile away from Land Park, he saw the victim’s blue Cutlass
and sped up to catch the car and said, “that’s the fool that was shooting.” Defendant
drove his SUV into a position to give Dobynes a clear shot and ducked down as Dobynes
fired his weapon.
       Defendant also argues the trial court erred when it stated no one could identify the
shooters in Land Park when the testimony was “everyone” was shooting at the defendant
and his friends, including people in the blue Cutlass. The trial court’s statement was only
that no particular shooter was identified. This was true.
       This does not end the analysis. The actual and reasonable belief a killing is
necessary for self-defense is a complete defense to murder. (People v. Humphrey (1996)
13 Cal.4th 1073, 1082.) Further, an intentional killing based on the honest belief in the

                                             14
need for self-defense that is not objectively reasonable— “imperfect” or “unreasonable”
self-defense—operates to negate the element of malice and reduces the crime from
murder to manslaughter. (Ibid.) In addition, a killing committed in response to a sudden
quarrel or heat of passion negates malice and reduces a charge to manslaughter.
(People v. Najera (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 212, 223.) “An unlawful homicide is upon
‘ “a sudden quarrel or heat of passion” ’ if the killer’s reason was obscured by a
‘ “provocation” ’ sufficient to cause an ordinary person of average disposition to act
rashly and without deliberation.” (Ibid.)
       Defendant’s argument the prosecution did not meet its burden fails because the
trial court rejected defendant’s and Dobynes’ testimony about what happened between
the time they left Land Park and when the murder occurred. Instead, the trial court found
the evidence established defendant escaped the threat and became the aggressor when he
came upon the victims in the blue Cutlass.
       The trial court was entitled to reject defendant’s and Dobynes’s testimony and
credit the other evidence. The trial court heard and saw their testimony, neither of whom
testified at the original trial, observed their demeanor as they testified, and certainly
appreciated their own bias in this case. Contrasted with these self-serving statements, the
trial court had evidence from an independent witness standing at the scene who said,
when the events were fresh in her mind, she heard a screech and then saw defendant pull
up to the car and shots fired from the SUV into the blue Cutlass. We reject defendant’s
argument the trial court was required to credit E.R.’s trial testimony that she heard a
boom before she looked up and saw the shooting. The trial court was entitled to credit
her statement that no loud boom occurred (or shots were fired) before defendant attacked
the blue Cutlass based on E.R.’s contemporaneous report to the police and prior
preliminary hearing testimony. (People v. Freeman (1971) 20 Cal.App.3d 488, 494.)
       Moreover, the testimony and corroborated contemporaneous statements of S.K.
and A.A. further support the trial court’s findings. Given the trial court’s ability to see

                                              15
and hear the testimonial witnesses’ demeanor and their manner of testimony and review
the contrary evidence in the record by persons without bias, the record provides
substantial evidence supporting the trial court finding the prosecution proved beyond a
reasonable doubt there was no self-defense or sudden quarrel here. (In re Corey (1964)
230 Cal.App.2d 813, 825-826 [the credibility of the witnesses is for the observation and
consideration of the trier of fact, and will not be disturbed unless the testimony is
inherently incredible].)
       In addition, there was significant evidence of the gang culture from both
Dobynes’s testimony about his motivation in killing the victim and S.K.’s preliminary
hearing testimony about how he threatened defendant with gang vengeance. Dobynes
told the parole board about how he was angry; how he felt disrespected; how he was
concerned about losing respect; how he was going to kill these guys; and how he was
“gonna make them pay.” Further, S.K. said he told defendant the entire Oak Park Bloods
gang was going to keep an eye on him for killing his relative as a warning defendant
should watch his back.
       This gang retaliation mindset was further supported by the evidence defendant
maneuvered his SUV in a place to where Dobynes could shoot at the second blue Cutlass
containing a rival gang member in retaliation, after the first shooting. The jury also
found this killing and the various shots fired by Dobynes were committed for the benefit
of, or in association with a criminal street gang.
       We reject defendant’s claim there is no rational explanation as to how the blue
Cutlass got in front of defendant’s SUV as they raced down Freeport Boulevard after the
fight and shooting at Land Park. The traffic conditions described by S.K. are explanation
enough. In addition, this state of facts is equally explained by defendant’s statement he
stopped at the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Freeport to see if he had any bullet holes in his
car.

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      We conclude substantial evidence supports the trial court’s findings the
prosecution demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt this killing was an intentional act of
gang revenge.

                                     DISPOSITION
      The judgment (order) is affirmed.

                                                HULL, Acting P. J.

We concur:

HOCH, J.

RENNER, J.

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