Court Opinion

ID: 9719045
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:41:19.0834+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:28.162674
License: Public Domain

KINTNER, J.,*
Concurring—In this case, the court denied defense counsel’s request to ask defendant only two questions as to rehabilitation: (1) *1000was Marsh placed on probation (for the prior robbery); and (2) was Marsh arrested for anything since then? These questions were meant to show (1) the felony conviction was not as serious as it sounded, and (2) Marsh violated no laws during that time. If this were misleading (e.g., probation was agreed upon before a plea because of witness problems or the facts of the offense really were aggravated or Marsh violated the law but he was not arrested), the prosecution would have to be allowed to introduce further evidence including facts of the crime when necessary to portray an accurate description. Faced with thát, the court could properly exercise its discretion to exclude the defendant’s rehabilitation evidence and the prosecutor’s evidence explaining it under Evidence Code section 352. However, where, as here, the defendant’s proffered evidence was not alleged to be misleading, these two questions would not have been unduly time-consuming and therefore were proper under California Constitution, article I, section 28, subdivision (d).
I agree this was harmless error, and should not be cause for reversal.
Regarding the gory autopsy photographs of the internal injuries, I too agree the court erred in admitting them. I must agree the rest of the child’s body could have been masked or partially covered, thus removing the shocking, prejudicial impact. It is clear, as the majority say, that they were relevant, because of the issue as to whether the death was accidental or not. Photographs are often helpful to a trier of fact, especially when one side’s theory of the case is inconsistent with the photographs, as the defendant’s theory was here. A trier of fact may be more persuaded by photographs, because they are hard evidence, whereas witnesses are often seen as biased or imprecise and thus discounted, even when there are no opposing expert witnesses. The old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words, is no less true in the courtroom, where it can save much time and confusion. The photographs here, showing the amount of force and number of impact sites, are clearly probative and thus enlightening. Again, I agree with my learned colleagues that the error is harmless in view of the overwhelming evidence of guilt.
A petition for a rehearing was denied January 7, 1986, and the opinion was modified to read as printed above.

Assigned by the Chairperson of the Judicial Council.