Court Opinion

ID: 9537324
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:15:55.751442+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:56:26.674420
License: Public Domain

Fromme, J.,
dissenting: The harmless error rule should be applied in this case and the case should be affirmed.
The evidence of defendant’s participation in these crimes was overwhelming. The errors upon which the case is reversed relate only to testimony of Detective Caldwell which indicates he made a diligent effort to check out the defendant’s alibi stories. The purpose of this testimony was not to establish the elements of the crimes but to question the credibility of defendant. When defendant took the stand to testify he admitted that he was interviewed by Detective Caldwell, that he told the detective what Detective Caldwell had previously testified to, but that the truth about his actions was yet another story. Under such circumstances the truth of the previous alibi stories was no longer an issue in the case. Since during the trial defendant testified that his first stories were not true the harmless error rule should be applied. This relates to Caldwell’s attempts to check with Mrs. Good and Shirley on the original alibi stories. In my opinion this testimony did not in any way affect the outcome of the prosecution and the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
The admission of the testimony of Detective Caldwell as to defendant’s silence when discussing his horse auction alibi was harmless to the same extent. At the crucial time when the Quick-Shop robbery occurred defendant testified he and his co-defendants left the auction and drove to Valley Center where they were arrested.
None of this testimony related to proof of the crimes. None related to defendant’s participation in the crimes. There was overwhelming evidence of defendant’s guilt and of his lack of credibility. The evidence was erroneous, it was unnecessary but in my opinion it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fontron and Kaul, JJ., join in the foregoing dissent.