Court Opinion

ID: 9727967
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:53:52.515492+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:44.664580
License: Public Domain

REGAN, Acting P. J.
I concur with the majority, including its reasoning in part IV, but I believe it is also possible to rely on the fourth exception to per se reversibility articulated in People v. Garcia (1984) 36 Cal.3d 539, 556 [205 Cal.Rptr. 265, 684 P.2d 826] In footnote 8 of the opinion, the majority states it does not rely on the fourth exception because, given Vann’s theory of defense, there was no material issue of an intent contrary to that in CALJIC No. 3.01. While this may be true, and I agree with the majority’s analysis in this regard, it does not preclude the conclusion that the fourth Garcia exception is nonetheless applicable in this case, where (1) Vann’s intent was in issue, e.g., to facilitate the robbery or to protect his brother-in-law; (2) the record establishes the intent to rob as a matter of law; and (3) any contrary evidence of intent, which the majority has ruled out as immaterial, is not worthy of consideration. Footnote 8 states we do not resolve the case on the ground that the evidence exclusively establishes the required intent as a matter of law, but that the absence of any evidence of an intent contrary to that imbedded in CALJIC No. 3.01 is dispositive. Garcia requires only that the record establish the necessary intent as a matter of law, and I read in that that a complete absence of any material evidence of contrary intent in the record, much as affirmative evidence in the record, may establish the required intent as a matter of law.
Appellants’ petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied December 31, 1985.