P. v. Poindexter
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
Filed 10/31/06 CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION* IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION FOUR THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, A110370 v. (Alameda County Super. Ct. No. 147053) MAURICE POINDEXTER, Defendant and Appellant. Defendant, convicted of first degree murder (Pen. Code 187, subd. (a)),1 contends that there was insufficient evidence to support the verdict.2 Specifically, he argues that certain elements necessary to support lying-in-wait first degree murder3 were not supported by sufficient evidence. This argument encompasses the issue of whether a substantial period of watching and waiting, required for the related lying-in-wait special circumstance, is also required for first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory. We find, as defendant argues, that a substantial period of watching and waiting is * Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 976(b) and 976.1, this opinion is certified for publication with the exception of DISCUSSION, parts B. and C. 1 An enhancement for use of a firearm (Pen. Code, § 12022.53, subd. (d)) was found true; defendant was also convicted of possession of a firearm by an ex-felon (Pen. Code, § 12021, subd. (a)). All further section references are to the Penal Code. 2 Defendant also contends on appeal that he was denied a fair trial due to witness misconduct, and that the prosecutor improperly commented upon his failure to present evidence. 3 The jury was instructed on two theories of first degree murder: lying in wait and premeditation/deliberation. 1 required for lying-in-wait first degree murder, but nevertheless conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict. We affirm the conviction. BACKGROUND Victim Eric Johnson and his friend Erik Agreda stopped by the victim s apartment on the evening of July 19, 2003, so the victim could pick up some money. Agreda parked in the back of the victim s driveway on Fortune Way. While the victim went inside, Agreda stayed outside in the car. Agreda noticed there were several people in their mid20 s around a car in the area. When the victim came back outside, he told Agreda that someone was looking at him kind of hard. Agreda saw defendant walking toward the victim, who was standing next to the passenger door of Agreda s car. The victim asked what was going on. Agreda jumped out of his car and heard defendant say, What you doing back there? The victim replied that he lived there. Defendant said that something had come up missing back there; the victim indicated that he did not care, that he did not know anything about something missing, and that it was his house. Defendant said something to the effect of, Oh, you don t care? Man, if you want to keep living here, man, stay here. (Not an exact quotation.)4 Another witness, Mario Jacobs, testified that the last thing defendant said to the victim before leaving to get his shotgun was, I ma show you what I mean. While defendant and the victim were talking, Jacobs drove up in his car and asked the victim if everything was all right. They had been friends since elementary school. The victim told Jacobs that he was all right and to come back later. After defendant walked away, Jacobs told the victim to get in his car and leave. 4 Agreda testified that after defendant said something had come up missing back there, the victim replied that he stayed there; the defendant then said something like, Man, if you want to keep living here, man . . . . He admitted, however, that he had told the police a slightly different version, wherein he indicated that defendant said, He was like, you want to keep living, stay here, or something to that effect. 2 Defendant walked away. Another man from the group nearby approached and said, Don t trip E. He just don t know you, as though trying to calm down the situation. Defendant walked down Fortune Street and turned right onto Seminary Avenue. Within a minute of leaving, defendant returned with a shotgun. He carried the shotgun pointed down. He said something to the victim, who said, It s not that serious. It s not that serious. Defendant then shot the victim three times, and ran off toward Seminary. James Lyles testified that a day or two before the shooting, defendant asked him to watch a garbage can at Seminary and Foothill. Lyles looked inside and saw a sawed-off shotgun. Lyles believed that defendant sold drugs in the area, and that he had his stash in the area of the driveway across from his father s home. The victim lived across the street from defendant s father.5 The victim was shot three times with a shotgun: one entry wound was in his rear thigh, another in the rear of his arm, and the third in his arm and chest. The shot that entered his chest was fatal. The shotgun was fired from between five and ten feet away.6 Defendant was charged by information with murder (§ 187, subd. (a)), and with an enhancement for use of a firearm causing injury or death (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)). A second information charging possession of a firearm by a felon (§ 12021, subd. (a)) was consolidated with the murder charge. Defendant was convicted by jury of first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon, and the firearm allegation was found true. Defendant was sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison, consisting of 25 years to life for first degree murder, with a consecutive sentence of 25 years for the use enhancement; 5 Lyles testified to these beliefs based upon his general observations. He admitted on cross-examination, however, that he had never personally observed defendant store drugs in the garbage can. 6 The autopsy surgeon s testimony was not conclusive regarding the distance from which the shots were fired. He indicated on direct that they were fired from a distance of five to ten feet away; on cross-examination, he indicated the distance could not be precisely determined without test-firing the weapon. He further indicated that one or all of the shots could have been fired from that distance, or from a closer range. 3 the sentence for felon in possession of a firearm was stayed pursuant to section 654. This timely appeal followed. DISCUSSION A. Lying in Wait. The trial court instructed the jury on two theories of first degree murder: lying in wait and premeditation/deliberation. Defendant contends that insufficient evidence supports first degree murder under the theory of lying in wait, and that the trial court therefore erred in instructing on that theory. We disagree, but also find any error was harmless. The trial court instructed on lying in wait, pursuant to CALJIC No. 8.25: Murder which is immediately preceded by lying in wait is murder of the first degree. [¶] The term lying in wait is defined as waiting and watching for an opportune time to act, together with a concealment by ambush or some other secret design to take the other person by surprise [even though the victim is aware of the murderer s presence]. The lying in wait need not continue for any particular period of time provided that its duration is such as to show a state of mind equivalent to premeditation or deliberation. [¶] [The word premeditation means considered beforehand.] [¶] [The word deliberation means formed or arrived at or determined upon as a result of careful thought and weighing of considerations for and against the proposed course of action.] Defendant maintains that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury s finding of first degree murder on this theory. The legal standard is a familiar one: On appeal we review the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses substantial evidence that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citations.] (People v. Gurule (2002) 28 Cal.4th 557, 630 (Gurule).) The same rule applies to the review of circumstantial evidence. The court must consider the evidence and all logical inferences from that evidence in light of the legal definition of lying in wait. [Citation.] But it is the jury, not 4 the appellate court, which must be convinced of the defendant s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citation.] Therefore, an appellate court may not substitute its judgment for that of the jury. If the circumstances reasonably justify the jury s findings, the reviewing court may not reverse the judgment merely because it believes that the circumstances might also support a contrary finding. [Citations.] (People v. Ceja (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1134, 1138-1139, italics omitted (Ceja).) Thus, in evaluating a claim of insufficiency of the evidence, the test is not whether we ourselves are convinced that the evidence proves defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but whether substantial evidence supports the jury s conclusion that it does. (In re Jose P. (2003) 106 Cal.App.4th 458, 465-466.) Only if it clearly appears that upon no hypothesis whatever is there substantial evidence to support the verdict may we reverse. (People v. Redmond (1969) 71 Cal.2d 745, 755.) Defendant argues that To prove lying in wait, the prosecution must prove there was a concealment of purpose, a substantial period of watching and waiting for a favorable or opportune time to act, and that immediately thereafter the defendant launched a surprise attack, on an unsuspecting victim from a position of advantage, citing Gurule and People v. Hardy (1992) 2 Cal.4th 86, 163 (Hardy). Specifically, defendant contends that the elements of waiting and watching for an opportune time to act, concealment by a secret design, and waiting for a substantial period of time, which he contends are required elements of first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory, were not supported by sufficient evidence. We focus on the element of waiting for a substantial period of time. 7 7 We focus primarily on this element, but the same analysis regarding the correctly applicable law defining the elements of first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory applies as well to the other elements cited from Gurule, supra, at pages 629-630. The factors cited from Gurule, other than the substantial period of watching and waiting, are mentioned in CALJIC No. 8.25, although the language does not exactly track the cited language from Gurule (see fn. 13, post). Respondent specifically contends that the substantial period of watching and waiting requirement applies only to the lying-in-wait special circumstance, hence our focus on this issue. 5 Defendant argues that under a lying-in-wait theory of first degree murder, the prosecution must prove that he waited for a substantial period of time. Respondent contends that this language is from the lying-in-wait special circumstance, which has more stringent requirements than lying-in-wait first degree murder. According to respondent, the substantial period of time requirement is only applicable in the lying-inwait special circumstance, citing the definition of lying-in-wait first degree murder contained in CALJIC No. 8.25, and People v. Moon (2005) 37 Cal.4th 1, 22 (Moon).8 In order to resolve this disputed issue, we must review, and attempt to reconcile, several cases that have addressed the question in different contexts. The definition of lying in wait, cited by defendant from Gurule, supra, at page 630, has its origin in People v. Morales (1989) 48 Cal.3d 527, 557 (Morales).9 In Morales, the court addressed the issue of the lying-in-wait special circumstance. However, that same language, as defendant notes, has been cited as the definition of lying in wait for first degree murder purposes as well, in other cases. The issue of whether a substantial period of watching and waiting is required for lying-in-wait first degree murder was most directly discussed by the Supreme Court in People v. Stanley (1995) 10 Cal.4th 764, 795 (Stanley). The defendant in Stanley was challenging the first degree 8 Moon dealt with both issues, the lying-in-wait special circumstance and first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory. As Moon indicates, it focuses on the special circumstance because it contains the more stringent requirements. [Citation.] If, as we find, the evidence supports the special circumstance, it necessarily supports the theory of first degree murder. (Moon, supra, at p. 22.) Several Supreme Court decisions addressing sufficiency of the evidence issues, where both lying-in-wait first degree murder and the related special circumstance have been involved, have taken a similar approach. 9 We reference that portion of Morales which indicates that an intentional murder, committed under circumstances which include (1) a concealment of purpose; (2) a substantial period of watching and waiting for an opportune time to act; and (3) a surprise attack following immediately on an unsuspecting victim from a position of advantage (the Morales factors), justifies treating it as a special circumstance. Only the numbered factors would be at issue in lying-in-wait first degree murder, as it does not require an intentional killing. (See fn. 12, post.) (Morales, supra, at p. 557.) 6 murder lying-in-wait instruction, arguing that it improperly required a period of lying in wait sufficient to be equivalent to premeditation or deliberation, rather than premeditation and deliberation. After rejecting this contention, the court went on to address another of the defendant s arguments, that if deliberation need not be proved, virtually any premeditated murder can satisfy the requirements of lying in wait and thus be murder in the first degree. (Ibid.) The defendant maintained, once the prosecution has proved premeditation, it has, by the same facts, in effect proved lying in wait. (Ibid.) The Supreme Court found this contention to be meritless, stating: Premeditated simply means considered beforehand. [Citation.] For lying in wait, by contrast, the prosecution must prove the elements of concealment of purpose together with a substantial period of watching and waiting for an opportune time to act, and . . . immediately thereafter, a surprise attack on an unsuspecting victim from a position of advantage. ([Morales], supra, at p. 557 [lying-in-wait special circumstance].) These circumstances, taken together, present a factual matrix . . . distinct from ordinary premeditated murder . . . . [Citation.] (Ibid., italics added.) Stanley was cited as authority in Gurule, in the context of the sufficiency of the evidence to support a first degree murder conviction, for the elements of lying-in-wait first degree murder. (Gurule, supra, at p. 630.) A later Supreme Court case, People v. Cole (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1158, 1205 (Cole), repeated the Morales factors when addressing first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory, citing Gurule, supra, at page 630. While this line of cases would appear to resolve the issue of whether a substantial period of waiting and watching is required for lying-in-wait first degree murder, other Supreme Court authority arguably undercuts this position. Respondent relies upon Supreme Court authority that has noted that lying-in-wait first degree murder is different from the related lying-in-wait special circumstance. The Supreme Court recently noted in Moon, supra, 37 Cal.4th 1, that first degree murder lying in wait is slightly different from special circumstances lying in wait. Moon cites to People v. Carpenter (1997) 15 Cal.4th 312, 388 as authority for this position (Moon, supra, 37 Cal.4th 1 at p. 22); Carpenter in turn relies upon Ceja, supra, 4 Cal.4th at page 7 1140, footnote 2. That Ceja footnote provides: Lying in wait as a form of first degree murder under . . . section 189 should not be confused with the largely similar, but slightly different, special circumstance in which the defendant intentionally killed the victim while lying in wait. ([]§ 190.2, subd. (a)(15), italics added to indicate language differences between the two statutes; see People v. Morales . . . .) (Ibid., italics original.)10 The Supreme Court goes on to note that nothing in People v. Hardy . . . should be construed as eliminating the distinction between lying in wait as a form of first degree murder and lying in wait as a special circumstance, or as imposing an intentional murder requirement for lying-in-wait murder. (Ibid.) These cases do not, however, directly address the question of whether the Morales factors are required only for the special circumstance of lying in wait, or if they are also required for first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory. Defendant argues here that even for first degree murder lying in wait, those same factors listed in Morales as being required for special circumstances lying in wait, are required.11 An examination of the standard jury instructions would be expected to lend some guidance on the issue of whether a substantial period of watching and waiting is required for lying-in-wait first degree murder, or if it is only required for the special 10 We note that Proposition 18 (Stats. 1998, ch. 629, § 2, enacted as Prop. 18, approved by voters, Primary Elec. (Mar. 7, 2000) eff. Mar. 8, 2000) changed the word while lying in wait in the special circumstance to by means of, conforming that part of the definition with lying-in-wait first degree murder, arguably to essentially eliminate the immediacy requirement that case law had placed on the special circumstance. (People v. Superior Court (Bradway) (2003) 105 Cal.App.4th 297, 307.) The special circumstance requirement that the defendant intentionally kill the victim continues to distinguish the special circumstance from first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory. Lying-in-wait first degree murder requires only a wanton and reckless intent to inflict injury likely to cause death. (People v. Webster (1991) 54 Cal.3d 411, 448 (Webster); accord, People v. Gutierrez (2002) 28 Cal.4th 1083, 1148-1149 (Gutierrez).) 11 Again, those include that there be (1) a concealment of purpose; (2) a substantial period of watching and waiting for an opportune time to act; and (3) a surprise attack from a position of advantage following immediately. (Morales, supra, at p. 557.) 8 circumstance. CALJIC defines lying in wait for both essentially the same way,12 which could be read to support the position that the definition of lying in wait is the same for both. The current version of CALJIC does not include the substantial period of watching and waiting language in either definition.13 (CALJIC Nos. 8.25 and 8.81.15.1.) CALJIC No. 8.81.15.1 defines the special circumstance of lying in wait by indicating that each of the following facts must be proved: 1. The defendant intentionally killed the victim; and [¶] 2. The murder was committed by means of lying in wait. [¶] Murder which is immediately preceded by lying [in] wait is a murder committed by means of lying in wait. The definition of lying in wait follows: a waiting and watching for an opportune time to act, together with a concealment by ambush or by some other secret design to take the other person by surprise [even though the victim is aware of the murderer s presence]. The lying in wait need not continue for any particular period of time provided that its duration is such as to show a state of mind equivalent to premeditation or deliberation. [¶] [The word premeditation means considered beforehand.] [¶] [The word deliberation means formed or arrived at or determined upon as a result of careful thought and weighing of considerations for and against the proposed course of action.] (Id., italics added.) This definition of lying in 12 We reference only the definition of the phrase lying in wait in these instructions. Both CALJIC and CALCRIM have an additional element for the special circumstance of lying in wait, above those required for first degree murder, which recognizes that the special circumstance requires an intentional killing (and that the killing be by means of lying in wait). (See discussion of Prop. 18, fn. 10, ante, modifying the language of the special circumstance to by means of lying in wait, rather than while lying in wait. ) 13 Other Morales factors, such as concealment of purpose, waiting and watching for an opportune time to act, and surprise are mentioned in the CALJIC definitions, although the language does not exactly track the Morales language. 9 wait exactly tracks that in CALJIC No. 8.25.14 The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld CALJIC No. 8.25, despite its failure to track the Morales language.15 This would support the argument that a substantial period of watching and waiting, even if required both for lying-in-wait first degree murder and for the related special circumstance, only requires that the period be long enough to demonstrate a state of mind equivalent to premeditation or deliberation. The Supreme Court s opinion in Ceja, supra, at page 1139 supports this position. 14 CALJIC No. 8.25 states that murder which is immediately preceded by lying in wait is murder of the first degree and then goes on to define lying in wait as: a waiting and watching for an opportune time to act, together with a concealment by ambush or by some other secret design to take the other person by surprise [even though the victim is aware of the murderer s presence]. The lying in wait need not continue for any particular period of time provided that its duration is such as to show a state of mind equivalent to premeditation or deliberation. [¶] [The word premeditation means considered beforehand.] [¶] [The word deliberation means formed or arrived at or determined upon as a result of careful thought and weighing of considerations for and against the proposed course of action.] (Italics added.) 15 After the Morales decision, CALJIC No. 8.81.15 was modified (in a bracketed paragraph) to specifically add the three Morales elements (concealment of purpose, substantial period of watching and waiting, and immediate surprise attack). CALJIC No. 8.25 was not similarly modified, but a Use Note was added, which indicated, The Committee expresses no opinion as to whether [the language from Morales] is also appropriate for CALJIC No. 8.25 inasmuch as the Supreme Court did not specifically so indicate. However, it may be something that the trial court should consider. (Use Note to CALJIC No. 8.25 (5th ed. 1990 pocket pt.) p. 49.) This Use Note no longer appears in the current version of the instruction (CALJIC No. 8.25 (Fall 2006 ed.)), having been deleted as of July 1992 (5th ed. 1992 pocket pt.) p. 86.) (See People v. Fitzpatrick (1992) 2 Cal.App.4th 1285, 1291-1292.) CALJIC No. 8.81.15, modified to contain the Morales factors, still appears in the current edition of CALJIC, and indicates that it is appropriate for crimes occurring on or before March 7, 2000 (effective date of Prop. 18, referenced in fn. 10, ante.) (CALJIC No. 8.81.15, Use Note (Fall 2006 ed.).) CALJIC No. 8.81.15.1, modified to reflect the changes required by Proposition 18 and to be used for crimes occurring after its adoption, does not include the Morales elements previously added to CALJIC No. 8.81.15, explaining that: Since the language is the same [in Prop. 18] as that utilized in Penal Code section 189, the Committee has adapted this instruction from CALJIC [No.] 8.25 and the authorities cited in the Comment to that instruction. (Use Note to CALJIC No. 8.81.15.1 (Fall 2006 ed. p. 435.) 10 In Ceja, the court was faced with the issue of the sufficiency of the CALJIC instruction of first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory. The Ceja defendant challenged the first degree murder instruction given pursuant to CALJIC No. 8.25 on the ground that it omitted three key elements of lying in wait: (1) that there be a substantial period of lying in wait ; (2) that the attack proceed from a position of advantage; and (3) that the attack follow immediately the watchful waiting (the Morales factors). The Supreme Court indicated that Although the instruction does not verbatim track our language in [Morales], supra, at p. 557, we have repeatedly upheld the instruction, and continue to do so. (Ceja, supra, at p. 1139.) As the court noted, We did not require any particular phraseology in Morales, only the substance. The instruction [8.25] contains the substance of all the legal requirements. (Id. at p. 1140.) This statement (and the explanatory material in fn. 2 in Ceja, supra; see p. 8, ante) arguably supports defendant s position that even for lying-in-wait first degree murder, defined in CALJIC No. 8.25, the elements stated in Morales (including the substantial period of watching and waiting) are required. However, Ceja, supra, at page 1139, while indicating that CALJIC No. 8.25 has repeatedly been upheld despite its failure to track precisely the Morales language, does not directly and specifically hold that the Morales factors, including a substantial period of watching and waiting, must be proven for lying-in-wait first degree murder.16 16 The Ceja court indicated that the defendant s first two allegedly omitted elements had been addressed, and rejected, in People v. Edwards (1991) 54 Cal.3d 787, 821-823 (Edwards). (Ceja, supra, at p. 1139.) Edwards, however, involved a lying-in-wait special circumstance issue. (Edwards, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 821 [only theory of first degree murder on which court instructed was premeditated and deliberate killing].) Edwards therefore does not address the issue of whether a substantial period of watching and waiting is required for first degree murder lying in wait. Edwards did uphold the lying-in-wait special circumstance instruction therein given, even though it also did not track precisely the Morales language regarding a substantial period of watching and waiting (see discussion, post). The court in Ceja also notes that the third element the defendant alleged was omitted was addressed in Webster. (Ceja, supra, at p. 1140.) Webster dealt with both CALJIC Nos. 8.25 and 8.81.15. (Webster, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 449.) 11 Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instructions (CALCRIM) appear to lend more guidance, in that they draw a distinction between the definition of lying in wait for first degree murder and for the related special circumstance, insofar as the Morales factor of a substantial period of watching and waiting is concerned. CALCRIM No. 521 indicates that first degree murder lying in wait requires proof that the defendant murdered while lying in wait or immediately thereafter. The instruction indicates that a defendant murdered by lying in wait if he: (1) concealed his purpose from the victim; (2) waited and watched for an opportunity to act; and (3) then, from a position of advantage, intended to and did make a surprise attack on the person killed. The instruction further states that the lying in wait does not need to continue for any particular period of time, and uses the same language as CALJIC No. 8.25 (that the duration only need show a state of mind equivalent to deliberation or premeditation). CALCRIM No. 728, defining the special circumstance of lying in wait, states that the prosecution must prove that: [¶] 1. The defendant intentionally killed; [¶] AND [¶] 2. The defendant committed the murder by means of lying in wait. The definition of lying in wait is similar to that used in CALCRIM No. 521 and the CALJIC instructions quoted above, with the notable addition of the following language: The lying in wait does not need to continue for any particular period of time, but its duration must be substantial and must show a state of mind equivalent to deliberation or premeditation. (CALCRIM No. 728, italics added.)17 In another line of cases, the Supreme Court was faced with challenges to the constitutionality of the lying-in-wait special circumstance based upon the argument that it does not sufficiently narrow the scope of death-eligible defendants by defining lying in wait more narrowly than first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory. In this context, in Gutierrez, supra, at pages 1148-1149, the Supreme Court indicated that it had 17 We note that CALCRIM includes the element of concealment, listed in Morales as being required for the special circumstance lying in wait, in both definitions. Both CALCRIM No. 521 and CALCRIM No. 728 also require that there be a surprise attack. CALCRIM includes the Morales factor of a substantial period of watching and waiting, however, only in the special circumstance instruction. 12 frequently rejected similar claims and noted, [M]urder by means of lying in wait requires only a wanton and reckless intent to inflict injury likely to cause death. [Citations.] In contrast, the lying-in-wait special circumstance requires an intentional murder, committed under circumstances which include (1) a concealment of purpose, (2) a substantial period of watching and waiting for an opportune time to act, and (3) immediately thereafter, a surprise attack on an unsuspecting victim from a position of advantage . . . [the Morales factors]. [Citations.] Furthermore, the lying-in-wait special circumstance requires that the killing take place during the period of concealment and watchful waiting, an aspect of the special circumstance distinguishable from a murder perpetrated by means of lying in wait, or following premeditation and deliberation. [Citations.] (Some italics added, some omitted.)18 The court finally concludes that The distinguishing factors indicated in Morales and [People v.] Sims [(1993) 5 Cal.4th 405] that characterize the lying-in-wait special circumstance constitute clear and specific requirements that sufficiently distinguish from other murders a murder committed while the perpetrator is lying in wait, so as to justify the classification of that type of case as one warranting imposition of the death penalty. [Citation.] (Id. at p. 1149.) The court had reached the same conclusion, in the context of sufficiency of the evidence to support a special circumstance allegation, in People v. Sims, supra, 5 Cal.4th at page 432: [T]he factual matrix that justifies treatment of lying in wait as a special circumstance is an intentional murder, committed under circumstances which include (1) a concealment of purpose, (2) a substantial period of watching and waiting for an opportune time to act, and (3) immediately thereafter, a surprise attack on an unsuspecting victim from a position of advantage[.] [Citations.] (Italics added.) (Accord, Moon, supra, at p. 22.) From these cases, the Morales factors (including the requirement of a substantial period of watching and waiting) appear to be part of the factual matrix of the definition of lying in wait for the special circumstance, which 18 The crime in Gutierrez took place in 1986, long before the adoption of Proposition 18 in the year 2000. 13 distinguish it from first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory, underlying the Supreme Court s upholding of the constitutionality of the special circumstance. If that were so, the Morales factors arguably could not additionally be elements of first degree murder under a lying-in-wait theory. Again, this interpretation was supported by the fact that the drafters of CALCRIM added the substantial duration language only to the special circumstance instruction.19 How then to reconcile the apparent discrepancies in the law and the standard jury instructions? Respondent would presumably argue that CALCRIM s addition of the substantial duration language only to the special circumstance instruction demonstrates that the drafters of the CALCRIM instructions felt it applied only there, and not to first degree murder lying in wait, and that by including it they intended to indicate that something more than just a sufficient duration to show a state of mind equivalent of premeditation or deliberation was required.20 Defendant would undoubtedly counter that the Supreme Court s decisions in Stanley, Hardy, Gurule, and Cole cannot be ignored, and that the failure to include the substantial duration language in the definition of lyingin-wait first degree murder was a mere oversight. We believe that the most reasonable reconciliation of all the authority discussed above is that the Morales factors, including the requirement of a substantial period of watching and waiting, are a part of the factual matrix required both for first degree 19 CALCRIM reiterates that the lying in wait for the special circumstance need not continue for any particular period of time. As previously indicated, it required that the duration be both substantial and sufficient to demonstrate that the defendant had the state of mind equivalent to deliberation or premeditation. CALCRIM does, however, incorporate other Morales factors into both the lying-in-wait first degree murder instruction and the instruction for the related special circumstance. (CALCRIM Nos. 521 and 728; see fn. 16, ante.) 20 This is supported by the fact that CALCRIM No. 728 indicates that the duration of lying in wait must be substantial and must show a state of mind equivalent to deliberation or premeditation. (CALCRIM No. 728, italics added.) 14 murder under a lying-in-wait theory, and for the lying-in-wait special circumstance.21 As repeatedly held by the Supreme Court, however, the jury instruction language need not exactly track the language of Morales in order to define adequately the required elements, for either definition. The court has held that jury instructions defining the required period of lying in wait, which indicate that it need not be for any particular length of time (so long as it is sufficient to demonstrate that defendant had a state of mind equivalent to premeditation or deliberation), sufficiently reflect the Morales requirement that the period of watching and waiting be for a substantial period. (Ceja, supra, at pp. 11391140; Edwards, supra, at p. 823.) Even for the lying-in-wait special circumstance, no particular period of time is required. (CALJIC No. 8.81.15.1; CALCRIM No. 728.) Indeed, the Supreme Court has indicated that for the lying-in-wait special circumstance, under the substantial period of watching and waiting factor from Morales, We have never required a certain minimum period of time, only a period not insubstantial. (Ceja, supra, at p. 823.) The Edwards court upheld a lying-in-wait special circumstance where the period of watching and waiting was a matter of minutes (enough time to walk a quarter of a mile), finding [t]his was substantial. (Edwards, supra, at pp. 825-826.) In Hardy, a case where the evidence supported an inference that the defendants entered the victims bedrooms while they slept and murdered them while they were helplessly sleeping, the court held: From this evidence, the jury could reasonably conclude defendants concealed their murderous intention and struck from a position of surprise and advantage, factors which are the hallmark of a murder by lying in wait. Insisting on a 21 This conclusion comports with the court s holding in Stanley, as well as its holding in Gutierrez. Gutierrez s indication that the Morales factors are a part of the factual matrix for the lying-in-wait special circumstance does not mean that they alone set apart the special circumstance from the related theory of first degree murder. As indicated ante, the court held in Gutierrez that an intentional murder committed under circumstances demonstrating the Morales factors, during the period of concealment and watchful waiting, sets the special circumstance murder apart from an ordinary lying-in-wait first degree murder, justifying classification as a crime warranting the imposition of the death penalty. (Gutierrez, supra, at pp. 1148-1149.) 15 showing that defendants actually watched the victims sleeping and waited a moment before attacking reads the law in too literal a fashion. (Hardy, supra, at p. 164, italics added.) As explored further below, there was sufficient evidence in the present case that defendant had the state of mind of premeditation or deliberation, and the evidence thus sufficed to demonstrate the requisite period of watching and waiting. Viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, the evidence here establishes that defendant and the victim were engaged in a verbal altercation on a public street, with several other individuals in the vicinity. Defendant told the victim something to the effect of I ll show you what I mean, and stay here if you want to live. Defendant then walked to a nearby garbage can, retrieved a shotgun, and returned to the victim within a minute. He carried the shotgun in plain view, pointed down. He said something to the victim, who replied, It s not that serious. Defendant then quickly22 shot the victim three times with the shotgun, from a relatively close proximity, including a fatal shot to the chest. A reasonable jury could conclude that defendant s statement to the victim, telling him to stay there if he wanted to live, was a subterfuge intended to convince the victim to stay put so defendant could go and get his shotgun and kill him, supporting the element of concealment of purpose. The evidence also would support a finding that the lying in wait was for a sufficient period of time, because, as more fully detailed post, it was 22 The precise amount of time that elapsed from when defendant returned with the shotgun, until the firing of the shots, was not established by the evidence. From the witnesses testimony, however, it appears that once defendant returned, the events followed one upon the other, in fairly quick succession. 16 sufficient to show a state of mind consistent with premeditation or deliberation.23 Given the confusion regarding the definition of lying in wait, as detailed above, we feel compelled to indicate, should the Supreme Court clarify this issue in a manner inconsistent with our analysis,24 that any error in instructing on lying in wait was harmless. Reversal is not required so long as a valid ground for the verdict remains, absent an affirmative indication in the record that the verdict actually did rest on the inadequate ground. (People v. Guiton (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1116, 1129.) When the jury has been instructed on a theory not supported by the evidence, we affirm unless a review of the entire record affirmatively demonstrates a reasonable probability that the jury in fact found the defendant guilty solely on the unsupported theory. (Ibid.) [I]nstruction on an unsupported theory is prejudicial only if that theory became the sole basis of the verdict of guilt; if the jury based its verdict on the valid ground, or on both the valid and the invalid ground, there would be no prejudice, for there would be a valid basis for the verdict. (Ibid.) Nothing in the record here affirmatively demonstrates that the jury in fact found defendant guilty of first degree murder based upon the lying-in-wait theory, as opposed to the theory of premeditation and deliberation. While, as defendant notes, the prosecutor argued the lying-in-wait theory, he spent more time arguing premeditation and deliberation. No questions were asked by the jury during deliberations that would 23 A reasonable jury could also rely upon the fact that defendant, and others, were in the area prior to the victim s arrival, as supporting a sufficient period of lying in wait. Even though a contrary inference could have been drawn, as defendant argues, the jury could have concluded that defendant was waiting for the victim. A reasonable jury could also have concluded that defendant s obtaining of the gun, returning, and engaging the victim in a short conversation before opening fire, constituted waiting and watching for an opportune time to act. Also, even though defendant did not attempt to isolate the victim, a reasonable jury could have reached the conclusion that if defendant s statement to the victim to stay where he was acted as a subterfuge, then defendant s returning with the shotgun to kill the victim was immediately launching a surprise attack on an unsuspecting victim from a position of advantage. These are the other Morales factors which defendant complains were not supported by sufficient evidence. 24 This area of the law would benefit from such clarification. 17 indicate they were focused on the lying-in-wait theory.25 Since, contrary to defendant s argument, there was sufficient evidence of defendant s premeditation and deliberation to sustain the first degree murder conviction on that theory, the conviction must be affirmed. CALJIC No. 8.20 defines deliberate as formed or arrived at or determined upon as a result of careful thought and weighing of considerations for and against the proposed course of action. It defines premeditated as considered beforehand. The instruction indicates: If you find that the killing was preceded and accompanied by a clear, deliberate intent on the part of the defendant to kill, which was the result of deliberation and premeditation, so that it must have been formed upon pre-existing reflection and not under a sudden heat of passion or other condition precluding the idea of deliberation, it is murder of the first degree. As to the period of time that must be involved, the instruction states, The law does not undertake to measure in units of time the length of the period during which the thought must be pondered before it can ripen into an intent to kill which is truly deliberate and premeditated. The time will vary with different individuals and under varying circumstances. [¶] The true test is not the duration of time, but rather the extent of the reflection. A cold, calculated judgment and decision may be arrived at in a short period of time, but a mere unconsidered and rash impulse, even though it includes an intent to kill, is not deliberation and premeditation as will fix an unlawful killing as murder of the first degree. [¶] To constitute a deliberate and premeditated killing, the slayer must weigh and consider the question of killing and the reasons for and against such a choice and, having in mind the consequences, [he] decides to and does kill. (CALJIC No. 8.20.) Pertinent categories of evidence bearing on premeditation and deliberation include (1) planning activity; (2) motive; and (3) manner of killing. [Citation.] However, these factors need not all be present, or in any special combination; nor must they be accorded a particular weight. [Citation.] . . . 25 The jury appears to have asked only for the readback of the testimony of James Lyles, regarding his description of the shotgun and his touching of it, when he discovered it in the garbage can. The trial lasted from April 6, 2005 through April 21, 2005; the jury deliberated for one day (and an hour on the next day) before returning its verdict. 18 [D]eliberation and premeditation can occur in a brief period of time. The true test is not the duration of time as much as the extent of the reflection. Thoughts may follow each other with great rapidity[,] and cold, calculated judgment may be arrived at quickly . . . . [Citation.] (People v. Garcia (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 1422, 1427-1428; see People v. Anderson (1968) 70 Cal.2d 15, 27.) Defendant told the victim to stay where he was. Defendant commented that he was going to show the victim what he meant. Defendant then went and retrieved a loaded shotgun. After exchanging brief remarks with the victim, defendant quickly shot the victim three times. Although very little time elapsed, this evidence was sufficient to support the verdict of first degree murder on a deliberation and premeditation theory. The mere fact that defendant approached initially with the shotgun pointed at the ground, and said something to the victim (to which the victim replied that it was not that serious), does not necessarily negate defendant s deliberation and premeditation, as he contends. A reasonable jury could determine that defendant s decision to retrieve the shotgun and to kill the victim was a cold and calculated judgment and decision, even though it occurred over a short period of time. A reasonable jury could conclude that motive for the murder was demonstrated by evidence that defendant did not want the victim in the area where drugs were stored or sold. Planning activity could reasonably be found in the evidence of defendant s statement that he was going to show the victim what he meant, followed by his retrieval of the shotgun. The manner of killing, while not an executionstyle single shot to the head, could still support a finding of premeditation and deliberation, as defendant quickly fired three shots at the victim, with a shotgun, from a relatively close range. Thoughts may indeed flow with great rapidity. The evidence here supports a reasonable conclusion that defendant s decision to kill, although quickly formed, was the result of a cold and calculated judgment and decision. A rational trier of fact could have been so persuaded. That is all that is required to sustain the verdict. (People v. Wharton (1991) 53 Cal.3d 522, 604; CALJIC No. 8.20.) 19 B. Shirt Worn by Victim s Fiancée. Defendant next contends that the shirt worn by the victim s fiancée Hailee Mills when she appeared on the witness stand, which had a photograph of her and the victim on it and a printed slogan stating, we miss you, denied him a fair trial. Mills was on the stand with the shirt visible for only a few moments, although the shirt would have also been visible to the jury when she walked to and from the witness stand. Defendant cites two Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals cases as authority for his position (Musladin v. Lamargue (9th Cir. 2005) 427 F.3d 653 [substituted opinion] (Musladin); Norris v. Risley (9th Cir. 1990) 918 F.2d 828). In these cases, several spectators in the audience wore buttons bearing photographs of the victim, or the slogan Women Against Rape, for several days.26 These facts alone distinguish these cases, which are in any event not binding precedent (People v. Cleveland (2001) 25 Cal.4th 466, 480), from the brief exposure to the shirt worn by Mills in the present case. Additionally, the United States Supreme Court recently granted certiorari in Musladin (Carey v. Musladin, cert. grant. Apr. 17, 2006, __U.S.__ [126 S.Ct. 1769]). The third case relied upon by defendant, People v. Houston (1995) 130 Cal.App.4th 279, 309 (Houston), is similarly distinguishable on its facts. There, several spectators at the trial wore buttons (two and one-quarter inches in diameter) or placards (three inches wide and four and onehalf inches long) bearing photographs of the victim. The court found that the displays delivered an ambiguous message, if at all, and found any error in the case was harmless 26 In Musladin, several spectators in the front row of the gallery wore very noticeable buttons, several inches in diameter, bearing photographs of the victim, for 14 days during the trial. (Musladin, supra, at p. 655.) In Norris, several women wore large buttons saying Women Against Rape (with the word rape highlighted) in the public elevator and in the audience, for much of the trial. (Norris v. Risley, supra, 918 F.2d 828 at p. 829.) In both cases, the trial court refused to order the individuals not to wear the buttons, or else to leave the courtroom. 20 beyond a reasonable doubt.27 Defendant here complains not only that Mills wore the shirt, but also that the court did not admonish the jury to disregard it, as the court did in Houston. The court here did control the situation as soon as it became aware of it. The court had not initially seen the back of the shirt where the slogan was printed, and had not recognized the victim s photograph (nor had the prosecutor, although Mills told the prosecutor whom the photograph depicted, before she entered the courtroom). When defense counsel made the court aware of the shirt, the court took immediate action to rectify the situation. The court spoke to Mills and she put on a jacket to cover the shirt. The prosecutor estimated that Mills was in the courtroom a total of one or two minutes without the jacket. Defense counsel did not object to the way the court handled the issue, seek any other action (such as a mistrial), or request that the court admonish the jury. A defendant s failure to object to and request a curative admonition for alleged spectator misconduct waives the issue for appeal if the objection and admonition would have cured the misconduct. (People v. Hill (1992) 3 Cal.4th 959, 1000, overruled on other grounds in Price v. Superior Court (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1046, 1069, fn. 13.) The same rule should apply to witness misconduct, as a witness is similarly not imbued with official authority, so that most instances of [witness] misconduct will likely be more easily curable than those of a prosecutor. (People v. Hill, supra, 3 Cal.4th 959 at p. 1000.) Although there was no admonishment by the court in the present case, the witness s display delivered an ambiguous message at best, [was] relatively passive, did not impart any facts outside the record to the jury, and did not involve misconduct by anyone wearing a cloak of official authority. (Houston, supra, at p. 318.) The jurors were aware that Mills was upset over the victim s death and could reasonably infer, without seeing the shirt, that she and others missed the victim. While defendant contends that the slogan on the shirt was 27 The displays were worn during at least part of the evidentiary portion of the trial and during argument. The trial court admonished the jury to disregard the displays, several times. (Houston, supra, at p. 309.) 21 intended to, or would, invoke sympathy for the victim in a case where heat of passion was an issue, the evidence belies that claim. The evidence showed a verbal confrontation between the victim and defendant before defendant went to get his shotgun; when defendant returned, the victim said something to the effect that It s not that serious. Defendant then shot the victim three times, killing him. Defense counsel told the jury that the main issue in the case was the identity of the shooter and that he only mentioned evidence of provocation at all to cover all the bases. Even if error occurred, it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. (Houston, supra, at p. 319.) The shirt was worn by only one person and was visible only for a short period of time; the photograph on the shirt was not even recognized by the district attorney or judge; the shirt conveyed nothing outside the record; and it reflected nothing about the identity of the murderer, which was the primary issue in the case.28 C. Prosecutor s Argument. Defendant finally contends that the trial court erred in allowing the prosecutor to argue that he was guilty because he failed to present an alibi defense, which constituted improper comment on the exercise of his right to remain silent and improperly shifted the burden of proof. Specifically he objects to the following portion of the prosecutor s rebuttal argument: Alibi. [Defense counsel] mentioned alibi. He said he d like to 28 As far as defendant s argument that the prosecutor committed misconduct by permitting Mills to wear the shirt on the witness stand once she told him about it, the issue was waived by defense counsel s failure to object below. (People v. Hill, supra, 3 Cal.3d 959, 1000 (overruled on other grounds in People v. Price, supra, 25 Cal.4th 1046 at p. 1069, fn. 13) [defendant s failure to object and request curative admonition for alleged prosecutorial misconduct waives issue for appeal if objection and admonition would have cured misconduct].) 22 present an alibi.[29] Well, if the defendant wasn t on Fortune Way at 8:30 p.m. on July 19th, 2003, where was he? [¶] Think about it. Everything comes together. The bits of the puzzle come together to fit the point of Mr. Poindexter. Nothing else points to anybody else. [¶] Keep in mind that there s not a shred of evidence, not a shred to suggest that anybody else did the killing, other than Maurice Poindexter. [¶] Not a shred. There is not a shred of evidence to indicate that Maurice Poindexter was anywhere else on the evening of July 19th, 2003. [¶] Nothing. Put yourself in the position of being a defendant, and you can bet your boots that if you had anything to offer by way of evidence, by way of an alibi, that you would offer it. But be assured of that. Be assured of the fact that any defense attorney would make sure that if any such evidence existed, you would have it. You don t have it. [¶] Let me say one other thing about that. Defendant doesn t have a burden of proof. The defendant doesn t have to present any evidence. But I am allowed to comment on the lack of logical evidence that he can present, and that s what I m doing here. [¶] He doesn t have the burden of proof. [¶] He does not have to present any evidence. But he was there. That s why you haven t heard any evidence. He s the killer. Much of the language in this portion of the prosecutor s argument was lifted from the case of People v. Morris (1988) 46 Cal.3d 1, 35-36 (Morris) (overruled on other grounds in In re Sassounian (1995) 9 Cal.4th 535, 543-544, fn. 5). The prosecutor advised the court and defense counsel of his intent to make this argument, and to quote from the Morris case, before he began his rebuttal argument. Morris held that the prosecutor s comments that there was not a shred of evidence to suggest that anyone else 29 Despite the prosecutor s statement, we can find only one place in defense counsel s closing argument where he mentioned the word alibi. The following comment was made by defense counsel, in the context of discussing the criminal burden of proof. This is a criminal case, beyond a reasonable doubt . . . . But when you analyze a case, as lawyers analyze a case, you say, Okay. Is this a reasonable doubt case? Is this an alibi case? Is this an expert case? What kind of case is it? The meaning of the comment about alibi is ambiguous; we cannot conclude that defense counsel intended to indicate, as the prosecutor concluded, that [h]e said he d like to present an alibi. 23 committed the murder in that case did not expressly or impliedly reference the defendant s invocation of his right to remain silent, and was thus permissible. (Ibid.) Defense counsel below noted that the right to remain silent was the basis of the holding in Morris and indicated, That is not the situation we have here. 30 He indicated that the basis of his objection to the prosecutor s proposed argument was that it improperly shifted the burden of proof. Defendant s objection below was thus limited to the issue of whether the prosecutor s rebuttal argument improperly shifted the burden of proof. We elect, however, to address both substantive issues. Defendant argues that Morris s holding has been substantially narrowed in the years since it was decided.31 In support of this argument, he cites a number of later cases that have drawn a distinction where a prosecutor refers to evidence as uncontradicted when the defendant, who is not testifying, is the only person who could have refuted such evidence. (People v. Johnson (1992) 3 Cal.4th 1183, 1229; People v. Bradford (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1229, 1339-1340 (Bradford); People v. Lewis (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 246, 258.)32 In addition, defendant argues that the prosecutor improperly shifted the burden of proof, as Bradford also distinguishes between a prosecutor permissibly commenting upon a defendant s failure to produce evidence, as opposed to an improper comment that a defendant has a burden to produce evidence to prove his innocence. (Bradford, supra, at p. 1340.) Bradford is instructive, but does not support defendant s position in the present case. In Bradford, the court reiterated the general rules regarding Griffin error (Griffin v. 30 Specifically, defense counsel stated that Morris is analyzed on Fifth Amendment rights, the defendant not testifying, as I recall, reading the hand notes. That is not the situation we have here. What we re saying is that the Prosecution, by using this argument, is placing a burden on any defendant to come forward with affirmative defenses. 31 Alternatively, defendant argues that Morris was wrongly decided, but acknowledges that reconsideration of the issues decided there must be left to the Supreme Court. 32 Defendant argues that since he might have been alone at the time the murder occurred, he might have been the only person who could have provided alibi testimony. 24 California (1965) 380 U.S. 609), stating that Griffin held that the prosecution may not comment upon a defendant s failure to testify in his or her own behalf. Its holding does not, however, extend to bar prosecution comments based upon the state of the evidence or upon the failure of the defense to introduce material evidence or to call anticipated witnesses. [Citations.] Nonetheless, . . . we have held that a prosecutor may commit Griffin error if he or she argues to the jury that certain testimony or evidence is uncontradicted, if such contradiction or denial could be provided only by the defendant, who therefore would be required to take the witness stand. [Citations.] (Bradford, supra, at p. 1339, italics omitted.) In Bradford, the defendant challenged several statements made by the prosecutor in closing argument, commenting upon the fact that the defense did not call a single witness, that defendant presented no evidence to contradict the prosecution s theory that the victims had been killed for pleasure, that he presented no evidence on the issue of a stain that was possibly blood (found in the defendant s car), that he did not call an expert witness to contradict the coroner s conclusions regarding the time frame of one victim s death, and that, as to another victim, defendant presented no alibi witnesses for that time period, nor photographs to prove where he was. (Ibid., italics added.) The Supreme Court found that the prosecutor did not commit Griffin error by these comments, noting, there were brief comments by the prosecution during closing argument noting the absence of evidence contradicting what was produced by the prosecution on several points, and the failure of the defense to introduce material evidence or any alibi witnesses. These comments, however, cannot fairly be interpreted as referring to defendant s failure to testify. Neither the general comment directed to the lack of defense evidence or testimony, nor the more particularized comments regarding . . . the absence of alibi for a particular time period, would have required defendant to take the stand . . . . In any event, indirect, brief and mild reference to a defendant s failure to testify, without any suggestion that an inference of guilt be drawn therefrom, are uniformly held to constitute harmless error. [Citations.] [Citation.] (Bradford, supra, p. 1339-1340.) We reach the same conclusion regarding 25 the prosecutor s argument concerning defendant s failure to present alibi evidence in the present case. As to defendant s argument that the prosecutor impermissibly shifted the burden of proof to defendant, the prosecutor here (as in Bradford) reminded the jury that the prosecution had the burden of proof and that defendant had no duty or burden to produce any evidence. As in Bradford, the prosecutor s comments, taken as a whole, did not improperly shift the burden of proof, as [a] distinction clearly exists between the permissible comment that a defendant has not produced any evidence, and on the other hand an improper statement that a defendant has a duty or burden to produce evidence, or a duty or burden to prove his or her innocence. (Bradford, supra, at p. 1340.) DISPOSITION The judgment is affirmed. _________________________ Sepulveda, J. We concur: _________________________ Ruvolo, P. J. _________________________ Rivera, J. 26 Trial Court: Alameda County Superior Court Trial Judge: Honorable Joan Cartwright Counsel for Appellant: Stephen B. Bedrick, under appointment by the Court of Appeal; First District Appellate Project. Counsel for Respondent: Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, Robert R. Anderson, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Seth K. Schalit, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Jill M. Thayer, Deputy Attorney General. 27
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
