People v. Cunningham

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The defendant, Robert Wayne Cunningham, was convicted of provocative act murder and other offenses related to a 1995 shootout with the police. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with consecutive determinate sentences. The incident occurred when Cunningham and his accomplice, Soley, were under police surveillance due to suspicion of committing a series of armed robberies. The police followed them to a liquor store, where they committed a robbery. The police blocked their car, leading to a shootout initiated by Cunningham, which resulted in Soley's death and injuries to Cunningham and at least one police officer.

Cunningham sought sentencing relief under Penal Code section 1172.6 but was unsuccessful. He appealed, arguing that provocative murder is based on the imputation of malice, which he claimed is now barred by the newly enacted Penal Code section 188, subdivision (a)(3). He also contended that the prosecutor's argument that he started the gun battle was equivalent to arguing the now discarded "natural and probable consequences" doctrine.

The Court of Appeal of the State of California Second Appellate District disagreed with Cunningham's arguments. The court noted that provocative act murder has been a part of California law since the 1960s and that the legislature's failure to mention it in the new statute indicates it did not intend to discard this theory. The court also stated that the prosecutor's argument did not preclude the statute and that the jury's verdict was informed by the instructions given. The court cited a recent case, People v. Antonelli, where it held that the provocative murder doctrine survived recent legislative enactments. The court affirmed the lower court's judgment, denying Cunningham's sentencing relief.

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Filed 4/23/24 CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION SIX THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, 2d Crim. No. B323640 (Super. Ct. No. CR37135) (Ventura County) v. ROBERT WAYNE CUNNINGHAM, Defendant and Appellant. Robert Wayne Cunningham was convicted of provocative act murder as a result of a 1995 shootout with the police. He was also convicted of other offenses connected with the shootout. He was sentenced to state prison for life without the possibility of parole. Consecutive determinate sentences were also imposed. He unsuccessfully sought sentencing relief pursuant to Penal Code section 1172.6. He appeals contending that provocative murder is based upon the imputation of malice and any such imputation is now barred by newly enacted Penal Code section 188, subdivision (a)(3). We disagree and affirm. We cannot add the phrase “provocative act murder” to the statute. This species of murder liability has been the law in California since the 1960s (see, e.g., People v. Gilbert (1965) 63 Cal.2d 690, 704-705). Surely the Legislature was aware of this murder theory when it made two changes to the statutory murder definitions. It’s failure to mention “provocative murder” is significant and leads to only one logical conclusion: the Legislature did not intend to jettison this theory. Only a brief recitation of the facts is necessary to bring this appeal into focus. Appellant and his cohort, Soley, were suspected of committing a series of armed robberies. The police had them under surveillance. They followed appellant and Soley to a liquor store. When appellant and Soley committed the robbery of this liquor store, they were unable to leave because the police blocked their car’s movement. Appellant arose through the open roof of the car and started shooting at the police. They returned gun fire killing Soley and wounding appellant. At least one police officer was wounded in the gun battle. The jury was only instructed on the elements of “provocative murder,” but the prosecutor did argue that appellant started “the ball rolling” and started “a snowball down the hill” when he initiated the gun battle. Appellant now contends that this argument is tantamount to arguing the now discarded “natural and probable consequences” doctrine and that relief should be granted. The statute does not preclude the prosecutor’s argument. It is the instructions given that inform the jury’s verdict. We recently held that the “provocative murder doctrine” survived the recent legislative enactments in People v. Antonelli (2023) 93 Cal.App.5th 712, review granted Oct. 18, 2023, S281599. Our holding was, and is, compelled by California Supreme Court precedent. (People v. Gonzales (2012) 54 Cal.4th 2 643, 654.) The Supreme Court has granted review in Antonelli, supra, and, so, it should grant review here. Disposition The judgment (order denying sentencing relief) is affirmed. CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION. YEGAN, J. I concur: GILBERT, P. J. 3 CODY, J. CONCURRING: I agree appellant is ineligible for Penal Code section 1172.6 relief. However, I reach that conclusion because appellant’s jury instructions entail a finding he personally acted with implied malice. The trial court instructed on provocative act murder with a version of CALJIC No. 8.12. That instruction required the jury to determine whether appellant—not any accomplice—committed an “intentional provocative act” during the commission of robbery. Given the instruction’s definition of an “intentional provocative act,” the jury must have found that appellant “deliberately performed [the act] with knowledge of the danger to, and with conscious disregard for human life.” Accordingly, the jury determined appellant himself acted with implied malice. (See People v. Gonzalez (2012) 54 Cal.4th 643, 655 [“Malice will be implied if the defendant commits a provocative act knowing that this conduct endangers human life and acts with conscious disregard of the danger”].) Malice was not imputed based solely on appellant’s participation in a crime. (See Pen. Code, § 1172.6, subd. (a).) I base my conclusion on the jury’s specific mens rea finding in lieu of relying, as the majority does, on the broader rationale expressed in People v. Antonelli (2023) 93 Cal.App.5th 712, review granted October 18, 2023, S281599. (Maj. opn. ante, at pp. 2-3.) Whether or not all provocative act murderers are ineligible under Penal Code section 1172.6, the jury finding in appellant’s case precludes relief under that section. CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION. CODY, J. 1 David R. Worley, Judge Superior Court County of Ventura ______________________________ Susan Wolk, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pithey, Assistant Attorney General, Michael C. Keller and Yun K. Lee, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

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