Limiting Ability of Penalty Phase Jurors to Consider Consciousness of Guilt As Non-Statutory Aggravation
October 3rd, 2022
When consciousness of guilt evidence is admitted at the guilt trial of a death penalty trial that evidence may include “ ‘aggravating evidence of a type not statutorily authorized.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Anderson (2018) 5 Cal.5th 372, 393.) For example, consciousness of guilt may be interpreted by the jurors “as evidence of bad character, and […]
Tags: Cautionary and Limiting Instructions, CC 362, CC 372, CC 378, CC 763, Death Penalty
Consciousness of Guilt: Using Evidence Code 353 to Get a Limited Admissibility Instruction
April 17th, 2020
–Consciousness of Guilt and Mens Rea. Consciousness of guilt evidence is widely accepted as admissible to prove that the defendant was …. consciousness that he has committed some wrongdoing. (People v. Bolin (1998) 18 Cal.4th 297, 327; see also e.g, CC 372 [“awareness of guilt”].) However, it is also accepted that the defendant’s awareness of […]
Tags: CC 362, CC 371, CC 372, Consciousness of Guilt
Should Consciousness Of Guilt Instructions Such As Flight Be Limited To The Determination Of Guilt In Death Penalty Case?
August 19th, 2019
People v. Anderson (2018) 5 Cal. 5th 372, 391-93 recognized that evidence showing consciousness of guilt, such as flight or escaping from jail, is generally admissible within the trial court’s discretion. Thus, the existence of alternate explanations for the defendant’s behavior does not necessarily defeat the court’s discretion to admit consciousness-of-guilt evidence. However, when consciousness […]
Tags: CC 362, CC 371, CC 372, Death Penalty
CC 362 Not Erroneous But “Can Be Improved”
July 3rd, 2019
In People v. Burton (2018) 29 Cal.App.5th 917 the defense contended that the “false statements” jury instruction (CC 362) created an impermissible inference that Burton committed first degree murder versus a lesser offense. Burton argued the CC 362’s reference to the “charged crime” undermined any claim that the defendant may have felt a consciousness of […]
Tags: CC 362, Consciousness of Guilt, False Statements
Jury Should Consider Defendant’s Mental Impairment in Deciding Whether False Statements Showed Consciousness of Guilt
August 2nd, 2016
In People v. McGehee (2016) 246 CA4th 1190 the defense argued that McGehee suffered from schizophrenic delusions involving demons and that he killed his mother during such an episode. The jury was instructed that if McGehee made any false or misleading statements related to the crime, that conduct may show consciousness of guilt. (CC 362.) […]
Tags: Cautionary and Limiting Instructions, CC 3426, CC 3428, CC 362, Consciousness of Guilt, False Statements
Consciousness of Guilt: False Statements–Defense Theory Of Intoxication
May 1st, 2015
In general, voluntary intoxication may not be considered for general intent crimes. (People v. Mendoza (1998) 18 Cal. 4th 1114, 1127-1128.) However, voluntary intoxication may be relevant on the question of whether a defendant’s statements while intoxicated are probative of the defendant’s veracity within the meaning of CC 362. (People v. Wiidanen (2011) 201 […]
Tags: CC 3452, CC 362, Consciousness of Guilt, Defense Theory Instructions, False Statements, Non-CALCRIM
Consciousness of Guilt: False Statements–Duty To Instruct Sua Sponte Is Unclear
April 27th, 2015
The bench notes to CC 362 were revised to delete the statement that “The court has a sua sponte duty to instruct on consciousness of guilt. . ..” The Committee concluded that it was ambiguous whether or not a sua sponte duty existed here. (Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions, Report to the Judicial […]
Tags: CC 362, Consciousness of Guilt, False Statements, Judge Duty to Instruct, Sua Sponte
Consciousness Of Guilt: False Statements–Not Applicable To Trial Testimony
April 24th, 2015
Courts have said that CC 362 should not be used to permit an inference of consciousness of guilt based on knowingly false or intentionally misleading statements in a defendant’s trial testimony. (People v. Beyah (2009) 170 Cal. App. 4th 1241.) CC 362 was revised on August 14, 2009, in response to this concern. As […]
Tags: CC 362, Consciousness of Guilt, False Statements
False Statements And Criminal Street Gangs
March 1st, 2014
People v. Fuentes (2009) 171 Cal. App. 4th 1139, held that CC 362 does not conflict with instructions on criminal street-gang participation.
Tags: CC 3425, CC 362, Consciousness of Guilt, False Statements, Gangs
