People v. Thomas
The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. WILLIE LEE THOMAS, Defendant and Appellant
- Area
- criminal
- Panel
- Kathryn Todd (author)
Analysis
The trial court denied Thomas's motion to sever counts, refused to suppress his statement, declined to give a defense-of-others instruction, and imposed two prior serious felony enhancements. The Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment, finding no prejudicial error in the trial court's rulings.
| Ruling reviewed | Standard | The court | The model |
|---|---|---|---|
Denial of motion to sever attempted murder and ex-felon possession counts from robbery counts“There was no abuse of discretion in denying Thomas’s severance motion.” | abuse of discretion | not reached | agree with court The appellate court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion because the evidence was cross-admissible and the defendant failed to clearly show prejudice, relying on the factors outlined in Frank v. Superior Court and People v. Balderas. |
Refusal to suppress initial statement to police“Thus, Miranda furnishes no basis for excluding the statement.” | de novo | not reached | agree with court The appellate court determined that Miranda warnings were not required because the officer did not interrogate the defendant, and the statement was volunteered, citing Arizona v. Mauro and People v. Siegenthaler. |
Refusal to instruct on defense of others“Since the defense of others instruction was not supported by substantial evidence, there was no error in refusing to give it.” | abuse of discretion | not reached | agree with court The appellate court found that the testimony supporting the defense was minimal and insubstantial, therefore the trial court was not required to give the instruction under People v. Flannel. |
Jury instructions on imperfect self-defense and self-defense“Viewing the instructions on the two areas of defense strategy as the separate concepts they are, there is no inconsistency or confusion in the instructions the trial court gave.” | abuse of discretion | not reached | agree with court The appellate court rejected the claim of confusion, noting that the defendant requested the instructions and that the language clearly distinguished between lawful self-defense and the removal of malice in imperfect self-defense. |
Imposition of two enhancements for serious prior felony convictions“Accordingly, we find no basis for eliminating one of the section 667 enhancements.” | de novo | not reached | agree with court The appellate court held that the prior convictions were 'brought and tried separately' because they arose from separately filed felony complaints, distinguishing the case from In re Harris where a single complaint was used. |
Selection of upper term for attempted murder“the record makes it clear that the remaining factors of Thomas’s engaging in a pattern of violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society and his convictions of increasing seriousness alone support the upper term” | abuse of discretion | not reached | agree with court The appellate court applied the harmless error analysis, concluding that even if the challenged aggravating factors were unsupported, the remaining valid factors were sufficient to support the upper term sentence. |
Authorities
- relied: Frank v. Superior Court (1989) 48 Cal.3d 632 — Establishes the criteria for reviewing a motion to sever and the burden on the defendant to show prejudice.
- relied: People v. Balderas (1985) 41 Cal.3d 144 — Provides the four factors to consider when ruling on a motion to sever trial.
- relied: People v. Bean (1988) 46 Cal.3d 919 — Clarifies that the burden is on the defendant to persuade the court that countervailing considerations are outweighed by a substantial danger of undue prejudice.
- relied: People v. Walker (1988) 47 Cal.3d 605 — States that cross-admissibility of evidence ordinarily dispels any inference of prejudice in a severance motion.
- relied: Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 — Requires Miranda warnings only when a suspect is interrogated.
- relied: Arizona v. Mauro (1987) 481 U.S. 520 — Defines interrogation as express questioning or its functional equivalent.
- relied: People v. Siegenthaler (1972) 7 Cal.3d 465 — Supports the exclusion of statements only when Miranda violations occur during interrogation.
- relied: People v. Flannel (1979) 25 Cal.3d 668 — Requires jury instructions on every theory supported by substantial evidence.
- relied: People v. Wolcott (1983) 34 Cal.3d 92 — Holds that the trial court is not expected to revise correct jury instructions absent a request from counsel.
- relied: In re Harris (1989) 49 Cal.3d 131 — Interprets 'brought and tried separately' in Penal Code section 667 to require that charges be made in formally distinct proceedings.
- relied: People v. Harris (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 1197 — Holds that separately initiated proceedings that are not consolidated satisfy the 'separately brought and tried' requirement even if pleas and sentencing occur on the same day.
- relied: People v. Lewis (1987) 191 Cal.App.3d 1288 — States that the 'separately brought and tried' limitation does not bar multiple enhancements where convictions are based on unrelated counts of different accusatory pleadings.
- relied: People v. Deay (1987) 194 Cal.App.3d 280 — Distinguished on the basis that the prior convictions in that case were adjudicated in a single proceeding.
- relied: People v. Avalos (1984) 37 Cal.3d 216 — Supports the harmless error analysis for sentencing errors.
- relied: People v. Dreas (1984) 153 Cal.App.3d 623 — Supports the harmless error analysis for sentencing errors.
- relied: People v. Piceno (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 1353 — Supports the harmless error analysis for sentencing errors.
The appellate opinion: sound — The opinion is sound because it correctly applies the established legal standards for severance, Miranda, jury instructions, and sentencing enhancements, citing appropriate authorities for each issue. The reasoning is thorough and addresses the specific arguments raised by the defendant.
A jury convicted Willie Lee Thomas of attempted murder with firearm use and great bodily injury, ex-felon in possession of a firearm, and six armed robberies, and the trial court found two serious prior felony convictions true and sentenced him to 34 years 8 months, including an upper term for attempted murder and two five-year section 667(a) enhancements. The Court of Appeal rejected his challenges to the denial of severance, the Miranda ruling, the refusal to instruct on defense of others, the imperfect self-defense instructions, the dual prior-conviction enhancements, and the aggravating factors, and affirmed the judgment.
| Ruling reviewed | Standard | The court | The model |
|---|---|---|---|
Denial of motion to sever the attempted murder and ex-felon firearm possession counts from the six robbery counts“Thomas did not clearly demonstrate prejudice, rather only a possibility the jurors might look unkindly upon him as a result of the evidence of the robberies. That is not a sufficient showing. There was no abuse of discretion in denying Thomas’s severance motion.” | abuse of discretion | correct | agree with court Joinder was proper under section 954 as the same class of assaultive crimes, so defendant bore the burden of clearly showing prejudice (Walker, Williams, Bean, Frank). The trial court expressly found the firearm evidence cross-admissible on identity and the use allegations and walked through the Balderas factors on the record; the appellate court correctly evaluated the ruling on the showing made at the time of the motion and found no inflammatory imbalance or weak-strong spillover. The analysis tracks the Supreme Court's framework precisely. |
Refusal to suppress Thomas's initial statement to police at the parole search for lack of Miranda warnings“Here it is clear there was no attempt by the officer to elicit information from Thomas before he volunteered and gratuitously interjected the statement.” | de novo | correct | agree with court Miranda applies only to custodial interrogation, meaning express questioning or its functional equivalent (Arizona v. Mauro). The record as recited shows the officer gave only security directions and an explanation of why they were there, asked no questions, and Thomas spontaneously denied involvement upon arrest. A volunteered statement is admissible without warnings; the court applied the settled rule correctly, though it did not expressly state a standard of review. |
Refusal to instruct on defense of others (CALJIC No. 5.32)“Since the defense of others instruction was not supported by substantial evidence, there was no error in refusing to give it.” | de novo | correct | agree with court Under Flannel a court must instruct on a defense theory only if supported by substantial evidence, without weighing witness credibility. Barr's testimony that she saw a face or shadow approach the car window does not describe any threat of bodily injury to a third person, so even taken at face value it is insubstantial. The court's references to Barr's intoxication and poor memory edge toward credibility weighing that Flannel disapproves, but its core holding rests on the content of the testimony, which is a correct application. |
Giving CALJIC Nos. 5.17 and 5.52 together, allegedly creating inconsistent and confusing instructions on imperfect self-defense“Viewing the instructions on the two areas of defense strategy as the separate concepts they are, there is no inconsistency or confusion in the instructions the trial court gave.” | de novo | correct | agree with court Thomas requested both instructions as given and sought no clarifying instruction, so under Wolcott the trial court had no duty to revise correct standard instructions sua sponte. On the merits, CALJIC 5.52 speaks only to the lawful right of self-defense while 5.17 addresses malice and states the person still kills unlawfully, so the instructions are facially distinct and the claimed juror confusion is speculative. The court answered both the forfeiture point and the substance. |
Imposition of two five-year section 667(a) enhancements for serious prior felony convictions pleaded to on the same date in two separately filed cases“The same date for accepting the pleas in these nonconsolidated cases is of no significance for purposes of section 667.” | de novo | correct | agree with court In re Harris requires that the prior charges have been made in proceedings formally distinct from filing to adjudication of guilt. Here separate felony complaints, separate preliminary hearings, and separate informations were filed, a jury was sworn in one case, and the cases were never consolidated; simultaneous pleas and sentencing do not merge them. The court properly distinguished In re Harris (single complaint) and Deay (apparently one pleading) and relied on Lewis and the uncriticized People v. Harris Court of Appeal holding. This reading is faithful to the Supreme Court's text. |
Selection of the upper term for attempted murder based in part on victim vulnerability and premeditation as aggravating factors“alone support the upper term and remove any reasonable probability of a more favorable sentence in the absence of the first two factors.” | abuse of discretion | harmless error | agree with court The court assumed without deciding that the vulnerability and premeditation findings were unsupported (the jury had rejected premeditation) and held that the remaining valid factors, a pattern of violent conduct and increasingly serious convictions under rule 421(b)(1) and (2), independently supported the upper term so that remand was not reasonably probable to yield a lesser sentence, citing Avalos and Dreas. A single valid aggravating factor can support the upper term, and the recited juvenile and adult record substantiates the remaining factors against one mitigating factor. The harmless-error approach is consistent with controlling authority. |
Authorities
- relied: Frank v. Superior Court (1989) 48 Cal.3d 632 — Defendant bears the burden of clearly showing potential prejudice from joinder; the trial court's discretion to deny severance under section 954 is broader than its discretion to admit uncharged-crimes evidence under Evidence Code section 1101, and inadmissibility is merely one factor suggesting prejudice.
- relied: People v. Bean (1988) 46 Cal.3d 919 — No abuse of discretion in denying severance absent a clear showing of prejudice in the trial court; countervailing considerations of joinder must be weighed and the defendant must show a substantial danger of undue prejudice.
- relied: People v. Walker (1988) 47 Cal.3d 605 — Offenses of the same class are properly joined under section 954; the first step in the prejudice analysis is cross-admissibility, which ordinarily dispels any inference of prejudice.
- relied: People v. Balderas (1985) 41 Cal.3d 144 — A bald assertion of prejudice is insufficient; severance rulings are evaluated on the showing made at the time of the motion, and the four factors (cross-admissibility, inflammatory charges, weak-strong spillover, death penalty) guide the analysis.
- relied: Williams v. Superior Court (1984) 36 Cal.3d 441 — When statutory joinder requirements are met, error can be predicated only on a clear showing of prejudice.
- relied: Arizona v. Mauro (1987) 481 U.S. 520 — Miranda warnings are required only for interrogation, meaning express questioning or its functional equivalent.
- relied: Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 — Warnings are required before custodial interrogation; volunteered statements are not barred.
- relied: People v. Siegenthaler (1972) 7 Cal.3d 465 — Spontaneous, volunteered statements not elicited by police questioning are admissible without Miranda warnings.
- relied: People v. Flannel (1979) 25 Cal.3d 668 — A court must instruct on every theory supported by substantial evidence, without weighing credibility, but need not instruct where the evidence is minimal and insubstantial; also the source of the imperfect self-defense doctrine.
- relied: People v. Wolcott (1983) 34 Cal.3d 92 — A trial court cannot reasonably be expected to revise or improve accepted and correct jury instructions absent a request from counsel.
- relied: In re Harris (1989) 49 Cal.3d 131 — Section 667(a)'s 'brought and tried separately' requirement demands that the underlying prior proceedings be formally distinct from filing to adjudication of guilt; charges made in a single complaint are not separately brought.
- relied: People v. Harris (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 1197 — Where separate proceedings were separately initiated and not consolidated, simultaneous guilty pleas and same-day sentencing do not defeat a finding the cases were tried separately.
- relied: People v. Lewis (1987) 191 Cal.App.3d 1288 — The 'separately brought and tried' limitation does not bar multiple section 667(a) enhancements where convictions rest on unrelated counts of different accusatory pleadings.
- relied: People v. Deay (1987) 194 Cal.App.3d 280 — Distinguished: pleas to two counts in one proceeding under what appears to be a single accusatory pleading were not brought and tried separately.
- relied: People v. Avalos (1984) 37 Cal.3d 216 — Reliance on an improper aggravating factor does not require resentencing where it is not reasonably probable a more favorable sentence would result from the remaining valid factors.
- relied: People v. Dreas (1984) 153 Cal.App.3d 623 — Remaining valid aggravating factors may independently support an upper term, rendering reliance on an improper factor harmless.
- relied: People v. Crosby (1988) 197 Cal.App.3d 853 — Framework the trial court applied for evaluating a severance motion when evidence is not cross-admissible: inflammatory nature, relative strength of evidence, benefits of joinder, and death penalty exposure.
The appellate opinion: sound — The opinion addresses each of the six contentions with the controlling Supreme Court authority then in force, carefully distinguishes In re Harris and Deay on their procedural facts, and uses an appropriate harmless-error analysis for the aggravating factors rather than straining to uphold questionable findings. Its only soft spot is a brief reference to the defense witness's intoxication and memory lapses in the defense-of-others discussion, which brushes against Flannel's prohibition on weighing credibility, but the holding properly rests on the insubstantial content of the testimony.
Opinion — Todd
Opinion
TODD, J.A jury found Willie Lee Thomas guilty of attempted murder with personal use of a firearm and intentional infliction of great bodily injury (Pen. Code, §§ 664, 187, 12022.5, 12022.7), 1 possession of a weapon by an ex-felon (§ 12021, subd. (a)) and six counts of armed robbery with personal use of a firearm (§§ 211, 12022.5). The jury was unable to reach verdicts on one additional count of robbery and one count of attempted robbery. The trial court declared a mistrial as to those two counts. Thomas waived his right to trial by jury on allegations he had two serious prior *138 felony convictions (§§ 667, subd. (a), 1192.7, subd. (c)(8), (19)) and, after a separate trial by the court, those allegations were found true.
Thomas appeals after the trial court sentenced him to an aggregate term of 34 years, 8 months in prison, including an upper, principal term of 9 years for the attempted murder and two 5-year enhancements for the serious prior felony convictions. Thomas contends he is entitled to a reversal based on the trial court’s (1) denial of his motion to sever the attempted murder and ex-felon in possession of a firearm counts from the remaining robbery counts, (2) refusal to suppress his initial statement to police, (3) failure to instruct on defense of others, (4) giving inconsistent and confusing instructions on imperfect self-defense, (5) imposing two enhancements for the serious prior felony convictions which were not brought and tried separately and (6) relying on improper aggravating factors in selecting the upper term for the attempted murder conviction. We find Thomas’s contentions unmeritorious and affirm the judgment.
Facts
The last two crimes Thomas committed, attempted murder and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm, were the first two with which he was charged. Those crimes occurred between 1:30 and 2 a.m. on July 20, 1987, after Thomas left a bar that closed for the night, had a verbal altercation with Kevin Bowman just outside the bar, retrieved a loaded handgun he had left in a nearby truck and moments later shot Bowman while the vehicle in which Thomas rode and Bowman’s vehicle were stopped at a signal.
At about 7:30 p.m. on July 19, 1987, Thomas and three friends went out “partying.” On the way to the Trophy Lounge in National City Thomas fired three shots into the air from the bed of the pickup truck in which he rode. When the group arrived at the Trophy Lounge Thomas left the gun inside the truck at the request of the driver, Matthew Weller. Inside the Trophy Lounge Weller sat with Denise Shive who was the object of several rude and vulgar comments by another patron at a nearby table. On occasion Thomas visited with another female at the table where Weller and Shive sat, and he was aware of the remarks being directed at Shive who was upset by them. Neither Bowman nor his companion, James Golinvaux, had any contact with Thomas inside the Trophy Lounge. Nor was either of them the person who directed the remarks at Shive.
At about 1:30 a.m., as the bar was closing and the crowd began to leave, the man repeated his vulgar remarks to Shive who slapped the man in the face. Outside the bar Bowman and Golinvaux were walking toward *139 Bowman’s truck when Shive heard someone say “bitch” or “fat bitch.” Shive turned and slapped Bowman in the face. Shive’s female friend similarly struck Golinvaux. At this point Thomas told Bowman, “You don’t belong here. This is not any of your concern. Move on.” When Bowman pointed out he was on a public sidewalk, Thomas said, “I ought to kick your ass right here and now.” As Thomas was threatening Bowman that he had “something for you later,” a police officer arrived and broke up the confrontation.
Thomas retrieved his gun from Weller’s truck and returned to the front of the Trophy Lounge, telling Weller he had to “take care of it . . . .” Thomas refused Weller’s offer of a ride home and got into the front passenger’s seat of a car driven by Freda Muller. Kenneth Childs and Ruth Barr rode in the back of the car.
As Bowman’s pickup truck was stopped for a signal, the car in which Thomas was riding pulled up to the left of Bowman’s driver’s side, slightly forward of it and stopped. Thomas asked Bowman what he was looking at and pointed the gun at Bowman. Bowman got out of his truck to try to get out of the line of fire and began walking backward toward the left rear wheel of the truck. Thomas then fired his gun, shooting Bowman in the abdomen and causing great bodily injury. 2 The car in which Thomas was riding drove away.
On July 21, 1987, officers arrested Thomas in connection with a parole search of his residence during which they found his gun under a cushion of an armchair.
Between April 25 and May 19, 1987, using a gun several witnesses identified as the same as or similar to the gun he used to shoot Bowman, Thomas robbed desk attendants at six motels.
Discussion
I
Thomas contends the trial court’s denial of his motion to sever the attempted murder and ex-felon in possession of a firearm counts from the robbery counts constituted prejudicial error. In ruling on the motion, the trial court cited a case recently decided by this court, People v. Crosby *140 (1988) 197 Cal.App.3d 853 [243 Cal.Rptr. 158], and stated in part: “[T]here is cross-admissibility of the evidence in this case. In particular, I find that in the robbery counts wherein the defendant, Mr. Thomas, is alleged to have used a pistol, and according to Mrs. O’Mara [Prosecutor], a number of the victims have viewed the pistol found in the defendant’s joint residence and have identified it as being the same weapon as was pointed at them and used upon them in the commission of the robbery, that that use of the weapon on the attempted murder and the possession of the defendant of that weapon on that day would be admissible to prove the identify [sic] of the defendant as well as the use allegation in all of the robbery convictions.
“As the Crosby court, Justice Benke I believe writing the opinion, pointed out: If the evidence in the joint case is not cross-admissible, then the court must evaluate, number one, the inflammatory nature of the evidence supporting the joined defenses; the relative weaknesses and strengths of the evidence to be offered on the joined defenses; three, the benefits to be derived from the joinder; and four, whether any of the offenses can be punished with death.
“Well, obviously number four is out because this is not a death penalty case. There are substantial benefits to be derived from a joinder of these offenses; namely, the number of cross-witnesses that would be necessary in a separate trial.
“Number two, the relative weaknesses and strengths of the evidence to be offered on the joined offenses, and I kind of disagree with Mrs. O’Mara’s characterization, I think, that the offenses appear to be relatively strong in relation to each other.
“Number one, the inflammatory nature of the evidence supporting the joined offenses, and I think the question really is whether or not a jury can make the distinctions between attempt [sic] murder and the robberies, and I think under proper instructions from the court they can.
“I further find, as I think I’ve indicated, that there is cross-admissibility of evidence between the offenses.”
Here, there is no question the offenses were properly joined under the same accusatory pleading. The offenses charged pertained to the “same class of crimes,” (§ 954) being assaultive crimes against the person, and were properly joined. (People v. Walker (1988) 47 Cal.3d 605, 622 [253 Cal.Rptr. 863, 765 P.2d 70].) “ ‘Since the statutory requirements for joinder were clearly met in this case, [defendant] can predicate error only on clear *141 showing of prejudice.’ ” (Ibid., quoting Williams v. Superior Court (1984) 36 Cal.3d 441, 447 [204 Cal.Rptr. 700, 683 P.2d 699].)
On the matter of showing prejudice, “ ‘[a] bald assertion of prejudice is not enough.’ ” (People v. Balderas (1985) 41 Cal.3d 144, 171 [222 Cal.Rptr. 184, 711 P.2d 480], quoting People v. Kemp (1961) 55 Cal.2d 458, 477 [11 Cal.Rptr. 361, 359 P.2d 913].) “No abuse of discretion in denying severance will be found absent that showing in the trial court.” (People v. Bean (1988) 46 Cal.3d 919, 939, fn. 8 [251 Cal.Rptr. 467, 760 P.2d 996].) More recently, the general rule was reiterated in Frank v. Superior Court (1989) 48 Cal.3d 632, 636 [257 Cal.Rptr. 550, 770 P.2d 1119], which drew the conclusion: “Applying general principles of law applicable to the severance of counts and recognizing that it is the burden of the defendant to clearly show potential prejudice in the joinder (see Bean, supra, 46 Cal.3d 919, 939), we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ruling against severance.”
Here, we draw an identical conclusion. It must be kept in mind that we must evaluate motions for severance in light of the showings made and the facts known at the time of the motion. (People v. Balderas, supra, 41 Cal.3d 144, 171.) Viewed in this light, the trial court’s analysis covering both the cross-admissibility aspect and the various factors going to whether there was a prejudicial abuse of discretion demonstrates Thomas made no clear showing of prejudice and no such abuse of discretion occurred. Frank teaches: “The determination of prejudice is necessarily dependent on the particular circumstances of each individual case, but certain criteria have emerged to provide guidance in ruling upon and reviewing a motion to sever trial. Thus, refusal to sever may be an abuse of discretion where ‘(1) evidence on the crimes to be jointly tried would not be cross-admissible in separate trials; (2) certain of the charges are unusually likely to inflame the jury against the defendant; (3) a “weak” case has been joined with a “strong” case, or with another “weak” case, so that the “spillover” effect of aggregate evidence on several charges might well alter the outcome of some or all; and (4) any one of the charges carries the death penalty.’ (People v. Balderas (1985) 41 Cal.3d 144, 173 [222 Cal.Rptr. 184, 711 P.2d 480].)” (Frank v. Superior Court, supra, 48 Cal.3d at p. 639.)
Frank also establishes that the trial court’s discretion under section 954 to deny severance is broader than its discretion to admit evidence of uncharged crimes under Evidence Code section 1101. (48 Cal.3d at p. 639.) As we read Frank, a strict application of rules concerning the admissibility of uncharged crimes is not called for when considering severance. In this regard, Frank quotes at length from People v. Bean, supra, 46 Cal.3d 919, 938-939, which explains the distinction in the severance motion situation, in *142 part: “ ‘When the offenses are joined for trial the defendant’s guilt of all the offenses is at issue and the problem of confusing the jury with collateral matters does not arise. The other-crimes evidence does not relate to an offense for which the defendant may have escaped punishment. That the evidence would otherwise be inadmissible may be considered as a factor suggesting possible prejudice, but countervailing considerations that are not present when evidence of uncharged offense[s] is offered must be weighed in ruling on a severance motion. The burden is on the defendant therefore to persuade the court that these countervailing considerations are outweighed by a substantial danger of undue prejudice.’ ” (See Frank, supra, 48 Cal.3d at p. 640, quoting People v. Bean, supra, 46 Cal.3d at p. 939.)
Thus, if application of rules of admissibility of uncharged crimes to the other crimes in the severance motion situation results in a conclusion the evidence would be inadmissible, this is but a factor suggesting possible prejudice. That factor must be weighed against countervailing considerations not present when evidence of uncharged offenses is offered. (Frank, supra, 48 Cal.3d at p. 640.) Always, it is the defendant’s burden to persuade the trial court that these countervailing considerations are outweighed by a substantial danger of undue prejudice. (Ibid.) “[T]he first step in the analysis is to determine whether the evidence in each case would be admissible in the other. Such cross-admissibility would ordinarily dispel any inference of prejudice.” (People v. Walker, supra, 47 Cal.3d 605, 622.)
Here, the trial court correctly determined the evidence concerning the firearm would be cross-admissible on all the charges, thus dispelling any inference of prejudice. Nevertheless, Thomas argued that he was concerned with the effect on the jury of the strong evidence in the robbery cases as having a carry-over effect on the attempted murder charge. The prosecutor labeled Thomas’s argument as conjecture and speculation. It is apparent from the record, however, that the trial court weighed the relevant factors and properly came down on the side of nonseverance. As in Bean, supra, 46 Cal.3d 919, 939, this was “not a case in which, at the time the ruling was made, the evidence of defendant’s guilt of one or more of joined offenses was weak, while the evidence of the other was strong. And neither offense was particularly inflammatory in comparison with the other. There was substantial evidence of defendant’s involvement in each.” (Fn. omitted.)
Thomas did not clearly demonstrate prejudice, rather only a possibility the jurors might look unkindly upon him as a result of the evidence of the robberies. That is not a sufficient showing. There was no abuse of discretion in denying Thomas’s severance motion.
*143 II
Thomas contends that due to the fact he was not advised of his Miranda rights (Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 [16 L.Ed.2d 694, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 10 A.L.R.3d 974]), his initial statement to the police should have been suppressed. On July 21, 1987, Officer John Murray of the National City Police Department went to Thomas’s apartment to conduct a parole search. Murray told Thomas to stand in the middle of the room and to keep his hands where they could be seen. Murray told Thomas “we weren’t going to play games. We weren’t going to take any chances because we were there investigating an attempted murder, looking for evidence in that attempted murder.” Neither Murray nor any other officer questioned Thomas.
When Murray found the handgun he arrested Thomas who said Murray had the “wrong person ... he wasn’t even out of apartment on that night.” At this point Murray told Thomas that “he was identified as being there by me seeing him on a video tape at a bar a few blocks away from the shooting.”
It is elementary that Miranda warnings are required only when a suspect is interrogated, which involves express questioning or its functional equivalent. (Ar izona v. Mauro (1987) 481 U.S. 520, 525-527 [95 L.Ed.2d 458, 465-466, 107 S.Ct. 1931, 1934-1935]; Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. at pp. 444, 478 [16 L.Ed.2d at pp. 706-707, 726].) Here it is clear there was no attempt by the officer to elicit information from Thomas before he volunteered and gratuitously interjected the statement. Thus, Miranda furnishes no basis for excluding the statement. (See People v. Siegenthaler (1972) 7 Cal.3d 465, 470 [103 Cal.Rptr. 243, 499 P.2d 499].)
III
Thomas contends the trial court’s refusal to instruct the jury in the language of CALJIC No. 5.32 on the use of force in defense of another constituted prejudicial error. (See § 694, “Any other person, in aid or defense of the person about to be injured, may make resistance sufficient to prevent the offense.”)
The court is required to instruct the jury on every theory of the case, but only to the extent each is supported by substantial evidence. (People v. Flannel (1979) 25 Cal.3d 668, 685 [160 Cal.Rptr. 84, 603 P.2d 1].) The court should not measure the substantiality of the evidence by undertaking to weigh the credibility of the witnesses, but if the evidence is minimal and insubstantial the court need not instruct. (Id. at p. 684.)
*144 This case falls in the minimal and insubstantial category in that the only witness whose testimony might be viewed as showing an aggressive posture on Bowman’s part was that of Ruth Barr who admittedly was intoxicated, could not remember many details of the evening and was “kissing, we were busy, you know, playing, doing stuff.” Barr’s testimony was that at the intersection when the car stopped, “for some reason I looked through the window and I saw—I saw a face—I saw a shadow, something coming towards our car, and then I—and then I saw a face coming, you know, getting lower to the—the guy’s windows, the black guy’s side, [fl] And then right after that, in the few seconds after that I heard two noises, two firecrackers. That’s when it woke me up. And then after those two noises that I heard, the face was out of my face—it was out of the window. That’s all I remember.”
This testimony does not amount to substantial evidence from which a reasonable person could form a belief “that bodily injury is about to be inflicted upon [a third person] . . . .” (CALJIC No. 5.32.) Nor does the addition of the hearsay statements attributed to Barr to the effect that she saw the person walk up to the car and press his face against the glass elevate Barr’s testimony above the “minimal” level for purposes of considering the instruction on defense of third persons.
Since the defense of others instruction was not supported by substantial evidence, there was no error in refusing to give it.
IV
Thomas contends the trial court gave inconsistent and confusing instructions on imperfect self-defense. His theory is that in giving both of his requested instructions on imperfect self-defense, CALJIC No. 5.17, 3 and self-defense, when the danger ceases, CALJIC No. 5.52, 4 “it is highly likely the jury interpreted CALJIC 5.52 as applying to imperfect self-defense as well as ordinary self-defense.” No other instruction differentiates between when the right to ordinary self-defense is available and when imperfect self-defense no longer applies. Thus, he argues, “[t]he jury likely reasoned that *145 when the real or apparent danger ceases, both regular and imperfect self-defense no longer apply.”
Thomas himself requested the instructions as they were given, but did not request any amplifying instructions that might have removed the issue. “The trial court cannot reasonably be expected to attempt to revise or improve accepted and correct jury instructions absent some request from counsel.” (People v. Wolcott (1983) 34 Cal.3d 92, 108-109 [192 Cal.Rptr. 748, 665 P.2d 520]; see also People v. Earnest (1975) 53 Cal.App.3d 734, 744 [126 Cal.Rptr. 107].) In this context error cannot be found in the trial court’s not having given the amplifying instruction.
Moreover, it is apparent that Thomas is relying on some unsubstantiated likelihood of the jury’s point of view. Inasmuch as the given CALJIC No. 5.52 instruction speaks only to the matter of self-defense and the given CALJIC No. 5.17 instruction expressly states that the “honest but unreasonable belief is not a defense to the crime of attempted voluntary manslaughter,” it is every bit as likely as Thomas’s speculation that a jury would find by the terms of the instructions that neither has any bearing on the other. As Thomas recognizes, the “imperfect self-defense” instruction is not a self-defense instruction at all. It merely removes the element of malice aforethought, while making it clear the person holding the defined belief still “kills unlawfully.” On the other hand the self-defense instructions given here start out with the words, “[i]t is lawful,” thus showing the essential difference between the concepts on which the jury is being instructed.
Viewing the instructions on the two areas of defense strategy as the separate concepts they are, there is no inconsistency or confusion in the instructions the trial court gave.
V
Thomas contends his two prior serious felony convictions were not brought and tried separately within the meaning of section 667, subdivision (a), and thus one of those enhancements must be stricken. The prior serious felony convictions involved Thomas’s pleas of guilty entered on the same date in two separately filed cases that were not consolidated but were sentenced on the same date.
In case number CR65189 a felony complaint was filed September 23, 1983, and he was held to answer on October 6, 1983. An information was filed October 14, 1983, charging Thomas with four counts of robbery and *146 one count of attempted robbery. On December 19, 1983, a jury was selected and sworn, and the court recessed until January 3, 1984.
In case number CR66283 a felony complaint was filed November 28, 1983, and he was held to answer on December 29, 1983. An information was filed January 3, 1984, charging two counts of robbery.
On January 3, 1984, Thomas pled guilty to two counts of robbery in case number CR65189 and to one count of robbery with personal use of a firearm in case number CR66238. On June 11, 1984, judgment of conviction was entered on the three robberies during the same sentencing proceedings.
Section 667 provides in relevant part that “any person convicted of a serious felony who previously has been convicted of a serious felony . . . shall receive, in addition to the sentence imposed by the court for the present offense, a five-year enhancement for each such prior conviction on charges brought and tried separately. ” (Italics added.)
Recently, In re Harris (1989) 49 Cal.3d 131, 133 [260 Cal.Rptr. 288, 775 P.2d 1057], held “the phrase ‘on charges brought and tried separately’ requires that the charges underlying the prior ‘serious felony’ convictions must have been made in proceedings that were formally distinct.” (Id. at p. 133.) In In re Harris, supra, a single felony complaint in the municipal court charged Harris with two robberies. After he was held to answer, two informations were filed each charging one of the robberies. Harris then pled guilty to the charges in each information and was later sentenced on each. Both the pleas and the sentencing occurred at the same time. (See People v. Harris (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 1197, 1200 [238 Cal.Rptr. 31].)
In re Harris points out there is “ ‘no distinction between an adjudication of guilt based on a plea of guilt and that predicated on a trial on the merits.’” (49 Cal.3d at p. 135, quoting People v. Ebner (1966) 64 Cal.2d 297, 304 [49 Cal.Rptr. 690, 411 P.2d 578].) In re Harris goes on to conclude the phrase in question was derived from former section 644 defining and punishing habitual criminals and it should be given the same meaning as it had in section 644. (49 Cal.3d at pp. 135-136.) In re Harris then concludes: “[T]he requirement in section 667 that the predicate charges must have been ‘brought and tried separately’ demands that the underlying proceedings must have been formally distinct, from filing to adjudication of guilt. Here, as the record plainly reveals, the charges in question were not ‘brought . . . separately,’ but were made in a single complaint.” (49 Cal.3d at p. 136.) Here, unlike the situation in In re Harris, separately filed felony complaints, each containing distinct charges, commenced the criminal proceedings against Thomas in the prior felony cases. In case number *147 CR65189 a jury trial commenced, with the jury selected and sworn before the court recessed. The mere fact the case was continued to January 3, 1984, when a plea bargain was reached in both case numbers CR65189 and CR667283, and guilty pleas were entered in the two cases, does not make the cases other than separately brought and tried. The same date for accepting the pleas in these nonconsolidated cases is of no significance for purposes of section 667. (See People v. Lewis (1987) 191 Cal.App.3d 1288, 1301 [237 Cal.Rptr. 64], “[t]he ‘separately brought and tried’ limitation of section 667, subdivision (a) does not bar multiple enhancements where convictions are based on unrelated counts of different accusatory pleadings.”)
We note that in People v. Deay (1987) 194 Cal.App.3d 280, 286-290 [239 Cal.Rptr. 406], on which Thomas relies, “on December 29, 1982, in one proceeding, defendant pled guilty in the Redding Municipal Court to two counts of first degree burglary.” (Id. at p. 286.) The language referring to “two counts” in one proceeding implies there was adjudicated but one accusatory pleading containing the two counts. This factor distinguishes Deay from Thomas’s case where separate accusatory pleadings were adjudicated.
It is noteworthy that In re Harris, supra, 49 Cal.3d 131, does not criticize the holding of the Court of Appeal in People v. Harris, supra, 192 Cal.App.3d 1197, 1200-1203, that where the record shows more than one proceeding was separately initiated and not consolidated, as here, the fact the defendant pled guilty in the cases at the same time and was sentenced on the same day cannot overcome a finding the cases were tried separately. (People v. Harris, supra, 192 Cal.App.3d at p. 1202.) In re Harris, supra, 49 Cal.3d 131, 134, involving the same defendant on habeas corpus, found the facts were not as indicated by the record on appeal in that the prior cases were initiated by a single accusatory pleading followed by a single preliminary hearing after which they were prosecuted in the superior court under two separate informations. It was in this factual context that In re Harris determined only one five-year enhancement could be imposed under section 667, holding that “the charges underlying the prior ‘serious felony’ convictions must have been made in proceedings that were formally distinct.” (In re Harris, supra, 49 Cal.3d at p. 133.)
Thomas’s prior felony adjudications exactly fit this holding of In re Harris, supra, 49 Cal.3d 131. Accordingly, we find no basis for eliminating one of the section 667 enhancements.
VI
Thomas contends the trial court relied on improper aggravating factors in selecting the upper term for the attempted murder count. He *148 argues that the findings the victim was particularly vulnerable and that the crime was premeditated are not supported and that the remaining factors in aggravation, a pattern of violent conduct indicating a danger to society and Thomas’s crimes were increasingly serious, when considered against the mitigating factor of good performance on parole, make it reasonably probable that if one or both of the challenged factors are stricken he would not receive the upper term.
In finding aggravating factors, the court cited California Rules of Court, rule 421(a)(3), 5 and stated; “ . . . Kevin Bowman the victim was particularly vulnerable, that he was unarmed and totally surprised by the defendant’s conduct at the time and place the crime occurred. There’s some dispute as to whether or not he was more vulnerable because of his state of intoxication. The evidence, I think, according to Mr. Bowman was he had been drinking. And I think the history of that, he had been drinking substantially. And, therefore, I consider it. However, I don’t give it a great deal of weight.”
After refusing to find two other aggravating circumstances present, the court discussed the remaining aggravating factors it found true, as follows: “I think there is some evidence that he premeditated based on what I earlier referred to as the testimony of Mr. Weller as well as the testimony of Childs, even though the jury found there was no deliberate —willful, deliberate and premeditated murder, therefore first degree murder. There certainly is sufficient evidence that he had evil intention in mind insofar as the victim Kevin Bowman was concerned having run to the car to get the gun. And I think quite frankly that were it not for the presence of the National City Police at that bar, he would have run back to that bar with that gun and we may have had a much more serious crime than he is now confronted with.
“Rule 421 paren (b) paren (1) and (2), the defendant engaged in a pattern of violent conduct which indicates a serious danger to society. These crimes are increasingly serious. I note his juvenile record starting in 1978 with the true finding for burglary going on to 1979. A true finding was made against the defendant again in 1979, another true finding and again for escape a true finding. And again in ’79 another escape, a true finding. 1981, for grand theft of a gun. Apparently 487.3. Another true finding. And again in 1981 for 211, 496.1 and 10851 of the Vehicle Code. There’s a true finding on [grand] theft person under 487.2.”
Even assuming a lack of support for the two factors of particular vulnerability and premeditation, the record makes it clear that the remaining *149 factors of Thomas’s engaging in a pattern of violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society and his convictions of increasing seriousness alone support the upper term and remove any reasonable probability of a more favorable sentence in the absence of the first two factors. (See People v. Avalos (1984) 37 Cal.3d 216, 233 [207 Cal.Rptr. 549, 689 P.2d 121]; People v. Dreas (1984) 153 Cal.App.3d 623, 636-637 [200 Cal.Rptr. 586]; and see People v. Piceno (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 1353, 1360 [241 Cal.Rptr. 391].)
Disposition
The judgment is affirmed.
Work, Acting P. J., and Nares, J., concurred.
Appellant’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied July 11, 1990. Broussard, J., was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.
All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
The bullet entered and exited Bowman’s body and caused an injured bowel. Bowman underwent exploratory surgery which left an eight-inch scar on his abdomen. At the time of the trial Bowman was having digestive problems as a result of the shooting.
CALJIC No. 5.17, as given by the trial court, reads: “A person who attempts to kill another person in the honest but unreasonable belief in the necessity to defend against imminent peril to life or great bodily injury kills unlawfully, but does not harbor malice aforethought and cannot be found guilty of murder, in this case attempted murder. This would be so even though a reasonable man in the same situation seeing and knowing the same facts would not have had the same belief. Such an honest but unreasonable belief is not a defense to the crime • of attempted voluntary manslaughter.”
CALJIC No. 5.52, as given by the trial court, reads: “The right of self-defense exists only as long as the real or apparent threatened danger continues to exist. When such danger ceases to appear to exist, the right to use force in self-defense ends.”
All references to rules are to the California Rules of Court. Rule 421(a)(3) lists as a circumstance in aggravation that “[t]he victim is particularly vulnerable.”
Cites, in this corpus
- In Re Harris S004862 · 1989-07-27
- Frank v. Superior Court S001963 · 1989-04-20
- People v. Walker S004350. Crim. 21707 · 1988-12-27
- People v. Bean S004387. Crim. 22144 · 1988-09-19
- People v. Crosby D005667 · 1988-01-13
- People v. Piceno D005752 · 1987-11-03
- People v. Deay No. C001267 · 1987-08-20
- People v. Harris F006789 · 1987-06-22
- People v. Lewis B017827 · 1987-05-14
- People v. Balderas Crim. 21979 · 1985-12-31
- People v. Avalos Crim. 23031 · 1984-11-08
- Williams v. Superior Court L.A. 31817 · 1984-07-16
- People v. Dreas AO18063 · 1984-03-26
- People v. Wolcott Crim. 22295 · 1983-07-07
- People v. Flannel Crim. 20869 · 1979-11-13
- People v. Earnest Crim. 7891 · 1975-12-15
- People v. Siegenthaler Crim. 15541 · 1972-07-07
- People v. Ebner Crim. 9079 · 1966-03-14
- People v. Kemp Crim. 6632 · 1961-03-02
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