THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. PETER JUAN CERDA et al., Defendants and Appellants.
B232572
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION THREE
Filed 2/7/20
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION* (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. MA041397)
APPEAL from judgments of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Hayden Zacky, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.
Edward H. Schulman, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Kyle Allin Johnson.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pitney, Acting Senior Assistant Attorney General, William Shin and Idan Ivri, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
The matter was reviewed again, based on Cerda‘s motion to recall the remittitur. In a nonpublished opinion filed on January 23, 2015, we reversed Cerda‘s first degree murder conviction and remanded the matter to the trial court, allowing the district attorney to retry the murder charge or accept a reduction of Cerda‘s conviction to second degree murder.1 (People v. Cerda et al. (January 23, 2015, B235674) [nonpub. opn.].)
While Cerda‘s and Johnson‘s appeals were pending, the Legislature enacted Senate Bill No. 1437 (SB 1437) (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015), which amended the laws related to malice and accomplice liability for murder. The Legislature also enacted
Senate Bill No. 620 (SB 620) (Stats. 2017, ch. 682), which gave trial courts discretion to strike or dismiss certain firearm enhancements.
Now, the matter has returned to us once again. The Supreme Court granted appellants’ petition for review and has transferred the matter to us with directions to vacate our earlier decision and reconsider the cause in light of SB 1437, SB 620, and People v. Canizales (2019) 7 Cal.5th 591 (Canizales), which limited the application of the kill zone theory for attempted murder.
In accordance with the Supreme Court‘s order, we vacate the January 23, 2015 nonpublished opinion. In the published portion of this opinion, we discuss why the evidence was sufficient to support the kill zone theory of liability.
In the nonpublished portion, we reject Cerda‘s and Johnson‘s other arguments that (1) SB 1437 should apply to attempted murder; (2) the
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
I. Facts
A. Prosecution Evidence
1. Katrina Place shooting (counts 1–14)
On February 8, 2008, 14-year-old Robert E.2 was at his house on Katrina Place in Palmdale. He was with his mother, Luz E., his sisters, Mayra E. and Christina E., and his brothers, including 12-year-old Francisco E. They were throwing a party at the house.
Later in the evening, Robert E. heard gunshots while he was in the garage with Ricardo R., one of his sister‘s friends. Robert E. heard something hit an area immediately next to him. Upon hearing the gunshots, he ducked and crawled into the house. He heard about ten shots rapidly fire. Ricardo R. heard about fifteen shots. The garage door was closed at the time.
Francisco E. was sitting at a dining room table with other family members and friends, including Gerardo Salazar, Mayra E., Stephanie R., Adriana R., Denise F., and Liz S. Windows to the dining room were located between the front door of the house and the garage. The dining room was on the first floor. Francisco E. heard more than ten gunshots fired. Mayra E. pushed him to the floor.
Adriana R. was in the dining room, sitting next to Salazar, who had accompanied her to the house. She heard about eighteen shots ricocheting off the
shots, she threw Stephanie R. on the ground. Stephanie R. was 13 or 14-years-old at the time. Adriana R. was hit on the left eye by a foreign object, causing her to bleed. Glass hit the back of Mayra E.‘s neck. She was sitting to the left of Salazar.
Once the shots ceased, Adriana R. crawled to the kitchen, then to the living room. Mayra E. crawled to the bathroom. Francisco E. also crawled to the bathroom. After twenty seconds, Francisco E. and Mayra E. returned to the dining room. Francisco E. saw holes in the wall and in the curtain. Salazar was bleeding, face-down on the floor. Salazar died from a gunshot to the head.
Luz E. and her husband, Sergio H., were in a bedroom when she heard about twenty gunshots. Christina E. was in another bedroom with her boyfriend, Daniel D. Four-year-old Aliza V. and 9-month-old Denise R. were in the master bedroom. Each of these bedrooms was on the second floor.
When the shots were fired, Daniel D. looked outside the window and saw a large pickup truck. He saw muzzle flashes from the pickup truck. The truck remained stationary when the shots were fired. Daniel D. saw the shooter in the back of the truck, leaning out and firing the gun. Daniel D. went outside to try to pursue the truck, but it was gone.
After the shooting, Luz E. saw bullet holes in the front of the house. Ricardo R. saw a hole in the garage door. Robert E. saw a hole in a television, located in the back of the garage, and one in a refrigerator.
2. Morning Circle shooting (counts 15–24)
About thirty minutes after the Katrina Place shooting, gunshots woke Vicente V., as he was asleep at his house on Morning Circle in Palmdale. Twelve persons lived there,
including members of his immediate family and his brother‘s family.
Vicente V.‘s house had two floors. On the night of the shooting, he and his wife, Maria, were in their bedroom located immediately on top of the garage conversion. Their 13 and 7-year-old sons, Gerardo and Esteban, slept in a bedroom above their parents’ bedroom. Their older son, Vince V., Jr., was sleeping downstairs. Their 15-year-old daughter, Cassandra, was sleeping in the family room. Their 16-year-old daughter, Patricia, was sleeping in another bedroom. Vicente V.‘s brother, Victor, and his wife, Veronica, slept in the master bedroom with their 2-year-old daughter, Naomi, and 4-year-old son, Alexander. Vicente V.‘s 11-year-old nephew, Victor, Jr., and 10-year-old niece, Veronica, were sleeping in a bedroom on the second floor, above the garage.
Vicente V. denied being a member of the Val Verde Park gang. But he stated that Vince V., Jr. was a member.
3. Forensic evidence
Robert Keil, a senior criminalist for the Los Angeles County Sheriff‘s Department, examined the house on Katrina Place after the shooting. Keil discovered sixteen bullet holes on the exterior
of the house, including one on the garage, one on the frame of the front door, and several around and through the dining room window. One bullet penetrated the garage door and a television inside of the garage before striking the back wall of the garage. Other bullets penetrated the exterior of the house and struck other areas inside, including the interior back wall of the dining room, a kitchen cabinet, and the entry to the kitchen. One bullet had blood, human tissue, and bone residue on it. This bullet went through the dining room window, penetrated Salazar‘s head, and struck the corner of the room.
Other bullets penetrated the exterior on the second story of the house, including the exterior wall and the tiled roof of the house. One of these bullets first penetrated two interior walls in an upstairs bedroom and a sliding door, before striking another wall. Walls by the upstairs staircase and other bedrooms were also struck. Other shots penetrated a bedroom wall and struck a hallway wall. Keil also found a bullet fragment in the master bathroom, which traveled across the upstairs hallway and through the master bedroom.
Sixteen spent casings were located on the street outside the Katrina Place house. The casings were for 7.62 by 39-millimeter rounds. Typically, an AK-style rifle uses this size of ammunition. Keil explained that an AK-style rifle is a semiautomatic assault rifle commonly used by military forces. The AK-47 is included in this series of assault rifle. The projectiles from these rifles travel at up to four times the velocity of a handgun, such as those using nine-millimeter ammunition. They have the potential for penetrating substantial barriers, including car doors and exterior walls of residences, as well as multiple additional walls. By
contrast, a nine-millimeter bullet would not have the power to penetrate an exterior wall.
Keil determined that by the way the casings were grouped together, eleven shots were fired from one area in front of the Katrina Place house, and five
Keil also examined four additional casings and four live rounds which were collected in front of the house on Morning Circle. He saw that they matched the casings from the Katrina Place shooting. They were the same caliber and made by the same manufacturers. Keil also determined the casings were all fired from the same rifle.
4. Statements of Pedro A.
The prosecutor called Pedro A. as a witness. Pedro A. was a member of the Evil Klan gang. His nickname was Flaco. Pedro A. was incarcerated in state prison for a gang-related attempted murder conviction. Pedro A. believed that he would be in protective custody or get killed if he assisted the district attorney‘s office or the police, or otherwise acted as a snitch.3
Before calling Pedro A. as a witness, the prosecutor and Los Angeles County Sheriff‘s Detective Donna Cheek spoke with him. However, during Pedro A.‘s testimony, he claimed to not remember or denied making any statements to them. He also claimed to not remember or denied making any statements to Los
Angeles County Sheriff‘s Detective Howard Cooper. Detective Cheek and Detective Cooper were the investigating officers for the Katrina Place and Morning Circle shootings.
Detective Cheek recounted the statements Pedro A. made before his testimony. During the conversation, she and the prosecutor reviewed Pedro A.‘s 2008 statement to Detective Cooper. Detective Cooper‘s 2008 interview with Pedro A. was recorded and played for the juries.4
On February 10, 2008, Pedro A. was at a party at a house of a person named Jorge.5 Pedro A. was with Cerda, Johnson, and their friend, Saul Trujillo.6 Pedro A. left the party for a short time. When he returned, he
magazine was a “banana clip.” Cerda, Johnson, and Trujillo got into a Ford F-150, driven by a person named Jose Casillas.7
Cerda was in the front passenger seat. Trujillo was behind him. Johnson was behind the driver. They went to the party where Johnson was beaten up. Pedro A. did not join them. Several minutes later, he heard gunshots.
A couple of days after the shooting, Pedro A. spoke to Johnson and Cerda. Johnson told him that they drove to the Katrina Place house. They drove around the block once. Johnson was lying down in the truck bed with the rifle. When they stopped in front of the house again, Johnson sat up and fired into the house. Johnson also told Pedro A. that Cerda shot up a house belonging to someone named Tank from the Val Verde Park gang which was “beefing” with their gang.
5. Party at Jorge‘s house
Fifteen-year-old Erika V. and her sister, Yasmine, attended the party at Jorge‘s house. The Katrina Place house was about a block from Jorge‘s house. At about 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Casillas drove Erika V. and Yasmine home in a dark green pickup truck. She knew Casillas as “Puppet.” At the party, Johnson was introduced to Erika V. as “Casper.” As Erika V. was going home, she saw Johnson coming from the direction of the Katrina Place house. He was staggering as if he was drunk.
6. Cerda‘s jailhouse phone calls
Cerda made two phone calls while in jail. Both were recorded and played for his jury. The first call was to his
parents. His mother stated, “They said they were gonna let you go today.” Cerda responded, “No, no, no. I‘m not[,] mom. I‘m gonna be here for a long time.” Cerda then told his father, “Listen to me[,] they‘re not gonna release me.” Cerda explained, “I‘m gonna be in here because I was involved in a murder. My friend shot someone and killed ‘em. And I shot at a house but I didn‘t kill nobody, but my friend shot and killed someone. I shot a house but I didn‘t kill nobody.”
7. Johnson‘s police interview
Detective Cooper, along with Los Angeles County Sheriff‘s Detective Mitch Robison, interviewed Johnson. The interview was recorded and played for Johnson‘s jury.
Johnson initially denied involvement in the shootings. Johnson explained that he was at a party and hit up a person and argued with him. Johnson was drunk. Cerda and Trujillo told him to calm down. They told Johnson that they would take care of it. He claimed to not know what Cerda and Trujillo were going to do. Johnson left the party.
Robison acknowledged that Johnson was scared. He encouraged Johnson to “man up.” Cooper asked Johnson if he meant to kill somebody or only scare them. Johnson stated that he intended to only fight. Johnson‘s friends told him, “We‘re going to bust a mission.” Johnson responded that he was not going. Johnson continued to deny that he went with them.
The detectives informed Johnson that his “homeboy” told them that he “busted up” the other house. Johnson stated that Cerda obtained a gun and asked him if he wanted to go. Cerda explained to Johnson that he should go with them because he
was joining the gang. Johnson admitted to accompanying them. They drove in a black Ford F-150. However, he stated that Cerda was in the bed of the truck and fired shots when they reached the house. He further stated that Cerda also shot at the other house.
Johnson continued to deny shooting at the first house. The detectives continued to tell Johnson that his “homeboys” said that he committed the shooting.
When Robison explained to Johnson the importance of telling the truth, he finally admitted to firing the gun. Johnson stated that he did not mean to do anything wrong because he was drunk. He admitted to shooting at the “18th Street” house. He also confirmed that Cerda shot at the “Val Verde” house. He further stated that he accompanied Cerda to get his gun. He saw Cerda load the gun. Johnson was instructed to start shooting when they stopped driving. Johnson was told that he would have to shoot because he was joining a gang. He admitted again to the shooting and confirmed that he fired approximately fifteen to sixteen times from the bed of the truck.
After Johnson shot at the first house, he switched places with Cerda, who went to the bed of the truck. Cerda then fired shots at the “Val Verde” house.
Los Angeles County Sheriff‘s Detective Robert Gillis was assigned to investigate gangs in the Antelope Valley. In Palmdale in 2008, the Locos Marijuanos gang, or LMS, consisted of ten members. During that time, the primary activities of LMS included vandalism, vehicle theft, carrying firearms, and shooting. Gillis opined that in 2008, Johnson and Cerda were LMS gang members, based on their prior admissions to membership and associations with other members. Gillis also
spoke to Jose Casillas, who admitted his membership in the LMS gang.
In 2008, a rivalry existed between the LMS gang and a gang called Val Verde Park, or VVP. LMS was allied with another gang called Lancas. Vicente V. was a founding member of the Val Verde Park gang. His son, Vince V., Jr., was also a member. In 2008, Lancas members shot at Val Verde Park members around the corner from the home of Vicente V.
The 18th Street gang is one of the largest Latin gangs in Southern California. There were 18th Street gang members in the Antelope Valley. However, Gillis was not aware of any rivalries between the 18th Street gang and LMS.
Gillis discussed multiple facets of gang culture, including initiation into the gang, loyalty to the gang, and the importance of respect. Gang members were required to back up their fellow gang members.
Gillis discussed the significance of retaliation when a gang member is beaten up by rival gang members. In Gillis‘s experience, the beaten gang member would retaliate with greater violence. Failure to retaliate would negatively impact the reputations of the beaten gang member and his or her gang. The gang would appear weak and be subjected to more attacks by the rival gang.
The prosecutor asked Gillis to answer a hypothetical question derived from the evidence of the Katrina Place shooting. Gillis opined that the crime was committed for the benefit of the gang whose members committed the shooting. Gillis reasoned that the retaliatory shooting intimidated and created fear in the community. He explained the significance of using an AK-47 assault rifle. Its sole purpose was to kill. It was capable of
penetrating multiple walls. Because of the high-powered capability of the AK-47, the shooting exceeded retaliations that would normally occur. It was retaliation “with an exclamation point on it.”
When the prosecutor asked a hypothetical question, which mirrored the shooting of the Morning Circle house, Gillis similarly opined that the crime
Gillis stated that it was also common for multiple gang members to participate in drive-by shootings. Each gang member would assume a role, consisting of the driver, the shooter, and lookouts who would alert the others to the presence of law enforcement officers.
Gillis discussed the influence of the Mexican Mafia over Latin street gangs in Southern California. The Mexican Mafia prohibited gang members from shooting at children. It also required gang members to get out of their cars and walk up to their victims before shooting to avoid injuring innocent persons, as could occur in a drive-by shooting. Violating these rules could result in punishment by death from the shooter‘s own gang or a rival gang. However, gang members did not always follow these rules. Gillis also clarified that the trend has returned to drive-by shootings.
B. Defense Evidence
Johnson testified on his own behalf. He was 16 years old at the time of the shootings.
On the night of the incidents, Johnson went to two parties. Before arriving at the first party, Johnson used crystal methamphetamine. At the first party, he drank ten to fifteen beers and smoked marijuana. He went to the second party at Katrina Place with Pedro A. and Trujillo. Johnson drank one or two additional beers at the Katrina Place party, but he was already drunk.
At the Katrina Place party, Johnson asked several men, “Where you from?” Several persons surrounded Johnson and he saw punches coming from all directions. He was hit several times and knocked to the ground. He fled the party by jumping over a rear wall. He walked by himself to his house. He stayed at his house the rest of the night. He denied being present for any shooting.
Johnson denied telling Pedro A. that he had been in the bed of a truck. He did not know from whom Pedro A. heard this information.
Johnson next spoke with Detective Cooper and other detectives. He denied involvement in the shootings. He told Cooper that two others were involved in the shooting. Johnson stated that Cerda got in the bed of the truck and shot at the house. He also stated that Cerda and Trujillo got in the bed of the truck. Johnson told different stories because he was confused. He ultimately admitted to shooting. Johnson
recognized that the detectives did not believe him when he initially denied involvement. Accordingly, he believed that if he told the detectives what they wanted to hear, he could go home.
Johnson testified that he lied to Detective Cooper in three interviews about being in the truck when the shooting occurred. He also testified that he lied about telling Detective Cooper that he drank only two to four beers. Johnson recognized that telling the police that he shot up a house and killed somebody would affect his life.
Johnson admitted that he was previously a member of Locos Marjiuanos from 2007 to when he was arrested in 2008. He went by the moniker Casper. He also acknowledged that Trujillo was an LMS member named Dreamer. Johnson had known Cerda for about one year prior to the shootings. He testified that Cerda was not an LMS gang member. Johnson also disputed that LMS was in a rivalry with Val Verde Park.
Johnson confirmed that if a gang member gets beaten up by rival gang members, he should retaliate. If the beaten gang member fails to retaliate, his fellow gang members would beat him up. Failure to retaliate would bring shame to the gang. Johnson testified that although LMS was not in a war against 18th Street, his getting beaten up showed disrespect to him. He was expected to do something about it.
C. Rebuttal evidence
Both juries heard the recorded police interviews with Johnson that were initially played only for his jury.
II. Procedure
Cerda‘s jury convicted him of first degree murder (
For counts 1 through 14, Cerda‘s jury found that a principal used and discharged a firearm, causing great bodily injury or death. (
For counts 1 through 14, Johnson‘s jury did not find true the enhancements for personal use of a firearm, personal discharge of a firearm, or personal discharge of a firearm causing death or great bodily. (
On count 1, the trial court sentenced Cerda to 25 years to life, plus an additional 25 years to life for the firearm enhancement. On counts 2 through 14, the court imposed consecutive life terms with a minimum parole eligibility period of seven years, plus an additional 25 years to life for the firearm enhancement. The total sentence on counts 2 through 14 was 416 years to life. On counts 15 through 24, the trial court increased each of the minimum parole eligibility terms to 15 years pursuant to the gang penalty provision, plus an additional twenty years for the discharge of a firearm enhancement. The trial court also imposed the terms on counts 15 through 24 consecutively.10 The total term on counts 15 through 24 was 350 years to life. Cerda‘s total sentence was 816 years to life.
The trial court sentenced Johnson to 15 years to life on count 1. On counts 2 through 14, the court imposed consecutive life terms, increasing the minimum parole eligibility term to 15 years, pursuant to the gang penalty provision. The total term on counts 1 through 14 was 210 years to life. On counts 15 through 24, the trial court sentenced Johnson to 200 years to life.11
an additional 20 years each to counts 15 through 24.12 Johnson‘s total sentence was 410 years to life.
DISCUSSION
[[I. Cerda‘s first degree murder conviction under the natural and probable consequences doctrine
In our original opinion, we concluded there was sufficient evidence to sustain Cerda‘s conviction on the first degree premeditated murder count for the death of Gerardo Salazar. Subsequently, our Supreme Court held in People v. Chiu (2014) 59 Cal.4th 155, 158–159 (Chiu), that “an aider and abettor may not be convicted of first degree premeditated murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine. Rather, his or her liability for that crime must be based on direct aiding and abetting principles. [Citation.]” Under the natural and probable consequences doctrine, a person who aids and abets an intended target crime is also guilty of a nontarget crime committed by a perpetrator, if the nontarget crime was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the intended target crime. (People v. Medina (2009) 46 Cal.4th 913, 920; People v. Prettyman (1996) 14 Cal.4th 248, 271; Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 161.) Chiu concluded that “punishment for second degree murder is commensurate with a defendant‘s culpability for aiding and abetting a target crime that would naturally, probably, and foreseeably result in a murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine.” (Id. at p. 166.)
Chiu raised the possibility that Cerda‘s first degree murder conviction should not have been affirmed. We therefore recalled the remittitur in this case and requested supplemental briefing from Cerda and the Attorney General.
A. Error under Chiu
As theories of liability for murder, the trial court instructed Cerda‘s jury on the natural and probable consequences doctrine, as well as on direct aiding and abetting principles. The instruction improperly permitted the jury to find that Cerda was guilty of first degree premeditated murder as a natural and probable consequence of the target crime of shooting at an occupied house. (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 166.) The Attorney General properly concedes this error.
B. Prejudice
As Chiu explained: “When a trial court instructs a jury on two theories of guilt, one of which was legally correct and one legally incorrect, reversal is required unless there is a basis in the record to find that the verdict was based on a valid ground. [Citations.]” (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 167; People v. Aledamat (2019) 8 Cal.5th 1, 13; Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24.) Cerda‘s first degree murder conviction must be reversed, unless we conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury based its verdict on the legally valid theory of direct aiding and abetting. (Chiu, at p. 167.)
The record demonstrates the jury convicted Cerda of first degree murder of Salazar under one of two theories. He was either a direct aider and abettor of premeditated murder, or an aider and abettor of shooting at an occupied house, which was the target offense under the natural and probable consequences
doctrine, with murder as the reasonably foreseeable nontarget offense.
The prosecutor argued these alternatives to the jurors. He explained that even if they assumed Cerda did not intend to kill, he was still guilty of murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine because anyone would recognize that shooting at an occupied house with an assault rifle would result in an occupant‘s death.13
We cannot ignore the prosecutor‘s comments in our evaluation. Because the prosecutor urged the jurors to consider and utilize the natural and probable consequences doctrine, we cannot conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury based its verdict on the legally valid theory that Cerda directly aided and abetted the premeditated murder, and not on the legally invalid natural and probable consequences doctrine. (In re Lopez (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 350, 360-361; In re Loza (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 797, 806; In re Johnson (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 1396, 1408.) Although the evidence was sufficient to support a finding of premeditation, there is simply no way to tell from the verdict whether the jury relied on the invalid natural and probable consequences theory or viewed Cerda as a direct aider and abettor of premeditated murder.
Based on the harmless beyond a reasonable doubt standard, we must reverse, even if it is highly unlikely the jury convicted Cerda based on the natural and probable consequences doctrine. (In re Loza, supra, 27 Cal.App.5th at p. 806.) We will vacate Cerda‘s first degree murder conviction and remand his case to the trial court for further proceedings.14 According to Chiu, upon remand, the district attorney may accept a reduction of the conviction to second degree murder or retry the greater offense.15 (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 168.)]]
II. Sufficient evidence to instruct on the kill zone theory
Attempted murder requires “the specific intent to kill and the commission of a direct but ineffectual act toward accomplishing the intended killing.” (People v. Lee (2003) 31 Cal.4th 613, 623.) When a defendant attempts to kill two or more persons by a single act, the element of intent to kill must be examined independently as to each alleged victim. (People v. Bland (2002) 28 Cal.4th 313, 327-328 (Bland).) Intent to kill cannot transfer from one attempted murder victim to another. (Id. at pp. 328-329.)
Although intent to kill cannot transfer among victims, the Supreme Court in Bland provided for concurrent intent to kill to establish attempted murder against each person a defendant tries to kill by his or her single act. (Bland, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 329.) Concurrent intent would be established when the defendant, while targeting a specific person, tried to kill everyone in the area in which that person was located to ensure his or her death. In doing so, the defendant would specifically intend to kill everyone in that area. (Ibid.) The Court labeled this area around the primary target victim the “kill zone.”16 (Bland, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 330.) This kill zone theory allows for a conviction of attempted murder against any victim who was in the specified area but was not the defendant‘s primary target. (Id. at pp. 329-330; People v. Smith (2005) 37 Cal.4th 733, 745-746.)
People v. Canizales, supra, 7 Cal.5th at page 607, limited the application of the kill zone theory. Under Canizales, the kill zone theory may only be
Canizales further elaborated that in determining the intent to create a kill zone and the scope of the kill zone, the circumstances of the attack include “the type of weapon used, the number of shots fired (where a firearm is used), the distance between the defendant and the alleged victims, and the proximity of the alleged victims to the primary target.” (Canizales, supra, 7 Cal.5th at p. 607.)
For a jury to be instructed that it may draw an inference, as the instruction on the kill zone theory does, the record must contain evidence that would support the suggested inference, if believed by the jurors. (Canizales, supra, 7 Cal.5th at p. 609.) As we will discuss, substantial evidence supported Cerda‘s and Johnson‘s intent to kill everyone within the respective kill zones at the Katrina Place and Morning Circle shootings.
A. Intent to create a kill zone
We begin by assessing the circumstances of each attack. For both the Katrina Place and Morning Circle incidents, the shooters used an AK-47 assault rifle. Criminalist Keil explained that the high caliber ammunition from such an assault rifle travels at up to four times the velocity of handgun ammunition. The AK-47 rounds have the potential for penetrating substantial barriers.
The sixteen shots fired from the assault rifle decimated the house on Katrina Place.17 All sixteen shots penetrated the exterior walls. Many also penetrated internal walls and fixtures. This was not an indiscriminate shooting. The shots grouped around the locations where the victims were congregating. They focused on the garage and the dining room on the first floor, and the bedrooms on the second floor. The shots killed one person, and debris from
Only thirty minutes later, Cerda shot at the Morning Circle house with the same intent to create a kill zone. The group employed the same tactics as those at the Katrina Place house.
The truck pulled up in front of the house. Cerda fired shots from a stationary position in the bed of the truck, while Johnson and the others remained in the passenger compartment. Cerda fired close to the front of the house, as the location of the four spent casings and four live rounds indicated.
Most significantly, Cerda fired the same high-velocity ammunition from the same military-style assault rifle, which had been fired only thirty minutes before. Multiple shots again penetrated the exterior. One entered the master bedroom where Vicente V. and his wife were sleeping. Another struck a staircase leading to another bedroom. Other bullets were embedded in the exterior walls. The six damaged areas of the house suggested Cerda fired at least six shots, although only four spent casings were discovered. Notably, there were nine victims in the Morning Circle Place house, five fewer than in the Katrina Place house. If one 7.62 by 30-millimeter round could penetrate multiple barriers, it certainly could have penetrated multiple human beings.
Although Cerda fired fewer shots and did not injure anyone, a determination of the intent to create a kill zone “does not turn on the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of [his] chosen method of attack.” (Canizales, supra, 7 Cal.5th at p. 611.) Moreover, Canizales explained that the number of shots is relevant to the determination of intent to create a kill zone, but it is not dispositive. (Ibid.)
The facts of both shootings stand in stark contrast to those in Canizales. The shooter in Canizales fired shots at his primary target from 100 to 160 feet away. The shooting occurred at a block party on a wide city street, open and unconfined by any structure. (Canizales, supra, 7 Cal.5th at p. 610.) Bullets were described as “going everywhere,” rather than targeting specific victims. (Ibid.) Moreover, the shooter fired lower-powered nine-millimeter rounds from a handgun.
Cerda and Johnson assert that an intent to intimidate, as an alternative to an intent to kill, could reasonably be inferred from the circumstances of the
However, Gillis commented on a hypothetical situation where a gang member fired shots into an unoccupied car, rather than an occupied house. Gillis qualified, “In gang life, it can‘t be painted so broad. Each case is different.” In the situation of an unoccupied car, the shooter could have no intent to kill because there would be no victim to kill. Gillis‘s testimony does not suggest that alternative reasonable inferences, including an intent to intimidate, could be drawn from circumstances of the attacks in this case.
Gillis was clear. He testified that the sole purpose for using an AK-47 was to kill. Especially for the Katrina Place incident, the shooting was more than mere retaliation. It was committed “with an exclamation point.” The intent to kill was supported by Cerda‘s and Johnson‘s statements, as recounted by Pedro A. Cerda stated, “We‘re going to get them fools, you know. A gun and some other foolio.” Johnson demanded, “[T]onight. Fuck that.” This exchange represents Cerda‘s proposal of killing the 18th Street gang members who beat up Johnson. It also shows Johnson‘s intention to retaliate immediately. The only reasonable inference to be drawn from the use of the assault rifle at the Katrina Place incident was the intent to kill everyone occupying the house. We draw the same inference from the Morning Circle shooting, which occurred soon after the Katrina Place shooting.
Both Cerda and Johnson further argue that no primary target existed in each shooting, rendering the kill zone theory inapplicable. We disagree.
Canizales required a primary target for the application of the kill zone theory. (Canizales, supra, 7 Cal.5th at p. 608.) The kill zone theory addresses whether a defendant who murders or attempts to murder an intended target can be convicted of attempted murder of nontargeted persons. (Ibid; People v. Stone (2009) 46 Cal.4th 131, 138.) When the defendant has the intent to kill a particular target, for attempted murder liability under the kill zone theory, the jurors must infer his or her concurrent intent to kill the nontargeted persons. (Ibid.) Intent to kill the others could not be concurrent to an intent to kill a primary target if there was no primary target.
At the Katrina Place house, the primary targets were the 18th Street gang members who beat up Johnson earlier at the party. Although these 18th Street gang members were never identified, neither Canizales, nor any other case, required that the primary target be identified by name. Nor is it required that the defendant know the primary target was present at the time of the attack. An intended target is all that is required. Cerda and Johnson sought to retaliate against the 18th Street gang members. According to Detective Gillis, a gang member must retaliate with equal or greater force to protect the dignity of his or her gang. A mistaken belief that the primary targets were present would not make Cerda or Johnson less culpable.
Upon considering the circumstances of the attack, including the power of the assault rifle used, the number and placement of shots, and the position and close range from which the shootings occurred, we conclude the evidence supported Johnson‘s and Cerda‘s respective intent to create a kill zone in the Katrina Place house and in the Morning Circle house.
B. Scope of the zone
The second prong of the test formulated by Canizales evaluates the scope of the kill zone. Specifically, we must determine whether the non-primary target victims were located within the kill zone for each shooting. (Canizales, supra, 7 Cal.5th at p. 607Ibid.)
Again, the circumstances of the attack inform our determination.19 The scope of each kill zone encompassed the entire house in each shooting. We base this conclusion on the use of the high-powered assault rifle, the damage to the interiors of the houses by the penetration of bullets through the exterior walls, the close range from which the shooter fired, and the number and placement of shots. During the brief time of each shooting, the named victims in counts 1 through 14 and 15 through 24 were confined to the
Cerda and Johnson argue that the kill zone theory could not properly apply because the evidence did not reveal whether they knew where each victim was located within each house. Cerda further contends that People v. Adams (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 1009, and People v. Vang (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 554 (Vang), should not be cited for the proposition that a shooter may attempt to kill persons even though he or she is unaware of their presence.
We disagree. Vang was cited with approval in Bland, supra, 28 Cal.4th at page 330, Stone, supra, 46 Cal.4th at page 140, and Canizales, supra, 7 Cal.5th at page 610. Vang concluded that despite each shooter‘s inability to see all victims in the two targeted houses, the jury could reasonably infer the intent to kill every person in each house, based on the placement of shots, the number of shots, and the use of high-powered, wall-piercing firearms.20 (Vang, supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at p. 564.)
In Adams, the reviewing court held, “Whether or not the defendant is aware that the attempted murder victims were within the zone of harm is not a defense, as long as the victims were actually within the zone of harm.” (People v. Adams, supra, 169 Cal.App.4th at p. 1023.) This holding, along with the holding in Vang, is consistent with Canizales. The second prong of Canizales specifically requires the non-primary target to be located within the kill zone. (Canizales, supra, at p. 607.)
The visibility of the victims and the shooter‘s awareness of their locations are relevant but not dispositive, as they might be in cases where the shooter fires a single shot from a handgun. (See People v. Smith, supra, 37 Cal.4th at p. 748.) The attacks here were of such a magnitude that knowledge of the victims’ specific locations was not necessary. The intent was to kill everyone in each house. Because each attempted murder victim was located inside either the Katrina Place house or the Morning Circle house at the times of the respective shootings, he or she was within a kill zone created by Cerda and Johnson. Thus, substantial evidence supported the second prong, as well as
III. Senate Bill No. 1437
Effective January 1, 2019, SB 1437 modified the law relating to accomplice liability for murder by amending sections 188 and 189. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 2-3.) SB 1437 redefined malice in section 188, prohibiting its imputation to a person based solely on his or her participation in a crime. (
SB 1437 also eliminated liability for murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine. As discussed earlier, liability under the natural and probable consequences doctrine was not premised on the intention of the aider and abettor of the target crime to commit the nontarget crime because it was never intended. (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 164 crime, the natural and probable consequences doctrine can no longer serve as a theory of liability for murder.
SB 1437 added section 1170.95, which provides for persons to petition to vacate their convictions and be resentenced, if they could not have been converted of first or second degree murder as a result of the changes to sections 188 and 189. (
A. Retroactive application of SB 1437
Johnson argues that SB 1437 applies retroactively to him, allowing him to seek relief for his murder conviction without complying with the petition procedure under section 1170.95.22
Cases have rejected arguments like Johnson‘s.23 (People v. Martinez (2019) 31 Cal.App.5th 719, 727 (Martinez); People v. Anthony (2019) 32 Cal.App.5th 1102, 1152 (Anthony); People v. Munoz (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 738, 752; People v. Lopez (2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 1087, 1113.24) We agree with these cases and reject Johnson‘s arguments.
Generally, a new law that reduces the punishment for a crime is presumed to apply to defendants whose judgments are not yet final as of the law‘s effective date. (In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740, 745 (Estrada).) This rule reflects the legislature‘s general intent “for ameliorative changes to the criminal law to extend as broadly as possible, distinguishing only as necessary between sentences that are final and sentences that are not.” (People v. Conley (2016) 63 Cal.4th 646, 657 (Conley).) But the Legislature or electorate may opt to modify, limit, or prohibit the retroactive application of such ameliorative amendments. (Id. at p. 656.) If the Legislature indicates its intent to make the law prospective only, by an express savings clause or its equivalent, the Estrada presumption is rebutted. (Martinez, supra, 31 Cal.App.5th at pp. 724-725; Estrada, at p. 747.)
SB 1437 is not silent on the question of retroactivity. Section 1170.95 does apply retroactively, but provides specific retroactivity rules which permit a petitioning process to seek the vacating of convictions and recall of sentences for eligible persons convicted of murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine or certain theories of felony murder.25 The petition must be filed in the sentencing court with a declaration by the defendant stating he or she is eligible for relief based on criteria in section 1170.95, subdivision (a). (
Our view of SB 1437 is supported by the Supreme Court‘s conclusions about Proposition 3626 (
Johnson tries to distinguish section 1170.95 from Propositions 36 and 47, which mandate a separate inquiry into a defendant‘s risk to public safety if released. He argues that this dangerousness inquiry limits relief, unlike section 1170.95 which provides relief based only on whether a defendant could be properly convicted of murder under the revised statutes.
This distinction is of little consequence. The determination of the legislative intent to limit retroactive application of Propositions 36 and 47 did not depend on the dangerousness inquiry. (Conley, supra, 63 Cal.4th at pp. 656-657; DeHoyos, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 605.)
Moreover, Johnson minimizes the substantive requirement for relief imposed by section 1170.95. A trial court must determine whether a defendant could not have been convicted of murder under the amended sections 188 and 189. (
To further support his position that the petition procedure was not meant to exclude the right to raise a claim on direct appeal, Johnson cites section 1170.95, subdivision (f), which states, “This section does not diminish or abrogate any rights or remedies otherwise available to the petitioner.” But this provision contains no indication that the rights to be preserved include automatic relief on direct appeal without compliance with the petition procedure. (Martinez, supra, 31 Cal.App.5th at p. 729; Anthony, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at p. 1157.)
Finally, Johnson asserts that if the petition procedure is his exclusive remedy, the right to new factual determinations about his murder liability would be made by a court rather than by a jury. He argues that such a conclusion would violate his constitutional right to a jury trial.
Anthony rejected a similar argument. The retroactive relief provided by SB 1437 constitutes a legislative act of lenity that does not implicate the right to a jury trial under the Sixth Amendment. (Anthony, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1156-1157: People v. Perez (2018) 4 Cal.5th 1055, 1063-1064.)
We conclude neither Johnson nor Cerda may obtain relief under SB 1437 by direct appeal. Any claim for retroactive relief must be raised by petition before the sentencing court in the first instance, as provided in section 1170.95.28 Nothing in our discussion is intended to suggest any opinion on the merits of such a petition.
B. SB 1437 does not apply to attempted murder
Cerda and Johnson urge us to extend to attempted murder the prohibition of murder liability under the natural and probable consequences doctrine, as established by SB 1437.29 We decline.30
1. Plain language
The words of the statute provide the starting point for statutory interpretation. (People v. Colbert (2019) 6 Cal.5th 596, 603.) We afford the words their ordinary meaning and view them in the context of the statute. If the words are not ambiguous, the plain meaning governs. (Ibid.)
SB 1437 is not ambiguous. Attempted murder is not included in sections 188, 189, or 1170.95.31 Each section contains only references to the terms murder or killer. Additionally, section 189, subdivision (e) uses the term “attempted” in permitting completed and attempted felonies for the underlying felony of felony murder. However, “attempted” is omitted from the same sentence when addressing the participant‘s liability for murder. (
2. No absurd consequences
Cerda and Johnson contend that construing SB 1437 to apply to murder, but not attempted murder, would result in more severe punishment for attempted murder. They assert that other remedial legislation includes application to lesser offenses.32
They cite two cases which discussed the absurd results of a statute‘s failure to include attempted crimes.
The first case cited by Cerda and Johnson is People v. King (1995) 5 Cal.4th 59. King considered the confusion created by the interplay of multiple statutes used to determine the eligibility of juveniles for commitment to the former California Youth Authority, rather than state prison. The specific juveniles under consideration were convicted of first degree murder and attempted premeditated murder in adult court. A literal interpretation of the statutes would have resulted in ineligibility of juveniles who were convicted of attempted premeditated murder, but not first degree murder. However, the legislative history indicated an intent for the eligibility of juveniles convicted of either first degree murder or attempted premeditated murder. The Court reasoned this intent should prevail over any irrational result caused by three interrelated statutes.33 (People v. King, supra, at pp. 69–70.)
The second case cited by Cerda and Johnson is People v. Barrajas (1998) 62 Cal.App.4th 926, which permitted a drug diversion law to apply to the attempted possession of a controlled substance, despite its plain language including only completed possession. The reviewing court concluded that it would make little sense if the Legislature intended to include persons who acquired drugs but exclude persons who wanted to acquire drugs but were unable to do so. (Id. at p. 930.)
In contrast to the situations presented by King and Barrajas, SB 1437 does not call for the application of the so-called absurd consequences doctrine. Generally, this doctrine directs reviewing courts to not give the language of a statute its literal meaning if doing so would result in absurd consequences which the Legislature or the electorate did not intend. (Bruce v. Gregory (1967) 65 Cal.2d 666, 674; People v. Cook (2015) 60 Cal.4th 922, 927; People v. Hagedorn (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 734, 743.) “To this extent, therefore, intent prevails over the letter of the law and the letter will be read in accordance with the spirit of the enactment.” (In re Michele D. (2002) 29 Cal.4th 600, 606.)
Unlike the statutes in King and Barrajas, the literal meaning of SB 1437 does not result in absurd consequences. It does not mandate a harsher punishment or prohibit a more lenient sentence for attempted murder. It does not even prescribe punishment for either murder or attempted murder. After the enactment of SB 1437, the punishment for attempted murder remains the same. In its determinate or indeterminate form, the punishment remains less than the punishment for murder. (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 163.)
3. No equal protection violation
Cerda and Johnson argue that if SB 1437 does not include persons convicted of attempted murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine, it violates equal protection.
a. Not similarly situated to persons convicted of murder
Equal protection of the laws requires equal treatment of similarly situated persons, unless a sufficient reason exists to treat them differently.34 (People v. Morales (2016) 63 Cal.4th 399, 408; Cooley v. Superior Court (2002) 29 Cal.4th 228, 253.) We must first determine whether there are two groups of persons who are similarly situated but are being treated differently under the law at issue. (Cooley, at p. 253; People v. Barrett (2012) 54 Cal.4th 1081, 1107.) The law does not violate equal protection if the two groups are not similarly situated or the law does not treat them differently.
Persons charged with, or convicted of, attempted murder are not similarly situated with persons charged with, or convicted of, murder. Murder is a distinct offense from attempted murder. It is punished more harshly than attempted murder. (
SB 1437 was enacted to “more equitably sentence offenders in accordance with their involvement in homicides.” (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1, subd. (b).) The Legislature was permitted to treat these properly distinguishable groups of offenders differently. It is irrelevant if they are otherwise indistinguishable. (Barrett, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 1107.) Cerda and Johnson offer no persuasive reason to view the two groups as similarly situated. Accordingly, their equal protection claim fails.
b. Rational basis review
Even assuming the two groups consist of similarly situated persons, sufficient reasons exist to treat them differently. (Chatman, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 288.) The extent of justification depends on the nature of the classification. (Ibid.) The highest level of scrutiny is required only if the unequal treatment is based on a suspect classification, such as race, or if it affects a fundamental right. (People v. Wilkinson (2004) 33 Cal.4th 821, 836 (Wilkinson); Chatman, at p. 288.) The state would have the burden of establishing a compelling interest which justifies the law and the distinctions created by the law are necessary to further its purpose. (Chatman, at p. 288.) Where the law does not draw a suspect classification nor burden fundamental rights, it must be “rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose.” (Wilkinson, at p. 836.) In such cases, the classification is presumed rational unless no reasonably conceivable rational basis exists for the unequal treatment. (Chatman, at p. 289.)
Preliminarily, we reject Cerda‘s and Johnson‘s arguments that the strict scrutiny standard applies for their equal protection claim. Specifically, they contend that the punishment for the crimes affects a criminal defendant‘s fundamental right of liberty. However, “where the issue is not whether a deprivation of an individual‘s liberty will occur, but rather the duration of that deprivation, rational basis review is appropriate.” (People v. K.P. (2018) 30 Cal.App.5th 331, 343People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 13 Cal.4th 497, 516Wilkinson, supra, 33 Cal.4th at p. 838; People v. Martinez (2016) 5 Cal.App.5th 234, 243.) Thus, rational basis review is appropriate for an equal protection challenge to the limitation of the ameliorative provisions of SB 1437 to murder.
Under the rational basis test, “equal protection of the law is denied only where there is no rational relationship between the disparity of treatment and some legitimate governmental purpose. [Citations.]” (People v. Martinez, supra, 5 Cal.App.5th at p. 244; Johnson v. Department of Justice (2015) 60 Cal.4th 871, 881 (Johnson).) The underlying rationale need not be “empirically substantiated.” (Johnson, at p. 881.) Nor must the Legislature ever actually have articulated the purpose to be achieved. (Ibid.) To mount a successful rational basis challenge, a party must negate every basis “that might support the disputed statutory disparity.” (Ibid.)
The Legislature‘s decision to limit sentencing reform to murder was rational. First, the Legislature wanted punishment for murder commensurate with a person‘s individual culpability. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1015, § 1, subds. (b), (d); Munoz, supra, 39 Cal.App.5th at p. 763.) In cases applying the natural and probable consequences doctrine, the gap is greater between the culpability for aiding and abetting the less serious target offense and the nontarget offense of murder than it is for a nontarget offense of attempted murder. The Legislature has the prerogative to first address a problem which it deems most pressing, leaving other related problems for another day. (Kasler v. Lockyer (2000) 23 Cal.4th 472, 488.)
Second, a financial savings would result from limiting the scope of the petitions under
We conclude that plausible reasons existed for the Legislature to not extend its ameliorative provisions to attempted murder. Accordingly, we reject Cerda‘s and Johnson‘s equal protection claim against the Legislature‘s decision to limit reform of murder liability under the natural and probable consequences doctrine.
IV. Liability for attempted premeditated murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine
Cerda and Johnson argue that the premeditation findings as to each count of attempted murder should be reversed. They assert that the jurors were improperly instructed they could find premeditation for each attempted murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine without a determination that attempted premeditated murder was a foreseeable consequence of the target crime.36
The Supreme Court addressed this issue in People v. Favor (2012) 54 Cal.4th 868, 879–880. The Court held that a trial court need only instruct the jury to find that attempted murder, not attempted premeditated murder, was a foreseeable consequence of the target offense. The jury would separately determine whether the attempted murder itself was premeditated. (Id. at p. 880.)
Cerda and Johnson cite People v. Mejia (2019) 40 Cal.App.5th 42, which extended People v. Chiu. As discussed earlier, in Chiu, the Supreme Court held that a first degree premeditated murder conviction for an aider and abettor cannot be based on the natural and probable consequences doctrine. (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 166.) Chiu reasoned that the connection between a murderer‘s premeditative state and the culpability of an aider and abettor of a target crime is too attenuated to impose first degree murder liability on the aider and abettor under the natural and probable consequences doctrine. (Id. at p. 166.) Murder liability under the natural and probable consequences doctrine was incompatible with a mental state like premeditation which was “uniquely subjective and personal.” (Id. at p. 167.)
Mejia similarly concluded that a finding of premeditation for attempted murder cannot be based on the natural and probable consequences doctrine. (Mejia, supra, 40 Cal.App.5th at p. 50subjective and personal in the context of attempted murder than it is in the context of murder.” (Id. at p. 49.)
Cerda and Johnson urge us to agree with Mejia. However, Chiu did not overrule Favor.37 Chiu merely determined that sufficient distinctions exist between attempted premeditated murder and premeditated murder to justify a different result from Favor.38 (Chiu, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 162Mejia that Favor and Chiu are indistinguishable, we must follow Favor.39 (Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court (1962) 57 Cal.2d 450, 455.)
V. The “equally guilty” language in CALCRIM No. 400
Cerda and Johnson contend their convictions must be overturned because the trial court instructed the jury with a superseded version of CALCRIM No. 400. Their complaint is with the statement that “[a] person is equally guilty of the crime whether he committed it personally or aided and abetted the perpetrator who committed it.”40 (CALCRIM No. 400.) Cerda and Johnson contend they were prejudiced by the “equally guilty” formulation in the prior version of CALCRIM No. 400 because it improperly tethered one‘s culpability for attempted premeditated murder (and premeditated murder for Cerda) to the mental state of the other.
A. CALCRIM No. 400 would not have misled the juries
The “equally guilty” language “generally stated a correct rule of law.” (Bryant, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 433; People v. Daveggio and Michaud (2018) 4 Cal.5th 790, 846 (Daveggio).) A perpetrator and an aider and abettor are equally guilty in that they are both criminally liable. (Bryant, at p. 433; Daveggio, at p. 846.) But the “equally guilty” language could be misleading if they might be guilty of different crimes and the jurors interpret it to preclude such a finding. (Bryant, at p. 433; Daveggio, at p. 846.)
An aider and abettor may be criminally liable for acts not his or her own. However, the aider and abettor‘s guilt may be “based on a combination of the direct perpetrator‘s acts and the aider and abettor‘s own acts and own mental state.” (People v. McCoy (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1111, 1117.) “‘[O]nce it is proved that “the principal has caused an actus reus, the liability of each of the secondary parties should be assessed according to his [or her] own mens rea.“’ (Id. at p. 1118.) If the aider and abettor‘s mental state is more culpable than the direct perpetrator‘s, his or her guilt may be greater. (Id. at p. 1117.) “[A]n aider and abettor‘s guilt may also be less than the perpetrator‘s, if the aider and abettor has a less culpable mental state.” (People v. Samaniego (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 1148, 1164.)
Cerda and Johnson rely on two cases to argue that the “equally guilty” language in CALCRIM No. 400 lessened the prosecution‘s burden of proof by not requiring that each defendant‘s culpability be determined independently.
First, in People v. Samaniego, the two defendants went to kill the victims, but no eyewitnesses saw the actual shooting. (Samaniego, supra, 172 Cal.App.4th at p. 1162.) Thus, no evidence established which defendant was the direct perpetrator. The reviewing court concluded that the language in CALCRIM No. 400 was misleading as applied to the unique circumstances presented by the facts. (Id. at p. 1165.) It noted that the “equally guilty” language in CALCRIM No. 400 is “generally correct in all but the most exceptional circumstances.” (Ibid.)
The evidence here did not suggest Cerda and Johnson might have different states of mind and therefore might be guilty of different crimes. (People v. Johnson, supra, 62 Cal.4th at p. 640.) As discussed earlier, the evidence overwhelmingly showed that both Cerda and Johnson went to each location to kill. This case joined the group of cases where the “equally guilty” language would not be incorrect.
Second, in People v. Nero (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 504 (Nero), the theory against the aider and abettor was that she handed a knife to the defendant, who used it to kill the victim. The jury expressly asked the trial court if an aider and abettor‘s guilt could be less than the perpetrator‘s guilt. The trial court did not respond in the affirmative, as it should have. Instead, it simply reread the instruction which included the “equally guilty” language.41 (Nero, supra, 181 Cal.App.4th at p. 518Ibid.)
Johnson argues that questions from the jury implied it was asking whether an aider and abettor could be guilty of a lesser offense than the perpetrator, as did the jury in Nero.42 We disagree. These jury questions did not expressly ask if an aider and abettor had to be found guilty of the same degree of attempted murder as the direct perpetrator. Three of the questions expressly related to the murder charge, on which Johnson was convicted of the lesser degree. The remaining question asked if aider and abettor liability was available for attempted murder. None of these questions asked about the requisite mental states of the aider and abettor, or whether the aider and abettor could be more or less culpable than the direct perpetrator. Nor do they suggest the jury was confused by “equally guilty” language.
Accordingly, we conclude the trial court did not err by instructing with the “equally guilty” language in CALCRIM No. 400.