THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. MONICA NJOKU, Defendant and Appellant.
C093672
(Super. Ct. No. 14F07784)
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (Sacramento)
Filed 8/31/23
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION*
Dale Dombkowski, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Matthew Rodriguez, Acting Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Eric L. Christoffersen, Christopher J. Rench and Max Feinstat, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
In the published portion of this opinion, we reject defendant‘s contentions that we should independently review the evidence and that the prosecution was required to introduce live testimony. In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we reject defendant‘s claim that insufficient evidence supports the trial court‘s finding of implied malice. Accordingly, we affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
At defendant‘s evidentiary hearing, the parties relied on only the trial court transcript and did not introduce any additional evidence. We rely on the facts as related in defendant‘s direct appeal and supplement them with additional testimony from the trial transcript when appropriate. (People v. Njoku (Nov. 19, 2018, C082166) [nonpub. opn.] (Njoku).)
I
Prosecution‘s Case
“[Defendant] owned a house in Sacramento. She lived elsewhere, renting rooms in the house to short term tenants, primarily single mothers with children. [Defendant] did not require credit or background checks, and allowed tenants to pay rent and deposits on a flexible schedule and in installments, as they were able. [Defendant] did not observe the usual formalities associated with the landlord/tenant relationship. Some tenants were not required to sign lease agreements. Others signed lease agreements,
“Although [defendant] generally catered to single mothers, she also rented a room to [Edward W., the victim and] a single father with a two-year-old son. Other tenants in the house during the relevant period included Jasmine M[.], a single mother with an eleven-month-old daughter, and Amanda F[.], a single mother with a five-or six-year-old son. At the time of the events detailed below, [Edward] had been living in the house for two weeks, [Jasmine] for three weeks, and [Amanda] for three months. All had been either homeless or at risk of homelessness prior to taking rooms in [defendant]‘s house.
“[Defendant] and [Jasmine] had a disagreement several days before the [murder]. On Friday, November 14, 2014, [defendant] appeared at the house unannounced and learned that [Jasmine] had violated house rules by allowing her sister to spend the night. She confronted [Jasmine], saying, ‘You need to get the F out of my house, and I don‘t care where you go, but you need to go now.’ [Jasmine] and her daughter left the house, but returned the following night.
“[Defendant] came back to the house on Sunday, November 16, 2014. [Defendant] confronted [Jasmine] again, saying, ‘What are you still doing here?’ ‘You need to leave.’ [Jasmine] responded that she could not ‘just leave,’ adding that she had a right to three days’ notice prior to being evicted. [Defendant] denied that she was under any obligation to give notice, saying, ‘you need to get the hell out of my house’ and ‘this is my house, I don‘t have to give you a warning about how long you have to be out of here.’
“[Edward], who was standing nearby, interjected. [Edward] agreed that [Jasmine] was entitled to notice. He added that he did not want to continue living in a house in which the parent of a small child could get kicked out without notice. He told [defendant] to stop yelling at [Jasmine] and asked that she refund money he had already paid in rent. [Defendant] angrily responded, ‘You can leave, I don‘t care. And you‘re not getting your money back.’
“The argument continued in this fashion for some time, with [defendant] and [Edward] yelling back and forth at one another. Eventually, [Edward] called his sister and asked her to pick him and his son up. [Defendant] responded, ‘If you are calling your sister I‘m calling my family too.’ [Defendant] then phoned someone. [Amanda] heard [defendant] tell the person on the other end of the line that she had a tenant who did not want to get out of her house, and she needed help. [Jasmine] heard [defendant] say,
“[Defendant‘s brother Monterio Roberts and his wife T.S.] knocked on the door a short time later . . . . [Defendant] answered the door and showed Roberts and [T.S.] to a common area (designated by the parties as ‘the northeast living room‘), which was then occupied by [Edward] and [Jasmine]. A discussion ensued.
“The discussion began civilly enough, with [T.S.] telling [Edward] and [Jasmine] that she was celebrating a birthday that day. The mood changed, however, when Roberts began commenting on [Edward]‘s financial circumstances. According to [Jasmine], Roberts said to [Edward], ‘We wouldn‘t have this problem [referring to [Edward]‘s dispute with [defendant]] if you was [sic] man enough to have a house for your kid; you wouldn‘t have to be renting a room.’ As [Jasmine] would later testify, ‘the argument was getting very heated, it felt like it was going to be a fight any moment.’
“At some point, [Edward] called 911.3 . . . On the recording, [Edward] can be heard explaining the situation with [defendant] to the 911 operator in a measured tone of voice as an unidentified woman yells in the background. Later, [Edward] can be heard interacting with an unidentified man, saying, in a louder tone, ‘Don‘t—no, no, no. First of all, don‘t come in my—if we gonna do that we can do that. Don‘t—don‘t—better believe I‘m not scared.’ Later still, [Edward] can be heard saying, ‘Dude, I‘ve done martial arts all my life. Best believe I‘m not scared.’ [Edward] can also be heard saying, ‘Bro, don‘t come at me like that.’ During the trial, [Jasmine] recalled that Roberts was ‘talking smack’ and ‘running up on’ [Edward]. [Edward], for his part, was ‘upset’ but ‘standing still.’ Following a further discussion, which was repeatedly interrupted by people speaking loudly in the background, the 911 operator agreed to send someone to the house.
“A short time later, [defendant], Roberts and [T.S.] announced that they were going to the liquor store. As they were leaving, [defendant] said, ‘We‘re about to go to the store, and when we come back it‘s about to get real turnt up in here.’ During the trial, [Amanda] testified that she understood [defendant] to mean that it was going to get ‘crazy,’ and ‘not in the fun way.’
“[Edward] called 911 a second time after [defendant], Roberts and [T.S.] left. Believing the dispute to be over, [Edward] cancelled the earlier request
“The calm was short lived. [Defendant], Roberts and [T.S.] returned to the house after approximately thirty minutes. [Edward] and [Jasmine] went back inside. [Amanda] went to her room and closed the door. [Defendant] saw [Jasmine]‘s daughter and said, ‘Why is the stroller on the carpet?’ [Defendant] began to push the stroller towards a sliding glass door leading outside. [Jasmine]‘s daughter began to cry. [Jasmine] said, ‘Wait, get your hands off my daughter‘s stroller. You‘re not pushing my daughter outside.’ [Defendant] then reached down and ‘yanked’ [Jasmine]‘s daughter, who was still strapped in, out of the stroller. [Jasmine] said, ‘What are you doing? Don‘t touch my daughter.’ [Edward] interjected, saying, ‘Don‘t touch her daughter. You‘re doing too much. Calm down.’ As [Jasmine] would later recall, everyone in the room started ‘yelling at each other’ and ‘getting into it.’ With tempers rising, [Edward] called 911 a third time.
“During the course of [Edward]‘s third 911 call (the substance of which is described below), [Jasmine] (along with her daughter) and [Edward] moved from the southeast living room to the northeast living room. [Defendant], Roberts and [T.S.] soon followed. [Amanda] and her son remained in their room with the door closed. However, [Amanda] opened the door and peeked out several times during the course of the ensuing altercation.
“An audio recording of [Edward]‘s third call to 911 was played for the jury. The recording begins with [Edward] telling the 911 operator, ‘We have an emergency here. The landlord has come back and they‘re trying to fight the girl and . . . [¶] . . . and trying to take the baby and everything.’ Moments later, [Edward] can be heard yelling, ‘[Y]ou locked my son outside? Oh, my fuckin’ God.’ An irate [Edward] continued, ‘Are you fucking serious? You locked my [two year old] outside. Oh, my God. No, she locked my son outside. She locked my son outside. Are—and you‘re laughing about it? What the fuck. Oh my God, oh my God. God Lord have mercy. Oh, my God.’ During the trial, [Jasmine] explained that [Edward] was yelling because his son had been locked outside, and he believed that [defendant] was responsible. [Jasmine] testified that she had not seen [defendant] lock the door, but confirmed that ‘[defendant] was laughing about it.’
“Moments later, [Edward] can be heard telling the 911 operator, in a more composed tone of voice, ‘My name is Edward . . . . They‘re in this house. We paid rent for it. She hasn‘t given us our rent back. This—this person is trying to invite more people, somehow he can come get me out of the house and
“‘[[EDWARD]]: It‘s [unintelligible]. I got kids in here.
“‘911: Who‘s he?
“‘[[EDWARD]]: I will fight for my rights on everything I love.
“‘911: Okay. Edward?
“‘[[EDWARD]]: I don‘t know who this dude is but I guess it‘s her brother or something like that.’
“By now, [Jasmine] was seated in a recliner with her daughter in her lap. Roberts was standing approximately two feet away from [Jasmine]. [Edward] was standing approximately 16 feet away from Roberts, near the door to a utility room. During the trial, [Jasmine] testified that Roberts was angry, and moving closer to [Edward]. On the 911 recording, [Edward] can be heard saying, ‘Dude, I want you to come.’
“[Defendant] and [T.S.] were also in the northeast living room. In [Jasmine]‘s opinion, [T.S.] was trying to defuse the situation by drawing [Edward]‘s attention to the fact that his son, now in the northeast living room, was unharmed. By contrast, [Jasmine] recalled, [defendant] was ‘in [her] face, just trying to fight.’
“[Jasmine] watched as Roberts pulled what appeared to be a switchblade knife out of his pocket. [According to Jasmine,] Roberts opened the knife with a flick of the wrist. He then walked across the room towards [defendant] and [Edward], using a gait that [Jasmine] described as ‘like a menacing kind of little thug.’ The verbal sparring continued. According to [Jasmine], [defendant] ‘was talking mess to [Jasmine], talking mess to [Edward], just kind of, in [her] opinion, um, making the scene bigger than what it had to be. It was like egging him on.’ As [Jasmine] put it, [defendant] was ‘hyping [Roberts] up’ and ‘playing like the instigator.’ On the 911 recording, [Edward] can be heard repeating the words, ‘Y‘all doin’ too much,’ against a background of excited crosstalk. Suddenly, Roberts charged [Edward].
“Roberts and [Edward] exchanged blows, with each man landing several punches. [Edward], who was taller, appeared to gain the upper hand. At that point, [defendant] and [T.S.] joined the fray. As [Jasmine] would later testify, ‘all four were fighting.’ The scene was confusing, however, and [Jasmine] allowed that [T.S.] may have been trying to break up the fight.
“The melee moved from the northeast living room to the adjoining utility room. Around the same time, [Amanda] emerged from her room and saw Roberts, [defendant] and [T.S.] ‘take [Edward] down.’ [Amanda] screamed at the group to stop and ran back to her room. [Amanda] did not see a knife in Roberts‘[s] hands.
“[Jasmine], still seated in the recliner, heard [Amanda] yelling ‘stop, stop,’ and another sound, which she believed to be the sound of [Edward] being stabbed. On the 911 recording, the sounds of a struggle can be heard, followed by the sound of groaning.
Upon hearing these sounds, [Jasmine] sprang from the recliner with her daughter in her arms, grabbed [Edward]‘s son, and ran out the door.
“Around the same time, [Amanda] emerged from her room again and saw [defendant] and [T.S.] standing on either side of [Edward], who was now lying on the ground in the fetal position. According to [Amanda], [defendant] and [T.S.] were stomping on [Edward]‘s upper body. During the trial, [Amanda] testified that she screamed at [defendant] and [T.S.] to stop. [Amanda] recalled that [defendant] looked in her direction but did not appear to see her. In [Amanda]‘s words, [defendant] ‘whipped her hair around and just looked like in my direction and just turned her head back, and it wasn‘t her, and then she just kept stomping.’ According to [Amanda], [defendant] ‘looked crazed.’ [Amanda] retreated to her room. Although [Amanda] can be heard screaming at various points on the 911 recording, she could not make out the sounds of her own screaming [or the sounds of stomping], or say when, in relation to the stabbing, the stomping might have occurred.
“On the 911 recording, a man‘s voice can be heard saying, ‘Nigga get your fuckin’ hands off me.’ Another male voice can then be heard saying, ‘You stabbed me really good. You stabbed me. You got me.’ Moments later, the same male voice can be heard saying, ‘Can somebody help me, please? I don‘t want to die for my son, please?’ A woman‘s voice responds, ‘Get up.’
“[Amanda] stayed in her room, listening, until the sounds of fighting stopped. When she came out, she saw [Edward]‘s body lying halfway in the utility room and halfway in the northeast living room. [Defendant], Roberts and [T.S.] were gone. [Amanda] dragged [Edward], who was still alive, into the northeast living room and called 911. As [Amanda] spoke with 911,
“[Amanda] held [Edward] and waited for paramedics to arrive. As she waited, she noticed [defendant] and [T.S.] running into the utility room and then out of the house, and then back again. During the trial, [Amanda] estimated that [defendant] and [T.S.] completed this circuit at least three times. [Amanda] also noticed that [defendant] and [T.S.] were moving things around in the utility room, as if they were looking for something. During the trial, [Amanda] explained that she thought they were looking for [Edward]‘s phone, which was still connected to 911. [Edward], still conscious, was also thinking about the phone. He begged [Amanda] to join the search, saying ‘go get the phone because they‘re not going to be able to prove it unless they have that phone.’ Neither [defendant] nor [T.S.] offered to help [Edward], who lay crying in pain on the floor.4 Instead, [according to Amanda, defendant] told [Edward] to ‘shut the fuck up.’ [Defendant] then continued rummaging around in the utility room.
“Meanwhile, [Jasmine], having run to a neighbor‘s house, was placing her own call to 911. [Jasmine] told the 911 operator, ‘What happened, right, they started fighting and the guy took out the knife and he ran up on him and then next thing you know [Edward] hit him and then the, uh, guy had a knife again and they just start like crazy ass stuff. It was like a real, you know, scuffle.’ Moments later, [Jasmine] said, ‘I have no idea what happened. Because most likely he stabbed him because I think the other guy started beating him up so I think he stabbed him because I heard the sound and this is crazy. I can‘t believe he did that like that. It‘s crazy.’
“[Jasmine] concluded the call with 911 and walked back to the house. By then, police officers and an ambulance had arrived. [Jasmine] watched as [Edward] was loaded on a stretcher into an ambulance. She then encountered [Amanda]. [Amanda], who had already been contacted by responding officers, told [Jasmine] that she had seen [defendant] and [T.S.] stomping on [Edward], and heard them ‘talking shit to him while he was dying.’ [Amanda] told [Jasmine] that she had not reported these things to responding officers, as she had been afraid to do so.5 [Jasmine] encouraged [Amanda] to tell police what she had seen. [Amanda] spoke with detectives a short time later and reported the stomping.
“Crime scene investigators found [Edward]‘s phone underneath a dryer in the utility room. Investigators also found bloody clothes in the trunk of a Dodge Avenger parked in front of the house, which was registered to [T.S]. DNA analysis indicated that the blood matched two contributors: [Edward] and Roberts. Investigators also found blood on the boots that [defendant] had been wearing at the time of the stabbing. DNA analysis indicated that the blood on [defendant]‘s boots matched [that of Edward].
“Police contacted [defendant] and [T.S.] at the scene. Roberts surrendered to police eight days later. He had a cut on his pinky finger and a wound on his stomach. Police photographed Roberts‘[s] injuries.
“During the trial, Dr. Joseph Pestaner, a forensic pathologist, testified for the prosecution about [Edward]‘s cause of death.” (Njoku, supra, C082166.) When asked about Edward‘s injuries, Dr. Pestaner testified to two hemorrhages located on Edward‘s head and abrasions on his arms and lips. When asked about stomping as a potential cause of Edward‘s injuries, Dr. Pestaner testified he would have expected to see more serious injuries if Edward had been exposed to extensive stomping.
II
Defense Case
“Roberts testified in his own defense. Roberts explained that he planned to have drinks with [defendant] and [T.S.] at the house to celebrate [T.S.]‘s birthday. He denied that [defendant] called him to help her in evicting her tenants. He also denied discussing the eviction of [Jasmine] and [Edward] during the trip to the liquor store with [defendant] and [T.S].
“Roberts testified that he went into the kitchen after returning from the liquor store and overheard the confrontation between [defendant] and [Jasmine] in the southeast living room. Roberts testified that [defendant] ordered [Jasmine] to leave, and [Edward] interjected, saying ‘that‘s not fair, she shouldn‘t have to get out, and if she has to leave, he‘ll leave or something like that.’ According to Roberts, a discussion of prorated rent ensued, which came to an end when [Edward] discovered that his son had been locked
“In Roberts‘[s] retelling, an enraged [Edward] reached over the heads of [defendant] and [T.S.], who were standing between the two men, and struck Roberts at least three times. During the course of the altercation, Roberts said, the group backed into the utility room.
“In the utility room, Roberts said, [Edward] ‘was swinging wildly, hitting everyone, hitting me some more, hitting my wife and sister.’ Although Roberts ‘got a couple of punches in,’ [defendant] and [T.S.] were both knocked to the ground. And Roberts himself was ‘getting beat on.’ According to Roberts, the brawl escalated further when [Edward] ‘went down on one knee,’ ‘buried his head into my stomach,’ clamped down with his teeth, and shook his head, ‘like he was a pit bull or something.’ Roberts testified that [Edward] briefly let go, and then bit him again. Roberts explained that the biting caused him to groan in pain, adding that some of the groaning sounds on the 911 recording came from him, not [Edward]. It was at that point, Roberts continued, that he pulled out his knife and stabbed [Edward]. According to Roberts, ‘I didn‘t even want to stab him, but he wouldn‘t stop, and he was hurting my wife and hurting my sister and hurting me.’ Roberts explained that he left the scene of the crime, and threw away the knife because he was scared.
“[T.S.] also testified. [T.S.] explained that she and Roberts agreed to meet [defendant] at the house because they were planning to eat dinner in the area. [T.S.] maintained that [defendant] did not say anything about problems with tenants when the plan for the evening was conceived.
“Turning to the events immediately preceding the stabbing, [T.S.] recalled that she returned from the liquor store with [defendant] and Roberts and found [Jasmine]‘s baby eating noodles in her stroller in front of the television. Seeing the baby eating over the carpet, [defendant] became agitated and grabbed the stroller. [Jasmine] said, ‘Don‘t touch my baby.’ [Edward] appeared, taking [Jasmine]‘s side in what was then still a verbal altercation. The group moved from the southeast living room to the northeast living room. [Edward] discovered that his son had been locked outside and became ‘hyped’ and ‘angry.’ [T.S.] tried to defuse the situation by pointing out that [Edward]‘s son was unharmed. In [T.S.]‘s words, however, ‘he didn‘t calm down. He got angry.’ According to [T.S.], [Edward] ‘kinda, you know, pushed me out of the way. And then, um, I stumbled a little bit to my right, I believe.’ The next thing she knew, [T.S.] continued, ‘the men were tussling.’
“After the stabbing, [T.S.] testified that she went outside to see whether police were coming. She then went back inside. [T.S.] denied that she rummaged through the utility room, searching for [Edward]‘s phone. [T.S.] also stated that she did not appreciate the severity of [Edward]‘s injuries in the immediate aftermath of the stabbing.
“On cross-examination, the prosecutor impeached [T.S.] with a video recording of an interview in which she told police that she was outside at the time of the stabbing and did not know the man with the knife. [T.S.] admitted that she lied to police. She explained that she was scared and trying to protect her husband. She added that, ‘I was absolutely wrong for lying, and I‘m not proud of that, especially looking back at the tape. It was wrong.’ Several character witnesses testified that [T.S.] has a reputation for helping others and finding peaceful solutions to interpersonal conflicts.” (Njoku, supra, C082166.)
A jury found defendant and Roberts guilty of second degree murder and acquitted T.S. of all charges. (Njoku, supra, C082166.)
III
Evidentiary Hearing
After reviewing the transcript of defendant‘s trial, the trial court denied defendant‘s petition.
Factually, the trial court described the parties’ positions as follows: “The parties dispute the role [defendant] played in the murder of Edward . . . on November 16, 2014. They dispute whether the evidence shows [defendant] acted with implied malice by egging on the knife wielding [Roberts] and then joining him in the deadly assault, including stomping on the victim and the stabbing that caused the victim‘s death, or whether the evidence shows that [defendant] merely committed an assault without sufficient proof that she knew [Roberts] had a knife. A secondary point to the defense argument is the
Ultimately, the trial court found “that the entire atmosphere of hostility toward the victim was generated and pushed by [defendant]. A fist fight between co-defendant Roberts and the victim ensued. Once the victim decided to fight back, the knife came out and [defendant] acted in concert with co-defendant Roberts to subdue and murder the victim. [Jasmine] saw Roberts holding the knife as he walked toward [defendant] and then paused next to her. She also saw [defendant] looking at Roberts when he had the knife out. Common sense indicates [defendant] knew her brother had a knife and encouraged him to go after the victim and joined in the brutal assault that led to his death. [Amanda] testified that she thought all three assailants killed the victim. [Defendant] fueled the animosity towards the victim and contributed toward the fatal attack with stomping and telling him to shut the f- - - up after his stabbing with blood ‘everywhere’ while he lay in the throes of death.”
Defendant appeals.
DISCUSSION
“Effective January 1, 2019, Senate Bill No. 1437 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) amended the felony-murder rule to provide: ‘A participant in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a felony listed in subdivision (a) in which a death occurs is liable for murder only if one of the following is proven: [¶] (1) The person was the actual killer. [¶] (2) The person was not the actual killer, but, with the intent to kill, aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, solicited, requested, or assisted the actual killer in the commission of murder in the first degree. [¶] (3) The person was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with reckless indifference to human life, as described in subdivision (d) of [s]ection 190.2 [the statute defining felony-murder special circumstances].’ (
“The Legislature also added former section 1170.95 (now section 1172.6), which creates a procedure for offenders previously convicted under a felony-murder theory to obtain the benefits of these changes retroactively. Under the statute, individuals convicted of murder can petition for relief in the court where they were sentenced if (1) the complaint or information filed
I
The Applicable Standard Of Review Is Substantial Evidence
“Ordinarily, a trial court‘s denial of a
“In People v. Perez (2018) 4 Cal.5th 1055, our Supreme Court considered and rejected an argument similar to [defendant]‘s in the context of a Proposition 36 petition for recall of sentence. The People argued that [independent] review was ‘more appropriate because trial courts do not have an advantage over appellate courts in determining eligibility based on the record of conviction.’ (Perez, at p. 1066.) [Our] Supreme Court disagreed, concluding that ‘even if the trial court is bound by and relies solely on the record of conviction to determine eligibility, [where] the question . . . remains a question of fact . . . we see no reason to withhold the deference generally afforded to such factual findings.’ (Ibid.)
“[People v.] Vivar, supra, 11 Cal.5th 510, is distinguishable. There, our high court endorsed an independent standard of review when evaluating a trial court‘s decision under
“We conclude that Perez, rather than Vivar, controls here. Whether [defendant harbored the malice required for a finding of second degree murder] is predominantly a factual question reviewable for substantial evidence. Other courts considering the issue have reached a similar conclusion. (See People v. Sifuentes (2022) 83 Cal.App.5th 217, 232-233 [Division Four of the First District rejecting Vivar and concluding that whether the petitioner knew or reasonably should have known that the victim was a police officer under the resentencing statute was predominantly a factual question reviewable for substantial evidence]; People v. Mitchell (2022) 81 Cal.App.5th 575, 590-591 [Second District rejecting Vivar and concluding that ‘substantial evidence support[ed] the finding, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Mitchell was a major participant in a felony who acted with reckless indifference to human life‘]; People v. Clements (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 276, 283, 302 [Fourth District rejecting Vivar; concluding that ‘the trial judge sits as a fact finder at a hearing under
Defendant urges us to reach a different conclusion and argues reliance on Perez is misplaced. Specifically, she argues that whether the substantial evidence standard of review applies to a trial court‘s findings under Proposition 36 was not a central issue in Perez because, under the facts of that case, our Supreme Court relied on undisputed evidence and believed the trial court‘s finding was unsupported based on those undisputed facts. Thus, defendant reasons, because our Supreme Court would have come to the same conclusion had it applied either an independent judgment or substantial
We disagree. Even if not determinative of the case before it, our Supreme Court directly addressed the issue of the proper standard of review, and its holding was express. (People v. Perez, supra, 4 Cal.5th at p. 1066.) Further, dicta of our Supreme Court has persuasive value that we cannot ignore absent a compelling reason. (Benton v. Benton (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 212, 218.) Defendant has failed to demonstrate a compelling reason here where Justice Corrigan‘s concurrence in Perez would have decided the case on the theory defendant now advances, but the concurrence failed to gain the support required to be the majority opinion. (Perez, at pp. 1068-1070 (conc. opn. of Corrigan, J.).) Accordingly, we are not persuaded to divert from Perez.
Defendant also argues the considerations outlined in Vivar to justify independent judgment review also favor the use of independent judgment review for
II
The Prosecution Was Not Required To Rely On Live Testimony To Meet Its Burden
Defendant argues
As an initial matter, we note
“It‘s true that it‘s unusual to ask the trial judge to sit as the fact finder and (in some cases) make factual determinations on a cold record . . . . While that is not the ideal position for a fact finder, it is possible to review a trial transcript and reach an opinion about what actually happened. The Legislature landed on that compromise as a way of extending the ameliorative benefits of its redefinition of murder to people previously convicted under prior law, which [it] judged to be too harsh. [It] could have directed that qualifying offenders receive a new trial by a new jury on the critical factual questions. But that was impractical for many reasons; the expense would have been enormous and the chances of obtaining live testimony from witnesses who remembered the events from years or decades earlier is small. The Legislature also could have simply refused to make the benefits of the new law available to people already validly convicted under the old law. [It] chose the middle course of requiring trial judges to decide the critical factual questions based—at least in some cases—on a cold record. While the Legislature‘s compromise is not perfect, it is adequate. And if either party believes it‘s important to put on live testimony to allow the trial judge to make credibility determinations based on cues other than consistency and plausibility, the statute expressly allows them that opportunity.” (People v. Clements, supra, 75 Cal.App.5th at p. 297.)
Permitting a trial court to resolve disputed facts in the absence of live testimony at a
Indeed, defendant received the benefit of credibility determinations based on live testimony when she was initially tried for murder at her criminal jury trial. The resentencing process cannot result in additional punishment and is a completely voluntary endeavor on defendant‘s behalf. “No constitutional provision required the Legislature to authorize relief under the conditions specified in
For these reasons, we agree with the People‘s argument that defendant received adequate procedural due process during the resentencing hearing. Factors relevant to this inquiry take into account: “First, the private interest that will be affected by the official action; second, the risk of an erroneous deprivation of such interest through the procedures used, and the probable value, if any, of additional or substitute procedural safeguards; and [third], the [g]overnment‘s interest, including the function involved and the fiscal and administrative burdens that the additional or substitute procedural requirement would entail.” (Mathews v. Eldridge (1976) 424 U.S. 319, 335.)
The cases defendant relies on do not support her position. For example, in United States v. Raddatz (1980) 447 U.S. 667, the Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of a provision permitting federal magistrate judges to hold suppression hearings before district courts “decide such motions based on the record developed before [the] magistrate” judge. (Id. at p. 669.) After determining the statute at issue did not require the district court to hold a hearing at which it could hear the evidence for itself, the Supreme Court determined the United States Constitution did not require such procedural hurdles either. (Id. at pp. 676-677, 680-681.) The Supreme Court cautioned judges to be sensitive about making credibility determinations on a cold record but concluded the practice was permissible in the suppression motion context because the interests at stake at a suppression hearing are of a lesser magnitude than those in the criminal trial itself and because the district court holds broad discretion to reject or modify the magistrate‘s findings or to conduct a hearing. (Id. at pp. 679-681.) This case supports our analysis above, in that the interests at stake in a resentencing proceeding are of a lesser magnitude than those in a criminal trial and other procedural safeguards are in place such that live testimony is not required.
In Johnson v. Finn (9th Cir. 2011) 665 F.3d 1063, 1066, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that a district court must hold a hearing on a Batson6 motion before rejecting the credibility findings of the magistrate judge who first heard the motion. In so holding, the Ninth Circuit paid particular
Johnson is distinguishable for the reasons outlined above. In short, defendant‘s private interests are not similar to the interests held by the petitioners in Johnson because she has already been afforded a full criminal trial. The administrative burden on the government is immense and procedural safeguards are in place such that defendant could have utilized live testimony to undercut the prosecution‘s argument that it met its burden based on the cold record alone.
III
Substantial Evidence Supports The Trial Court‘s Finding Defendant Committed Second Degree Murder7
Defendant contends substantial evidence does not support the trial court‘s finding that she acted with conscious disregard for life when aiding and abetting the assault on Edward. We disagree.
“In reviewing the trial court‘s findings for substantial evidence, we apply well settled principles. ‘We “‘examine the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it contains substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value that would support a rational trier of fact in finding [the necessary fact] beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” [Citation.] Our job on review is different from the trial judge‘s job in deciding the petition. While the trial judge must review all the relevant evidence, evaluate and resolve contradictions, and make determinations as to credibility, all under the reasonable doubt standard, our job is to determine whether there is any substantial evidence, contradicted or uncontradicted, to support a rational fact finder‘s findings beyond a reasonable doubt.’ (Oliver, supra, 90 Cal.App.5th at p. 480.) Reversal is not warranted unless “’ “upon no hypothesis whatever is there sufficient substantial evidence to support the [trial court‘s ruling].“‘” (People v. Cravens (2012) 53 Cal.4th 500, 508.)
“[S]econd degree murder . . . is ‘the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought but without the additional elements, such as willfulness, premeditation, and deliberation, that would support a conviction of first degree murder.’ [Citation.] . . . ‘Malice is implied when the killing is proximately caused by ” ‘an act, the natural consequences of which are dangerous to life, which act was deliberately performed by a person who knows that his [or her] conduct endangers the life of another and who acts with conscious disregard for life.‘” [Citation.] In short, implied malice requires a defendant‘s awareness of engaging in conduct that endangers the life of another.” (People v. Cravens, supra, 53 Cal.4th at p. 507.)
“[U]nder direct aiding and abetting principles, an accomplice is guilty of an offense perpetrated by another if the accomplice aids the commission of that offense with ‘knowledge of the direct perpetrator‘s unlawful intent and [with] an intent to assist in achieving those unlawful ends. ‘” (People v. Gentile (2020) 10 Cal.5th 830, 843, quoting People v. Perez (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1219, 1225.) “‘[T]o be liable for an implied malice murder, the direct aider and abettor must, by words or conduct, aid the commission of the life-endangering act, not the result of that act. The mens rea, which must be personally harbored by the direct aider and abettor, is knowledge that the perpetrator intended to commit the act, intent to aid the perpetrator in the commission of the act, knowledge that the act is dangerous to human life, and acting in conscious disregard for human life. ‘” (People v. Reyes, supra, 14 Cal.5th at p. 991.) Implied malice simply “requires a defendant‘s awareness of engaging in conduct that endangers the life of another—no more, and no less.” (People v. Knoller (2007) 41 Cal.4th 139, 143.)
Defendant invites us to reweigh the evidence by pointing to several omissions and inconsistencies in the order containing the trial court‘s factual recitation of the trial transcript. We decline to do so. (See People v. Nelson (2011) 51 Cal.4th 198, 210 [” ‘We do not reweigh evidence or reevaluate a witness‘s credibility’ “].) The court identified the relevant question in its order—whether defendant acted with implied malice when egging on the knife wielding Roberts and then stomping on Edward after Edward had been stabbed. In this regard, the trial court found defendant created the antagonistic atmosphere preceding the murder. This is supported by Jasmine‘s testimony, which the trial court found credible, that defendant picked a fight about Jasmine‘s infant daughter immediately upon returning from the liquor store. (Njoku, supra, C082166.) Defendant then laughed at Edward when he became upset about his young son being locked outside. (Ibid.) Tensions escalated quickly with everyone talking or yelling and defendant antagonizing Jasmine and Edward, and in the process encouraging Roberts. (Ibid.; see People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149, 1181 [the testimony of a single witness is sufficient to support a finding as to any fact].)
The trial court also found Jasmine was credible when testifying that defendant continued to encourage Roberts to fight with Edward after Roberts had displayed a knife. (Njoku, supra, C082166Pilliod v. Monsanto Co. (2021) 67 Cal.App.5th 591, 641-642 [we review the judgment in light of every reasonable inference].)
The trial court further found Amanda‘s testimony was credible when she related her perceptions that defendant stomped on Edward and made disparaging comments to him while he was dying. The fact that Amanda could not discern particular people speaking or the sound of stomping on the 911 call is of little consequence. We do not have a copy of the 911 call. Instead, we have a transcript of the call and testimony regarding the call. From these sources, it appears there were a myriad of undiscernible noises on the 911 call and the location of Edward‘s phone in relation to the altercation is unknown, leaving little context for us to assess the probative nature of the 911 call as compared to Amanda‘s testimony. Further, Dr. Pestaner testified to injuries Edward sustained that were consistent with stomping injuries. While Dr. Pestaner testified he believed worse injuries would have resulted if the stomping was extensive, that does not preclude a finding that defendant stomped on Edward to some degree after he had been stabbed, contrary to defendant‘s contention.
Finally, the trial court reweighed the evidence when making its reasonable doubt finding, and thus the prosecution‘s argument and theory of the case, as well as the jury‘s verdict acquitting T.S., are irrelevant, contrary to defendant‘s contention.
Defendant also compares her facts to Valenzuela, arguing her conduct was not as bad as the conduct in that case and thus does not justify an implied malice finding. (People v. Superior Court (Valenzuela) (2021) 73 Cal.App.5th 485.) Initially, we note the futility of comparing cases in a sufficiency of the evidence context. “When we decide issues of sufficiency of evidence, comparison with other cases is of limited utility, since each case necessarily depends on its own facts.” (People v. Thomas (1992) 2 Cal.4th 489, 516.) Further, Valenzuela pertained to the required finding at a preliminary examination and involved a prearranged fist fight where the defendant‘s group brought knives, leading to the death of a person in the other group. (Valenzuela, at pp. 491-495.) While noting the case was close, the Valenzuela court found sufficient evidence to hold the defendant to answer based on a finding the defendant could at least infer his coparticipant was armed with a knife. (Id. at pp. 490, 503-504.) Here, the trial court found defendant knew Roberts was armed with a knife before she continued to encourage him to fight Edward, distinguishing Valenzuela.
At bottom, it appears defendant is arguing that she did not know Roberts had come to the house with a knife or had a violent disposition, and thus an implied malice finding was inappropriate. Not so. As the trial court found, defendant created an antagonistic atmosphere by escalating the argument with Jasmine and Edward at every turn and then encouraged Roberts to fight with Edward knowing Roberts was armed with a knife. (See People v. Vargas (2022) 84 Cal.App.5th 943, 955 [substantial evidence supported a finding of conscious disregard when the defendant “knew that firing a gun into a brawl could . . . result in someone‘s death, but she directed [the perpetrator] to do it anyway“].) Defendant then participated in the fight by stomping on Edward and then failed to help him after he had been fatally injured. Taken together, defendant knew Roberts fighting Edward while brandishing a knife could result in Edward‘s death. She ignored that risk, and even increased it, by participating in the assault after Edward was stabbed and then callously ignoring him and attempting to hide evidence while he laid on the ground bleeding to death. Accordingly, substantial evidence supports the trial court‘s finding that defendant acted with implied malice.
DISPOSITION
The trial court‘s order denying defendant‘s
ROBIE, J.
We concur:
EARL, P. J.
KRAUSE, J.