People v. O'Neal

California Supreme Court Aug 26, 1885 No. No. 20073Published

Before: Morrison

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Holding. The court held that an allegedly erroneous jury instruction regarding the distinction between murder in the second degree and manslaughter was not prejudicial because the jury convicted the defendant of murder in the first degree. Furthermore, the court affirmed the propriety of instructing the jury to consider a defendant's interest in the outcome when weighing their testimony and found no error in denying a new trial based on newly discovered evidence of insanity.

Issues

Whether the trial court erred in its jury instruction regarding the distinction between murder in the second degree and manslaughter.
Whether the trial court erred in instructing the jury to consider the defendant's interest in the outcome when evaluating his testimony.
Whether the trial court erred in denying a motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence of the defendant's insanity.

Disposition. affirmed

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“conceding for the purpose of the argument that the instruction was erroneous in the concluding part of it, the defendant was not prejudiced thereby, as the verdict of the jury was for murder in the first degree.”

“we think the instruction correct in principle”

“We do not think that these letters by any means establish .the insanity of the defendant, or that they constituted legal ground for granting him a new trial.”

Synopsis

Criminal Law—Instruction—Immaterial Error.—In a trial for murder an erroneous instruction to the effect that a certain act would constitute murder in the second degree, whereas it might amount to manslaughter only, is immaterial if the defendant is convicted of murder in the first degree.

Id.—Defendant as a Witness on His Own Behalf. —The defendant having testified as a witness on liis own hehalf, the court instructed the jury in effect that in determining the weight to be given to his testimony, they must consider the circumstances under which he testified, the consequences to him from the result of the trial, and all the inducements and temptations which would ordinarily influence a person in his situation. Eeld, that tile instruction was proper.

Id.—New Trial—Newly Discovered Evidence. — The defendant moved for a new trial, and one of the grounds of the motion was newly discovered evidence, which consisted of certain letters written by the defendant and by the sheriff of the county in which he was convicted. Tho letters were relied oil as tending to prove the insanity of the defendant. Eeld, that the motion was properly denied.

Morrison, C. J. — The defendant was tried and convicted of the crime of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to be hanged.

The first point made on his behalf on the appeal is that the court erred in giving the jury the following instruction: —

[379]“ The unlawful killing naust be with the clear intent to take life in order to constitute murder in the first degree. It must be formed upon a pre-existing reflection, and not upon a sudden heat of passion sufficient to preclude the idea of deliberation, for when there is a want of deliberation it is murder in the second degree.” The criticism on the foregoing instruction is on the latter part of it, that is to say, it is claimed that the court erred in telling the jury that “when there is a want of deliberation it is murder in the second degree,” as the crime under such circumstances might amount to manslaughter only, and not to murder in the second degree. But conceding for the purpose of the argument that the instruction was erroneous in the concluding part of it, the defendant was not prejudiced thereby, as the verdict of the jury was for murder in the first degree. It matters uot therefore in the present case, whether a homicide committed without deliberation is murder in the second degree or manslaughter only. (People v. Swift, 66 Cal. 348.)

. The next alleged error complained of, is that the court erred in giving the following instruction: —

“The.defendant has offered himself as a witness on his own behalf on this trial, and in considering the weight and effect to be given his evidence, in addition to noticing his manner aud the probability of his statements taken in connection with the evidence in the cause, you should consider his relation and the situation under which he gives his testimony, the consequences to him relating from the result of this trial, and all the inducements and temptations which would ordinarily influence a person in his situation. You should carefully determine the amount of credibility to which he is entitled. If convincing and carrying with it a belief in its truth, act upon it; if not, you have a right to reject it.” The foregoing instruction, or one to the same effect, has been considered and approved in several cases, one as early as People v. Cronin, 34 Cal. 195, and another as late as People v. Morrow, 60 Cal. 147. But independent of any authoritative decision on the point, we think the instruction correct in principle, as was said by the court in the case of People v. Morrow: “It is only by virtue of a provision of the Code that he (the defendant) is permitted to testify at all, and it is

People v. O'Neal

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