People v. Caldaralla

329 P.2d 137, 163 Cal. App. 2d 32, 1958 Cal. App. LEXIS 1462
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 19, 1958
DocketCrim. 3393
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 329 P.2d 137 (People v. Caldaralla) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Caldaralla, 329 P.2d 137, 163 Cal. App. 2d 32, 1958 Cal. App. LEXIS 1462 (Cal. Ct. App. 1958).

Opinion

WOOD (Fred B.), J.

Charged with an assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, defendant was convicted of an assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to one year in the county jail. In support of his appeal he claims insufficiency of the evidence, errors in the examination of witnesses, errors in the giving and refusing of instructions to the jury, and misconduct of the prosecutor.

I. Is the Evidence Sufficient?

Defendant claims that he acted in self-defense and that the preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that he acted reasonably in defending himself.

“Lawful resistance to the commission of a public offense may be made ... by the party about to be injured.” (Pen. Code, §692.) “Resistance sufficient to prevent the offense may be made by the party about to be injured: ... 1. To prevent an offense against his person, or his family, or some member thereof ...” (Pen. Code, § 693. See also Pen. Code, § 195, subd. 2, and § 197, subds. 2 and 3.)

John Mahan, the victim, was employed by the defendant as a relief bartender. On June 22, Mahan came to work between 11:30 and 12 o’clock. At about 1:30 or 2 he called defendant, saying he would like to “terminate.” Defendant appeared between 4 and 4:30. He told Mahan he could have his check later in the evening.

Mahan testified that he returned around 10 o’clock. Defendant gave him the check. Mahan complained that it was $5.50 short. Defendant said they would fix it later. After first refusing, defendant cashed the check. Mahan then asked to be paid for overtime. Defendant said he would pay Mahan later. Then he took out $15 and offered it to Mahan. Mahan said he owed much more. Defendant put out another $15. Mahan said, “Mike, that isn’t going to do it . . .You owe me at least $50 or $60.” Defendant asked if Mahan would take a cheek, and Mahan agreed. Defendant opened a drawer of the cash register, turned around and shot Mahan. Mahan remembered being hit in the shoulder, and heard the report *36 of a gun while he was lying on the floor. Mahan then got up and walked out.

Dr. Jew examined Mahan at the Mission Emergency Hospital in the early morning hours of June 23, and found that five bullets had been fired into Mahan, producing eight holes with two bullets remaining in the body.

The defense witnesses had more colorful descriptions of the encounter. Robert Batchelder testified that he was in the bar on the evening of June 22, 1956. Mahan came in shortly after eleven, got the check and demanded it be cashed. Mahan said to defendant, “What the hell good is this Goddamn check? I want my money,” wadded up the check and threw it over the back of the bar. When the defendant bent down to pick up the check, Mahan raised his hand and struck a blow. The witness could not tell from his vantage point whether he actually hit the defendant or not. Defendant then agreed to cash the cheek. He bought drinks for a number of patrons, including Mahan, and the argument subsided. Then Mahan demanded payment for overtime work. After a momentary lull, Mahan “jumped up, and with one leg upon the bar he grabbed for the defendant and said, ‘I’ll kill you . . .’ ” Defendant backed away, took out the gun “which didn’t seem to scare Mr. Mahan at this particular time, as he kept coming, and then he [defendant] began firing.”

John J. Toomey was also at the bar on June 22, 1956. His account of the events of the evening was substantially the same as Mr. Batchelder’s except that he testified Mahan reached over the bar to grab defendant, and had not started up over the bar. James Lynch testified that immediately before the shooting, Mahan was “on top of the rail” and threatened defendant’s life.

Defendant testified to the same argument and threats, that Mahan actually struck him in the face when he bent down to pick up the check and that immediately before he got the gun, Mahan had grabbed him around the necktie and shirt.

Defendant argues that the evidence preponderates in favor of the theory that he shot Mahan in self-defense. It is not clear whether his conclusion is that the judgment should be reversed on that ground or is merely a preliminary argument to establish the premise that any error occurring at the trial was prejudicial. It is clear that there was sufficient evidence in Mahan’s testimony to support the verdict, even though numerically more witnesses supported defendant’s version of *37 the incident. The prejudicial effect of any errors occurring at the trial will be considered in conjunction with the alleged errors.

Defendant argues that there is no evidence in the record that defendant shot Mahan while he was lying on the floor “so that the evidence to support appellant’s conviction is legally insufficient.” The evidence would be sufficient to support defendant’s conviction without evidence that defendant shot Mahan while he was on the floor if Mahan’s testimony concerning what happened before he found himself on the floor is to be believed. Moreover, there is clear circumstantial evidence indicating defendant kept on shooting after Mahan was immobilized. Mahan testified he heard one shot after he was on the floor although he did not feel himself being hit after the first wound. The gun had five spent shells in it when the police took it from defendant. Five bullets had struck Mahan. If Mahan’s testimony that he heard one shot while he was lying on the floor is believed, it is clear that defendant shot him at least once while he was on the floor.

II. Assebted Ebbobs in the Examination oe Witnesses

A. Character Witnesses.

Several witnesses testified that the defendant had a good reputation for peace and quiet. Defendant assigns error in the allowance of certain questions asked of these witnesses upon cross-examination.

In respect to the cross-examination of the witness Gasland, the following appears:

“Q. . . . Were you familiar with the fact that there had been several arrests of the defendant at the premises for violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which was the act under which you were employed-Are you familiar with that? A. I am. Q. Would the fact that the defendant in 1946 and 1953 had been convicted of staying open after hours, selling to minors, would that in any way affect your judgment as to defendant’s reputation for peace and quiet in the community ? A. At that time I was not in the San Francisco District and was not familiar with the charges. Q. No. I say, if you had known those facts, would those facts affect your judgment as to what the defendant’s reputation in the community is for peace and quiet? Mb. Skillin: Wait a minute. Did you say he was arrested for selling to minors? *38 Mr. Berman : That is correct . . . Mr. Skillin : He was never arrested for selling to minors, so we object to that question on the ground that it states facts not in evidence, and not correct. [Here follow several questions establishing the content of several sections of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.] Q. Had you been aware of the fact that this defendant had been arrested for these offenses, would that have affected your judgment as to his reputation in the community for peace and quiet? Mr.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Collins v. State
1977 OK CR 112 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1977)
Gurrieri v. Gunn
404 F. Supp. 21 (C.D. California, 1975)
Woelfling v. Great-West Life Assurance Co.
285 N.E.2d 61 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1972)
People v. Ogg
258 Cal. App. 2d 841 (California Court of Appeal, 1968)
People v. Cooley
211 Cal. App. 2d 173 (California Court of Appeal, 1962)
People v. Malloy
199 Cal. App. 2d 219 (California Court of Appeal, 1962)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
329 P.2d 137, 163 Cal. App. 2d 32, 1958 Cal. App. LEXIS 1462, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-caldaralla-calctapp-1958.