P. v. Dinh CA4/3 ( 2013 )

Filed 7/15/13 P. v. Dinh CA4/3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, G045883
v. (Super. Ct. No. 10WF3219)
DAVID VINH DINH, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Gary S.
Paer, Judge. Affirmed.
Kenneth H. Nordin, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant
Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, William M. Wood and
Marilyn L. George, Deputy Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
* * *
A jury found defendant David Vinh Dinh guilty of attempted voluntary
manslaughter (Pen. Code, §§ 192, subd. (a), 664, subd. (a); all further unspecified
statutory references are to the Penal Code), assault with a firearm (§ 245, subd. (a)(2)),
and false imprisonment by violence (§§ 236; 237, subd. (a)). The jury also found Dinh
personally used a firearm while attempting to commit voluntary manslaughter.
(§ 12022.5, subd. (a).) Dinh contends the trial court erred by allowing the prosecutor to
impeach him with involuntary statements. He also argues the court erred by failing to
give the jury the option to convict him of the lesser offense of shooting a firearm in a
grossly negligent manner (§ 246.3, subd. (a)). For the reasons expressed below, we
affirm.
I
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On the morning of December 28, 2010, Fountain Valley Police Officers
Antonius Spangler and Marco Avila responded to a report of a possible vehicular
burglary. Spangler found 17-year-old Dinh sitting in a tree trimming truck. Avila
recognized Dinh from a February 2009 incident at Fountain Valley High School when
Dinh, dressed as a ―ninja,‖ came to school carrying an Airsoft plastic pellet gun and
―spy‖ gear. Dinh‘s comments and demeanor led Avila to conclude Dinh suffered from
―mental issues.‖
After speaking with Dinh for about 15 minutes, the officers concluded Dinh
again appeared to be suffering from serious psychological problems. Dinh spoke of a
―recruit[ment]‖ mission and stated he needed to find a ―contact‖ who had information for
him. Dinh explained he had searched a nearby mailbox looking for a local newspaper
that might offer ―clues‖ about where next to go. He pointed to an imaginary ―getaway
2
motorcycle‖ he believed was adorned with American flags. Because Dinh was a minor,
the officers turned him over to his father and advised him to obtain psychiatric assistance
for his son.
About an hour later, Brian Briscoe, preparing for work, heard someone kick
in the front door to his apartment. He found Dinh in the hallway pointing a realistic
looking Airsoft gun at him and shouting ―get down on the ground.‖ Briscoe initially
complied, but when Dinh turned his back Briscoe got up and approached Dinh, who
turned in time to press his gun against Briscoe‘s neck and order him to ―[g]et down on
the f-ing ground,‖ and ask, ―Do you want to die today?‖ When Dinh walked down the
hallway to search the apartment, Briscoe escaped and called 911. He described Dinh as
―crazy,‖ ―weird,‖ and ―off a hair . . . .‖
Briscoe advised the police he kept approximately 20 firearms in the
apartment, including a MAK-90 assault rifle, with a five-round magazine, and
ammunition that was not under lock and key. He also kept yellow earplugs to prevent
hearing loss when shooting his firearms.
Officer Richard Nilos arrived first at the scene, followed by 10 to 12
officers and detectives. Nilos advised his colleagues the suspect had access to firearms
and ammunition inside the apartment, and might be the person with psychological
problems officers had contacted earlier. Dinh‘s father also arrived at the scene and
advised officers his son suffered from bipolar disorder.
Officers spread out around the building, and Nilos, armed with a rifle,
moved behind an oak tree in a grassy area. Detective Pat Estes went to the side of the
building, and Sergeant Kurt Ulrich concealed himself behind bushes and a fence. Nilos
3
and Ulrich wore uniforms, while Estes wore plainclothes. The police identified
themselves and ordered Dinh to come out and drop his gun.
Dinh briefly emerged from the upstairs apartment brandishing Briscoe‘s
assault rifle. Nilos directed Dinh to drop the weapon, but Dinh stepped back into the
alcove and switched off the rifle‘s safety. Nilos moved from behind the tree. According
to the officers, Dinh emerged again with the rifle in firing position, advanced towards
Nilos, who now stood in the grassy area without cover. Nilos told him to drop the gun,
but Dinh fired the weapon at Nilos from about 70 feet away. Dinh fired a second shot,
which struck a swimming pool gate. Nilos fired his rifle at Dinh, and then ran back to the
oak tree for cover. Dinh continued firing in Nilos‘s direction and then retreated to the
stairwell area. Investigators later found four cartridge casings fired from a MAK-90.
Ulrich fired his shotgun three times at Dinh. After the third shot hit him,
Dinh dropped the firearm and fell back into the bushes.
Officers took Dinh into custody, and paramedics rushed Dinh to the
hospital. He suffered approximately 38 gunshot wounds in the shootout and was in
―acute medical distress.‖ A paramedic asked Dinh what he did to get shot. Dinh replied,
―I shot at him.‖
Dinh and his father testified about Dinh‘s history of mental problems,
which developed around ninth grade. Dinh had problems sleeping, spoke rapidly, lacked
concentration, exhibited depression, and once attempted suicide. He had behavior
problems at school. He often dressed up as a soldier and became fascinated with
espionage. He had been prescribed antipsychotic medication, but had stopped taking it at
some point in the months leading up to the shooting.
4
Dinh testified that on the morning of December 28, 2010, after the officers
released him to his father, he found a ―training video‖ in his satchel, which led him to
believe that his ―mission wasn‘t complete.‖ He packed up some items, snuck out of the
house, and got on his bike. At Briscoe‘s apartment building, Dinh saw some construction
tape blocking access to a stairwell and determined ―X mark[ed] the spot‖ for him to
conduct espionage activities.
He entered Briscoe‘s apartment believing a friend from school lived there,
and hoped to find his next clue or contact. At first he believed Briscoe was part of the
training mission or his next contact. He chased Briscoe to a bedroom, and told him to
―get out of here. Do you want to get hurt or something?‖ As Dinh walked around the
apartment looking for more clues, Briscoe fled. Dinh found the guns and feared Briscoe
―might be a terrorist or arms dealer‖ and might return to ―protect his investment,‖ so he
loaded the MAK-90 for his ―own personal safety‖ and put in the earplugs to protect his
hearing in case of a confrontation. Suffering a ―panic attack,‖ Dinh hid in a closet for
about 30 minutes because he feared Briscoe would come back to harm him.
He heard a voice call ―David, David, come out. We can talk,‖ but he did
not hear officers announce their presence, and denied knowing police were outside. Once
he emerged from the apartment with the rifle, he saw a ―figure behind a tree, pointing a
gun‖ at him and ―felt very threatened.‖ He could not tell who it was because of the
distance, shadows, and the tree, but thought it might be Briscoe.
He heard someone yell ―something about a gun,‖ so he stepped back and
deactivated the weapon‘s safety mechanism. He fired a ―warning shot‖ that was ―up and
to the left‖ of the person. He denied firing a second shot at Nilos, but once Nilos returned
fire, Dinh ―fired a volley of suppression fire‖ to ―occupy the person‖ and create the
5
―opportunity to escape.‖ Dinh was shot before he could get back to his bicycle. He did
not realize police officers were involved during the shooting and never intended to shoot
or kill anyone.
The prosecutor impeached Dinh with statements he made to investigators,
who interviewed him at the hospital the day after the shooting. Dinh‘s pretrial statements
contradicted his testimony he did not intend to injure or kill anyone and did not know
police officers were present. For example, he stated that with his first shot he ―sighted‖
his target (Nilos) and ―started firing,‖ and then ―took two steps forward and . . . fired the
rest of the magazine off at that plain clothed.‖ He also suggested he armed himself and
ignored demands to put down the assault rifle, not for self-preservation, but because he
did not want to surrender and planned to flee because he knew breaking into Briscoe‘s
apartment was a ―serious legal matter.‖ But other portions of the interview supported
Dinh‘s testimony he took the rifle to protect himself in case Briscoe came back, he did
not know officers were present, and did not aim at anyone or intend to kill, firing only a
warning shot and ―suppressing fire.‖
Following a trial in July 2011, a jury convicted Dinh of the charges noted
above, but acquitted him of attempted murder of a peace officer, assault with a firearm on
a peace officer, first degree robbery, and residential burglary. The trial court imposed a
prison sentence of 10 years and two months.
6
II
DISCUSSION
A. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Finding Dinh’s Statements Voluntary
Dinh contends the trial court committed prejudicial error when it found
Dinh‘s pretrial statements to investigators were voluntary and therefore admissible to
impeach Dinh‘s trial testimony. We do not find the contention persuasive.
Fountain Valley Detective Adam Hertenstein and District Attorney
Investigator Paul Kelly interviewed Dinh in his hospital room for approximately two
hours on the day after his arrest. The prosecutor, however, did not seek to admit the
interview during her case-in-chief. Dinh testified at trial, and referred to the interview
repeatedly during his direct examination. For example, Dinh acknowledged he had
listened to the tape of the interview, reviewed a transcript, and answered every question
Hertenstein asked. Dinh believed he was able to express how he perceived events as they
unfolded and stood ―by everything‖ he said during the interview. Dinh verified the 96-
page transcript his lawyer showed him was the transcript he reviewed before testifying.
Dinh‘s attorney marked both the tape and transcript as defense exhibits.
The prosecutor questioned Dinh without objection about his pretrial
interview with Hertenstein, and Dinh‘s attorney extensively questioned him during
redirect examination using a transcript of the interview.
But the day after Dinh had ostensibly concluded his testimony, and after the
prosecutor announced she intended to play the audio tape of the interview for the jury,
Dinh‘s attorney advised the court he disagreed with multiple, substantial changes in a
revised transcript the prosecutor had just given him. He also stated he wanted to question
Hertenstein in front of the jury to establish the officer had intentionally violated Dinh‘s
7
Miranda rights. Counsel emphasized repeatedly he ―wanted [Dinh‘s] statements [at the
hospital] in [evidence],‖ and was ―not trying to exclude the evidence.‖ But he argued
evidence the officers intentionally violated Dinh‘s Miranda rights supported his theory
Fountain Valley police were biased against Dinh and ―this was not a fair investigation.‖1
Defense counsel proposed not to raise the Miranda issue if the prosecutor would agree
not to ―offer the tape‖ of the interview into evidence, but the prosecutor stated she wanted
the entire transcript in evidence and planned to play the tape during her rebuttal case.
The court therefore held a hearing outside the jury‘s presence to address
Dinh‘s Miranda complaint. Defense counsel explained his motion dealt solely with
―whether [the officers] intentionally violated‖ Dinh‘s Miranda rights. The officers
testifying at the hearing acknowledge they knew there was an issue whether Dinh was in
custody. Although a sergeant had posted an armed officer outside Dinh‘s hospital room,
the sergeant advised Hertenstein that Dinh was ―detained and not arrested‖ because ―we
had not – that we weren‘t taking custody of him, that – at the time if they [the hospital]
were to discharge him, that we would still allow him to leave.‖ Hertenstein believed it
was a ―gray area,‖ but the officers chose not to administer the Miranda advisement, and
ignored the request of Dinh‘s mother not to question her son.
After the officers testified at the 402 hearing, defense counsel objected to
―the entire statement coming in under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth Amendment Due
Process Clause of the United States Constitution, because I believe it was an intentional
violation of my client‘s rights. So I don‘t think that statement should come in. I don‘t
think it should be played. I don‘t think she should be allowed to play that taped
1
The prosecutor had earlier objected on relevance grounds when defense
counsel attempted to elicit from Dinh that Hertenstein did not advise Dinh of his rights.
Defense counsel argued ―it goes to bias,‖ but the trial court sustained the objection after
an unreported sidebar conference.
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conversation at all.‖ Defense counsel later acknowledged both lawyers had questioned
Dinh while reading off a transcript of the interview and counsel clarified he ―did not
object to [the prosecutor‘s] asking the questions that she did.‖
The court concluded Dinh was in custody during the interview and
therefore was entitled to have his pretrial statements excluded because investigators
violated his Miranda rights and Welfare and Institutions Code section 625.2 But the
court also concluded Dinh‘s statements were voluntary and admissible as impeachment
evidence. The court noted the officers did not display their weapons, ―they never
threatened him. They never coerced him. They never made promises. They never
promised him things about what would happen, what wouldn‘t happen.‖ The court also
observed there was no ―torture, deprivation of food, deprivation of toilet facilities,
deprivation of sleep, physical abuse.‖ The court stated ―it appeared to the court based on
everything the court‘s been exposed to, it was somewhat cordial. They allowed the
defendant to speak to the mom. The mom came and went as she wanted.‖
The parties subsequently agreed to instruct the jury that to ―avoid further
delays in the trial,‖ neither a tape nor a transcript of the interview would be received into
evidence, rather ―each side [would] read from‖ the transcript and the jury was told to
―accept the reading of that question or response as‖ accurately reflecting what was said
unless a party objected to the wording of the question or response.
2
Section 625 provides where a minor is taken into temporary custody on the
ground there is reasonable cause for believing he is a person described in section 602, the
officer shall advise the ―minor that anything he says can be used against him and shall
advise him of his constitutional rights, including his right to remain silent, his right to
have counsel present during any interrogation, and his right to have counsel appointed if
he is unable to afford counsel.‖
9
Dinh resumed his testimony and answered more questions about his
hospital interview with investigators. The prosecutor and Dinh‘s attorney often referred
to a transcript of the interview in posing their questions. Defense counsel objected
occasionally to the form of the prosecutor‘s question or on other technical grounds, but
did not object to any of the prosecutor‘s questions on the ground Dinh‘s statements had
been coerced. No one played the tape for the jury, or introduced a transcript of the
interview into evidence.
Dinh now complains the trial court erred in determining his pretrial
statements to Hertenstein were voluntary and therefore the prosecutor could use them to
impeach Dinh. But the record reflects trial counsel did not object, and indeed had no
objection, to Dinh‘s hospital interview statements per se. He bluntly stated he ―wanted
[Dinh‘s] statements [at the hospital] in [evidence]‖ and was ―not trying to exclude the
evidence.‖ Counsel lodged his objection solely to prevent the prosecutor from playing
the audiotape to the jury. If the court allowed the prosecutor to play the tape, Dinh
wanted the jury to know the officers had deliberately violated his Miranda rights to show
the Fountain Valley Police was biased against him. The trial court denied the
prosecutor‘s request to play the tape, but the parties continued to ask questions based on a
transcript of the interview, although neither the tape nor the transcript were admitted into
evidence. As noted, the court provided a jury instruction, drafted by the parties,
explaining this procedure. Consequently, Dinh‘s attorney obtained the remedy he
requested: the right to elicit from Dinh exculpatory statements Dinh made in the
interview and a ruling preventing the prosecution from introducing the entire interview.
Under these circumstances, Dinh failed to preserve a claim his pretrial statements to
Hertenstein were involuntary; indeed, he first introduced evidence of his statements
10
during his direct examination and relied on those statements to show his lack of criminal
intent.
In any event, we have independently reviewed the record and agree with the
trial court Dinh‘s statements were voluntary. (People v. Maury (2003) 30 Cal.4th 342,
404 [prosecution must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence the statement was
voluntary]; People v. Bradford (1997) 14 Cal.4th 1005, 1033 [appellate court accepts the
trial court‘s resolution of disputed facts and inferences, and its evaluations of credibility,
if they are substantially supported, but independently determines from the undisputed
facts, and those properly found by the trial court, whether the challenged statement was
illegally obtained].) The California Supreme Court has held statements obtained via a
deliberate Miranda violation are not per se involuntary. (People v. Peevy (1998)
17 Cal.4th 1184 (Peevy); see Harris v. New York (1971) 401 U.S. 222, 224, 226;
cf. Missouri v. Seibert (2004) 542 U.S. 600, 610, fn. 2 [plurality opn.] [noting some
police training programs advise officers to omit Miranda warnings altogether or to
continue questioning after the suspect invokes his rights to obtain possible impeachment
evidence].) A confession is considered voluntary if it is the ―‗product of a rational
intellect and a free will.‘‖ (People v. Holt (1997) 15 Cal.4th 619, 663.) ―‗Among the
factors to be considered are ―‗the crucial element of police coercion [citation]; the length
of the interrogation [citation]; its location [citation]; its continuity‘ as well as ‗the
defendant‘s maturity [citation]; education [citation]; physical condition [citation]; and
mental health.‘‖‘‖ (People v. Boyette (2002) 29 Cal.4th 381, 411; People v. McElheny
(1982) 137 Cal.App.3d 396, 401-402 (McElheny).)
Notwithstanding Dinh‘s youth (17 1/2 years old), medical condition
(multiple gunshot wounds and recent surgery), and mental health issues, the record
11
reflects Dinh was an intelligent, articulate, straight ―A‖ student. Investigators did not
handcuff Dinh during the interview, nor did they display their weapons. They did not
threaten Dinh or make promises to induce him to talk. There was no ―deprivation of
food, deprivation of toilet facilities, deprivation of sleep, [or] physical abuse.‖ Dinh did
not appear to be in pain or distress due to his injuries, nor did he appear to be suffering
from any psychiatric issues at the time of the interview. His answers were responsive to
the investigator‘s questions, and, as the trial court observed, the interview appeared
―somewhat cordial.‖ The officers allowed Dinh‘s mother in and out of the hospital room.
Dinh exercised free will when he asked her to leave his room so he could continue the
interview without her hearing his description of events. Although Hertenstein informed
Dinh he was not under arrest, and Kelly explained he was there to investigate the
officers‘ conduct because it was an officer involved shooting, neither suggested to Dinh
his statements would or could not be used against him. Nor did they impliedly promise
he could speak freely to them without fear of penalty. The totality of factors supports the
trial court‘s conclusion Dinh‘s statements were voluntary.
The cases Dinh relies on do not compel a different conclusion. In People v.
Neal (2003) 31 Cal.4th 63, the defendant repeatedly requested to speak with an attorney,
but the officer ignored his requests and continued the interrogation. The officer badgered
defendant, accused him of lying, informed him ―‗this is your one chance‘‖ to help
yourself and that ― ‗if you don‘t try and cooperate . . . . the system is going to stick it to
you as hard as they can.‘‖ (Id. at p. 68.) Despite these tactics, the defendant did not
confess. But after the session ended, the police took him into custody, kept him in jail
overnight without access to counsel or other noncustodial personnel and without food,
drink, or toilet facilities. The following morning when questioning resumed the
12
defendant confessed. Neal concluded ―in light of all the surrounding circumstances—
including the officer‘s deliberate violation of Miranda; defendant‘s youth, inexperience,
minimal education, and low intelligence; the deprivation and isolation imposed on
defendant during his confinement; and a promise and a threat made by the officer—
defendant‘s initiation of further contact with the officer was involuntary, and his two
subsequent confessions were involuntary as well.‖ (Id. at p. 68.)
In McElheny, supra, 137 Cal.App.3d 396, the robbery defendant ―testified
without contradiction that while he was handcuffed and lying down at the scene of arrest,
he was ‗beaten a little bit‘ by being struck with a billy club all over the body, including
the testicles; taken to [his accomplice] Gafney‘s [dead] body, pushed face down into it
and told ‗this is your murder, punk‘; and taken by the hair next to the window of a police
car containing barking dogs by an officer who said he ought to put [the defendant] in the
car with the dogs. Later, [the defendant] was transported to the police station where, at
about 3:40 a.m. on the 18th, other officers gave him his Miranda rights which he waived,
and questioned him.‖ (Id. at p. 400.) The appellate court noted ―‗any physical
mistreatment of the accused destroys the voluntary nature of such a statement
[confession] and renders it worthless in a court of justice‘‖ and ―[t]he mistreatment by
police officers of a person arrested and charged with crime cannot be justified under any
circumstances.‖ (Id. at p. 402.) The court concluded the defendant‘s statements were
involuntary and reversed his conviction.
In Mincey v. Arizona (1978) 437 U.S. 385, the defendant ―had been
seriously wounded just a few hours earlier, and had arrived at the hospital ‗depressed
almost to the point of coma,‘ . . . . Although he had received some treatment, his
condition at the time of [the] interrogation was still sufficiently serious that he was in the
13
intensive care unit. He complained to [the officer] that the pain in his leg was
‗unbearable.‘ He was evidently confused and unable to think clearly about either the
events of that afternoon or the circumstances of his interrogation, since some of his
written answers were on their face not entirely coherent. The court described the
defendant‘s condition as ―debilitated and helpless,‖ and noted he lost consciousness
during the interrogation, which resumed when the defendant awoke. (Id. at pp. 399, 401)
The interrogating officer ignored the defendant‘s numerous requests for an attorney, and
the nurse suggested the defendant should answer the questions. (Id. at p. 399.) The
Supreme Court reversed the conviction because the defendant‘s admissions were not
―‗the product of his free and rational choice.‘‖ (Id. at p.401.)
The foregoing cases are readily distinguishable. In Neal, the defendant
made involuntary statements after constant badgering, threats, and an overnight jail
confinement without food, drink, or other basic necessities. Because Dinh was not placed
in jail, subject to badgering, or denied any comforts during his interview, his
interrogation bore no resemblance to that described in Neal. Nor did Dinh encounter the
gratuitous police violence described in McElheny. True, Dinh was wounded, but this
occurred when Dinh fired his assault weapon at another officer and would not drop the
weapon. Moreover, unlike the defendant in McElheny, the interview with Dinh occurred
the day after he was shot, not two or three hours later. Finally, Dinh was not in the
debilitated condition of the defendant in Mincey, nor did he repeatedly express a desire
not to speak to the officers. In fact, the contrary was true. Dinh appropriately responded
to the investigator‘s questions, expressed no reservation about discussing the case, and
there was no evidence his medical treatment clouded his judgment or impaired his
decision to discuss the case.
14
There is no need to address Dinh‘s efforts to distinguish the cases the trial
court relied on in determining his statements were voluntary. (People v DePriest (2007)
42 Cal.4th 1, 34-36 [statements voluntary although the police failed to read the defendant
his Miranda rights and continued interrogation after defendant asserted rights]; People v
Jablonski (2006) 37 Cal.4th 774; People v. Coffman and Marlow (2004) 34 Cal.4th 1, 57-
60 [statements voluntary even where police ignored nine requests for an attorney and
promised the defendant better jail conditions].) None of Dinh‘s arguments undermine
our conclusion Dinh‘s statements were not coerced.
B. The Trial Court Did Not Err By Refusing to Instruct the Jury on the Lesser Offense
of Shooting a Firearm in a Grossly Negligent Manner (§ 246.3)
Dinh also argues the trial court erred by denying his request to instruct the
jury on the offense of discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner (§ 246.3) as a
lesser offense to attempted premeditated murder of a peace officer. (§ 246.3, subd. (a);
CALCRIM No. 970.) Trial counsel conceded section 246.3 was a lesser related offense
rather than a lesser included offense, and there is no right to a lesser related offense
instruction under California law. (See People v. Birks (1998) 19 Cal.4th 108 (Birks).)
But he asserted it denied his ―client due process of law that the prosecution gets to shape
what crimes go to the jury for their decision‖ and it would force counsel to argue his
client ―did nothing wrong, when I know he did. So I feel that‘s unfair.‖
The prosecution has broad discretion in deciding which charges to bring
against a defendant and the ―courts do not generally supervise [this] ‗purely prosecutorial
function.‘ [Citations.]‖ (People v. Ceja (2010) 49 Cal.4th 1, 7; People v. Richardson
(2008) 43 Cal.4th 959, 1013.) Due process, however, imposes a sua sponte duty on trial
courts to instruct the jury on a lesser included offense ―when the record contains
15
substantial evidence of the lesser offense, that is, evidence from which the jury could
reasonably doubt whether one or more of the charged offense‘s elements was proven, but
could find all the elements of the included offense proven beyond a reasonable doubt.‖
(People v. Moore (2011) 51 Cal.4th 386, 408-409.) In contrast, ―a trial court has no sua
sponte duty to instruct on lesser related offenses.‖ (People v. Lam (2010) 184
Cal.App.4th 580, 583; People v. Valentine (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 1383, 1387
[―defendant has no right to instructions on lesser related offenses even if he requests the
instruction and it would have been supported by substantial evidence‖].) A lesser related
offense is one closely related to the charged offense, and where the evidence provides a
basis for finding the defendant guilty of the related offense and innocent of the charged
offense. (People v. Babaali (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 982, 1000.)
A lesser included offense is defined by one of two tests, the ―‗elements‘‖
test and the ―‗accusatory pleading‘‖ test. (People v. Lopez (1998) 19 Cal.4th 282, 288.)
The right of a federal noncapital defendant to obtain instructions on a lesser offense is
limited to lesser included offenses under the ―elements‖ test, which compares only the
statutory definitions of the two crimes. (Birks, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 124.) Dinh
concedes he failed to satisfy the elements test. The trial court therefore did not violate his
right to due process.
Nothing in People v. Eid (2010) 187 Cal.App.4th 859 (Eid) assists Dinh.
There, the defendant was charged with kidnapping for ransom (§ 209, subd. (a)). Eid
concluded that offense requires the prosecution prove the victim did not consent to being
confined and the defendant did not actually and reasonably believe the victim consented.
The trial court erred in failing to instruct on those elements and related defenses. Eid did
not hold the trial court erred or violated due process by failing to instruct on the offense
16
of simple kidnapping, which also requires proof of a lack of consent, but which is not a
lesser included offense of kidnapping for ransom because the latter crime does not
require asportation. (Eid, supra, at pp. 874-875.)
Here, Dinh does not claim the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the
elements of attempted murder of a peace officer or attempted voluntary manslaughter.
Shooting a firearm in a grossly negligent manner is not a ―defense‖ to these crimes.
Dinh‘s claim of error based on Eid fails.
II
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
ARONSON, ACTING P. J.
WE CONCUR:
FYBEL, J.
THOMPSON, J.
17