People v. David, B045022

• Decision Date: 30 May 1991
• Docket Number: No. B045022,B045022
• Citation: 230 Cal.App.3d 1109,281 Cal.Rptr. 656
• Parties: The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Terrance Rene DAVID, Defendant and Appellant. Crim.
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals

Page 656

281 Cal.Rptr. 656

230 Cal.App.3d 1109

The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Terrance Rene DAVID, Defendant and Appellant.

Crim. No. B045022.

Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 5, California.

May 30, 1991.

Certified for Partial Publication ^*.

[230 Cal.App.3d 1111] Janyce Keiko Imata Blair, Gardena, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for defendant and appellant.

John K. Van de Kamp, Atty. Gen., Richard B. Iglehart, Chief Asst. Atty. Gen., Edward T. Fogel, Jr., Sr. Asst. Atty. Gen., Donald E. De Nicola and John R. Gorey, Deputy Attys. Gen., for plaintiff and respondent.

ASHBY, Associate Justice.

While driving under the influence of PCP, appellant Terrance Rene David collided with another vehicle, killing its two occupants. By nonjury trial appellant was convicted of two counts of second degree murder (Pen.Code, §§ 187, 189; People v. Watson (1981) 30 Cal.3d 290, 179 Cal.Rptr. 43, 637 P.2d 279) and was sentenced to concurrent terms of 15 years to life in state prison.

FACTS

The Collision

The collision occurred about 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening, Thursday, November 27, 1986. Appellant was first observed by a deputy sheriff as appellant sped southbound at 60 to 70 miles per hour on Avalon Boulevard in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. The posted speed limit was 40 miles per hour. Appellant ran a red light at El Segundo Boulevard. A woman in the crosswalk with two children and a shopping cart hurriedly took evasive action to avoid being hit. The deputy sheriff began pursuit. Appellant continued traveling southbound on Avalon at 60 to 75 miles per hour through a primarily residential area. Appellant ran a red light at 135th Street. Several times he passed slower southbound traffic by swerving over the double-double yellow center lines into the northbound lanes, forcing northbound traffic out of its lanes.

Appellant continued on Avalon at 60 to 80 miles per hour and ran a red light at Rosecrans Avenue. He again swerved over the double-double yellow center lines, forcing northbound traffic to pull over to the right to avoid a collision. Appellant then ran a red light at Compton Boulevard. At some point during the pursuit the deputy sheriff activated his red light, flashing amber lights and rotating lights.

Appellant continued southbound on Avalon at 70 to 80 miles per hour and approached the next major intersection, Redondo Beach Boulevard. The victims' car was traveling westbound on Redondo Beach Boulevard through the intersection at 25 to 35 miles per hour, with the green light. Appellant ran the red light and struck the victims' vehicle with explosive force, killing both the occupants, Gladys Coral and Lovell Hunter. Appellant's car spun around traveled up the curb, struck a building, and ricocheted back into the street, coming to rest along the center divider.

Appellant was alone in the vehicle. A strong odor of PCP emitted from the vehicle and appellant's breath and person. Appellant was examined by several officers and found to be under the influence of PCP. Blood and urine samples taken from appellant following his arrest confirmed that appellant was under the influence of PCP (phencyclidine).

Appellant's Prior Accidents, Convictions and Education

Appellant had two prior accidents driving under the influence of PCP. These resulted in two criminal convictions and appellant's attendance at an education program involving the risks of driving while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.

The first incident occurred about 10 p.m. on May 19, 1985, at the intersection of Hawthorne and El Segundo Boulevards, which was cordoned off for investigation of a traffic accident. The intersection was well lit by flares and police units with activated lights. Appellant, traveling at a high rate of speed westbound in the eastbound lane of El Segundo Boulevard, passed through the intersection, nearly striking an officer. Several police units activated their emergency lights and pursued appellant, at about 70 miles per hour, down El Segundo Boulevard. Appellant continued traveling the wrong way, forcing oncoming vehicles out of the way. After a two to three mile chase, two police vehicles surrounded appellant. Appellant tried to pass the front vehicle but struck a large tree in the center divider. Appellant had a PCP cigarette in his vehicle and was under the influence of PCP. He was subsequently convicted of driving under the influence. (Veh.Code, § 23152, subd. (a).)

As a result of this conviction appellant attended a 90-day first offender education program between August 1985 and January 1986. The education program stressed the dangers of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicant.

The second incident occurred on the evening of May 19, 1986. Appellant was traveling northbound on Compton Boulevard near 49th, when he COLLIded with a parked car on the left side of the street. Appellant was under the influence of PCP. As a result of this incident appellant was convicted of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. (Veh.Code, §§ 23152, subd. (a), 14601.1.)

At the time of the fatal Thanksgiving 1986 collision, appellant was driving with a suspended license.

Defense

Appellant testified he had no recollection of driving. He walked from his mother's house to a liquor store. As he walked home he met a man he recognized, and asked for a cigarette. The man gave appellant a "Kool" cigarette. ¹ Appellant took two or three puffs. The next thing appellant remembered was waking up in the hospital.

The car appellant was driving at the time of the collision was his mother's. Appellant testified he did not know how he got the keys. Appellant's mother testified she kept the keys in her purse on her bedroom dresser. She went to sleep shortly after appellant left for the liquor store.

A psychiatrist specializing in addiction and substance abuse testified that PCP impairs a user's judgment and motor skills. In the expert's opinion PCP is likely to distort the user's perception of reality; the user may do dangerous things the user would not otherwise do. However, a person under the influence can be conscious, aware of what he is doing, can perceive and interact with the environment, while at the same time not encoding memory and thus being unable to remember the events afterwards. In the opinion of the psychiatrist, and also of an expert witness for the prosecution in rebuttal, an experienced PCP user would feel effects almost immediately from a few puffs or "hits" on a PCP cigarette.

DISCUSSION

In part I, the published portion of this opinion, we conclude substantial evidence supports the finding of implied malice and second degree murder. In part II, the nonpublished portion, we find no reversible error in the award of custody credit on appellant's sentence.

I SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE

In People v. Watson, supra, 30 Cal.3d 290, 179 Cal.Rptr. 43, 637 P.2d 279, the Supreme Court held that in appropriate circumstances homicide caused by a drunk driver may be prosecuted as second degree murder. Second degree murder based on implied malice is shown when a person does an act, the natural consequences of which are dangerous to life, which act was deliberately performed by a person who knows that the conduct endangers the life of another and who acts with conscious disregard for life. (Id. at pp. 296, 300, 179 Cal.Rptr. 43, 637 P.2d 279.) Implied malice requires a determination that the accused actually appreciated the risk involved. (Id. at pp. 296-297, 179 Cal.Rptr. 43, 637 P.2d 279.) A later case stated in more everyday language that the state of mind for implied malice is " 'I know my conduct is dangerous to others, but I don't care if someone is hurt or killed.' " (People v. Olivas (1985) 172 Cal.App.3d 984, 988, 218 Cal.Rptr. 567.)

Since Watson, four cases have upheld murder convictions for death caused by driving under the influence. (People v. Olivas, supra; People v. Albright (1985) 173 Cal.App.3d 883, 219 Cal.Rptr. 334; People v. McCarnes (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 525, 224 Cal.Rptr. 846; People v. Murray (1990) 225 Cal.App.3d 734, 275 Cal.Rptr. 498.) ²

Appellant contends the evidence in this case is insufficient to establish implied malice. He supports this argument by pointing to specific evidence which was present in those cases which he contends is missing here. This argument is unpersuasive.

Appellant points out that in People v. Watson, supra, 30 Cal.3d at page 300, 179 Cal.Rptr. 43, 637 P.2d 279, the defendant drove to a bar and there became intoxicated, knowing that he would thereafter drive. Appellant contends that in this case there is no evidence appellant planned to drive when he consumed the PCP cigarette. Although contending this is significant, appellant concedes it is not a necessary element. In People v. Olivas, supra, 172 Cal.App.3d at pages 988 to 989, 218 Cal.Rptr. 567, the court stated, "The criminal act underlying vehicular murder is not use of intoxicating substances in anticipation of driving, but is driving under the influence with conscious disregard for life."

There was substantial evidence appellant drove knowing that he was under the influence of PCP. Appellant's own testimony and the opinions of appellant's expert and the prosecution rebuttal expert showed that appellant felt effects of PCP immediately after smoking the cigarette. In light of appellant's prior experience with PCP, he must have realized he was under the influence. Appellant thereafter took the deliberate steps of going to his mother's bedroom and into her purse to obtain the keys to her car, which he was driving at the time of the collision. He must have known that he was under the influence when he chose to drive.

There can be no doubt appellant knew from prior experience that driving under the influence of PCP is dangerous to life. Prior convictions and exposure to mandatory educational programs are admissible to...