Section 3100 | CALCRIM (Jury Instructions)

[76 Cal.Rptr.2d 180, 957 P.2d 869]; People v. Durkin (1988) 205 Cal.App.3d Supp.
9, 13 [252 Cal.Rptr. 735] [unanimity instruction not required but preferable]; People
v. Mitchell (1986) 188 Cal.App.3d 216, 222 [232 Cal.Rptr. 438] [unanimity
instruction not required]; People v. Leffel (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 575, 586–587 [249
Cal.Rptr. 906] [unanimity instruction not required, harmless error if was required].)
A unanimity instruction is included in a bracketed paragraph for the court to use at
its discretion.
If there is sufficient evidence and the defendant requests it, the court should instruct
on the imminent peril/sudden emergency doctrine. (People v. Boulware (1940) 41
Cal.App.2d 268, 269–270 [106 P.2d 436].) Give the bracketed sentence that begins
with “A person facing a sudden and unexpected emergency.”
If the defendant is charged with one or more prior conviction (see Pen. Code,
§ 191.5(d)), the court should also give CALCRIM No. 3100, Prior Conviction:
Nonbifurcated Trial, unless the defendant has stipulated to the prior conviction or
the court has granted a bifurcated trial. (See Bench Notes to CALCRIM No. 3100.)
The second sentence of the great bodily injury definition could result in error if the
prosecution improperly argues great bodily injury may be shown by greater than
minor injury alone. (Compare People v. Medellin (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 519,
533–535 [258 Cal.Rptr.3d 867] [the definition was reasonably susceptible to
prosecutor’s erroneous argument that the injury need only be greater than minor]
with People v. Quinonez (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 457, 466 [260 Cal.Rptr.3d 86]
[upholding instructions containing great bodily injury definition as written].)
AUTHORITY
•
Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated. Pen. Code, § 191.5(a).
•
Unlawful Act Dangerous Under the Circumstances of Its Commission. People v.
Wells (1996) 12 Cal.4th 979, 982 [50 Cal.Rptr.2d 699, 911 P.2d 1374].
•
Specifying Predicate Unlawful Act. People v. Milham (1984) 159 Cal.App.3d
487, 506 [205 Cal.Rptr. 688].
•
Elements of the Predicate Unlawful Act. People v. Ellis (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th
1334, 1339 [82 Cal.Rptr.2d 409].
•
Unanimity Instruction. People v. Gary (1987) 189 Cal.App.3d 1212, 1218 [235
Cal.Rptr. 30], overruled on other grounds in People v. Flood (1998) 18 Cal.4th
470, 481 [76 Cal.Rptr.2d 180, 957 P.2d 869]; People v. Durkin (1988) 205
Cal.App.3d Supp. 9, 13 [252 Cal.Rptr. 735]; People v. Mitchell (1986) 188
Cal.App.3d 216, 222 [232 Cal.Rptr. 438]; People v. Leffel (1988) 203
Cal.App.3d 575, 586–587 [249 Cal.Rptr. 906].
•
Gross Negligence. People v. Penny, (1955) 44 Cal.2d 861, 879–880 [285 P.2d
926]; People v. Rodriguez (1960) 186 Cal.App.2d 433, 440 [8 Cal.Rptr. 863].
•
Gross Negligence—Overall Circumstances. People v. Bennett (1992) 54 Cal.3d
1032, 1039 [2 Cal.Rptr.2d 8, 819 P.2d 849].
•
Causation. People v. Rodriguez (1960) 186 Cal.App.2d 433, 440 [8 Cal.Rptr.
863].
HOMICIDE
CALCRIM No. 590
347

51 Cal.4th 989, 998, fn. 3 [125 Cal.Rptr.3d 408, 252 P.3