P. v. Laverty
A jury found defendant Todd Richard Laverty guilty of second-degree murder.[1] (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a).)[2] The jury found true the allegation defendant used a deadly or dangerous weapon during the murder. (§ 12022, subd. (b)(1).) The trial court found true the allegations defendant suffered two prior convictions that resulted in prison terms. (§ 667.5, subd. (b).) The trial court sentenced defendant to prison for an indeterminate term of 15 years to life, and a determinate term of three years.
Defendant raises five contentions on appeal. First, defendant asserts the trial court erred by permitting the prosecutor to impeach defendant with evidence of his prior conviction for child abuse (§ 273a). Second, defendant contends the trial court erred by not instructing the jury that an unintentional killing without malice committed during the course of an inherently dangerous felony constitutes voluntary manslaughter. Third, defendant asserts the weapon enhancement must be reversed because the trial court did not instruct the jury on the requirement of a union of act and intent. Fourth, defendant contends the trial court erred by instructing the jury on how to conduct its deliberations. Fifth, defendant asserts the trial court’s various errors came together to create a denial of due process. We affirm the judgment.
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