Does a state court evidentiary rule bar a defendant in a death penalty case from presenting a defense where the prosecution introduces evidence that supports a guilty verdict?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from The People v. Dahlberg, F058563, No. VCF203428 (Cal. App. 2010):

The case appellant relies on to argue that the trial court deprived him of the right to present a defense is inapposite. Holmes v. South Carolina (2006) 547 U.S. 319 involved a situation where a state court evidentiary rule barred the defendant in a death penalty case from introducing proof of third party guilt when the prosecution introduced forensic evidence that strongly supported a guilty verdict. (Id. at pp. 321, 331.) No category of evidence was excluded in this case by any comparable rule of evidence. Contrary to appellant's assertion, the trial court here did not make a finding that "the

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