Is a defendant entitled to a fair trial but not a perfect one?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from The People v. Price, F055783, No. 1074210 (Cal. App. 2010):

A criminal defendant is entitled to a fair trial but not a perfect one. "'[A] series of trial errors, though independently harmless, may in some circumstances rise by accretion to the level of reversible and prejudicial error.'" (People v. Cunningham (2001) 25 Cal.4th 926, 1009, quoting People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 844.) We find no merit to defendant's individual assignments of error. Accordingly, we reject his claim of cumulative prejudice as well.

The judgment is affirmed.

Poochigian, J.

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