State Of Washington, V. Bernard Bellerouche

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,

No. 84887-9-I

Respondent,

DIVISION ONE

v.

PUBLISHED OPINION

BERNARD BELLEROUCHE,

Appellant.

DÍAZ, J. — A jury convicted Bernard Bellerouche of assault in the first degree

and unlawful possession of a firearm, for shooting Terrence Robinson three times,

including once in the face. Bellerouche primarily alleges three errors occurred at

trial. First, he claims the court should have excluded, under ER 403, photos of the

shirt he wore at his arrest, which contained a sexually suggestive picture. Second,

Bellerouche, who is African American, argues the State committed race-based

prosecutorial misconduct by using the term “beef” five times during trial, largely

when discussing whether he and Robinson, who is also Black, had a dispute prior

to the shooting. Third, he avers that the State based its closing argument on an

unreasonable inference or evidence outside the record when it claimed Robinson

feared Bellerouche would “come back and finish the job.” We hold there is no

reversible error and affirm Bellerouche’s convictions, but remand this matter to

strike the victim penalty assessment and to correct a clerical error in his judgment

and sentence.

No. 84887-9-I/2

I. BACKGROUND

A. Overview of the Shooting

On July 25, 2020, Bellerouche attended a memorial for a deceased friend.

After the memorial, Bellerouche, Robinson, Solomon Egger, 1 and Dino Nguyen 2

traveled to a business plaza near the intersection of Aurora Avenue and 152nd

Street. At approximately 2:30 a.m., Robinson fled from the business plaza after

he was shot. Robinson suffered three gunshot wounds, including one to the face.

Robinson ran to a casino across the street for help. The casino’s employees called

911 and an ambulance took Robinson to the hospital.

A surveillance camera at a nearby McDonalds partially captured the

incident. However, the surveillance video did not capture the shooting itself as it

occurred inside Nguyen’s white Audi SUV. Robinson and Bellerouche testified to

vastly different accounts of the shooting. We address each.

1. Surveillance Video

The surveillance video’s timestamp starts at 2:00 a.m. A black BMW is

parked in the upper righthand corner of the video. However, only the lower half of

the BMW is visible and its windows are entirely out of frame. At trial, Bellerouche

testified the Black BMW belonged to him.

1 At trial, Robinson and Bellerouche each testified that Egger was their friend and

that he was present near the scene of the shooting. However, a detective testified

that Egger died in September 2020 before authorities could locate or contact him.

Additionally, the record uses both “Egger” and “Eggers.” However, we utilize

“Egger” as the parties’ appellate briefs both use that spelling.

2 At trial, Robinson and Bellerouche each testified that they knew Nguyen and that

the shooting occurred inside Nguyen’s white Audi. Bellerouche further testified

that Nguyen was his friend. However, a detective testified that they were unable

to locate Nguyen after the shooting.

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A white Audi SUV is parked approximately one parking spot away from the

BMW. Most, if not all, of the Audi is visible. Even so, it is difficult, if not impossible,

to see inside of the Audi’s windows. Trial testimony established that the white Audi

belonged to Nguyen.

At 2:20 a.m., the Audi’s driver side back door opens but is quickly closed

and left slightly ajar. It is not possible to see who is inside the vehicle even when

this back door is opened. Robinson testified at trial that he was in the back seat

and opened the door. At 2:33:25 a.m., the Audi’s driver side back door opens

again and Robinson sticks his foot out. At 2:33:49 a.m., Robinson’s foot suddenly

jolts and he quickly runs to the left out of the video’s frame after slamming the car

door. At 2:33:57 a.m., the Audi then drives off to the left out of the video’s frame.

At 2:34:01 a.m., the BMW then drives off to the right out of the video’s frame. The

video ends at 2:34:20 a.m.

2. Robinson’s Account

Robinson testified that he arrived at the business plaza alone sometime

after midnight. Subsequently, Bellerouche, Egger, and Nguyen also arrived.

Robinson said the four were “[j]ust hanging out” and consumed cognac and

cocaine.

At the time of the shooting, Robinson claimed he sat in the driver’s side

back seat of Nguyen’s white Audi, while Nguyen sat in the driver’s seat and

Bellerouche sat in the front passenger seat. Robinson subsequently told his

stepfather, detectives, and the jury that Bellerouche shot him.

As will be discussed in more detail below, the State also asked Robinson if

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he was “arguing with anybody” prior to the shooting. Robinson responded “I don’t

know.” Robinson also testified that he opened the Audi’s driver side back door

before the shooting “[j]ust some for wild reason” (sic) and because he “was

scared.”

Robinson claimed he met Bellerouche in 2009 or 2010. But, Robinson

indicated he never socialized with Bellerouche “one-on-one.”

3. Bellerouche’s Account

Bellerouche testified that he arrived at the business plaza around midnight

with Egger and about thirty other people from the memorial. He claimed he did not

remember seeing or interacting with Robinson at the business plaza. He further

claimed he did not consume any drugs that night. However, he acknowledged that

his fingerprints were found on a cognac bottle seen on the surveillance video and

later found at the scene.

At the time of the shooting, Bellerouche claimed he sat in the front

passenger seat of his BMW, while Egger sat in the driver’s seat. Bellerouche

further testified that, sometime before the shooting, Nguyen arrived at the business

plaza in his white Audi. But, Bellerouche claimed he “wasn’t really paying attention

to who was in” the Audi.

At around 2:30 a.m., Bellerouche testified that Egger and he “left the parking

[lot] when [they] heard something that sounded like gunshots.” Bellerouche further

claimed Egger later updated Bellerouche on the shooting, telling him only that

Nguyen was unharmed. Bellerouche also claimed to have talked with Nguyen a

“day or two later or something like that.” The State then asked Bellerouche why

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he did not inquire further about the shooting when he previously said Nguyen was

his friend. Bellerouche responded that the “situation was just sketchy” and he

“didn’t want to get involved.”

The State asked Bellerouche if he had ever previously spoken with

Robinson and Bellerouche responded “[n]o, not necessarily, no.” Bellerouche

further testified he was unaware that Robinson had been shot until his arrest in

December 2020.

B. Overview of the Investigation as Testified at Trial

At trial, detectives testified as to Robinson’s initial reluctance to cooperate.

Robinson refused to speak with a detective at the hospital on the day of the

shooting and “wasn’t really forthcoming with a lot of information” at their first

meeting in July 2020.

Further, and as acknowledged by the State, Robinson made statements on

the day of the shooting that were inconsistent with his later identification of

Bellerouche as the shooter. For example, the State’s opening argument

acknowledged Robinson “told the patrol officer that a bluish car . . . pulled up on

me and somebody inside that car shot me” but that the surveillance video would

instead show Robinson “was shot inside the white Audi.” The State further

acknowledged that Robinson told first responders that “he did not get a good look

at who shot him” even though the video and testimony would indicate Robinson

“had been in that car for 24 minutes before Bellerouche shot him.”

Ultimately, the State presented unrebutted testimony that Robinson

identified Bellerouche as the shooter at three different times. On the day of the

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shooting, Robinson told his stepfather at the hospital that “Crucial” shot him. The

stepfather passed this nickname on to detectives. Later on at trial, Bellerouche

stipulated that “Crucial” is his nickname.

At their initial interview in July 2020, detectives offered to show Robinson a

photo montage that contained a photo of Bellerouche. Robinson refused to look

at the montage. Instead, Robinson said “I’ll do you one better” and showed

detectives a photo of Bellerouche on his phone. The detective recognized the

photo as Bellerouche as it was the same photo used in the montage. Still,

Robinson did not give detectives a name with the photo.

In August 2020, Robinson met with detectives again. Once again, the

detectives sought to show Robinson a photo montage that contained a photo of

Bellerouche. A detective testified that Robinson “seemed unwilling to look at it”

and he “didn’t want to or was unwilling to make an identification.” Instead,

Robinson “said something, in essence, ‘I showed you the photo before,’ and that

was it.” Robinson did, however, tell detectives that “Crucial” shot him.

C. Procedural History and Trial

In October 2020, the State charged Bellerouche with assault in the first

degree and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree. In December 2020,

the police arrested Bellerouche at a home in Arizona.

A ten-day jury trial began in September 2022. Robinson testified he was

shot by the “passenger in the white truck,” referring to the white Audi SUV.

Robinson also picked Bellerouche’s photo from a montage in front of the jury.

In October 2023, the jury found Bellerouche guilty as charged. The court

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sentenced Bellerouche to 249 months of incarceration. Bellerouche timely

appeals.

II. ANALYSIS

A. Admissibility of Shirt Photos Under ER 403

Bellerouche argues that the court abused its discretion under ER 403 by

admitting over his objection “marginally relevant” but “powerfully inflammatory”

photographs of the shirt Bellerouche wore during his arrest. As described by

Bellerouche, the shirt depicted a “woman’s bare bottom with the sexual innuendo

‘Hennything Is Possible Tonight.’” We hold Bellerouche did not carry his burden

to show the court abused its considerable discretion in admitting the photo and,

even if it did, we conclude that the error was harmless.

1. Additional Facts

Outside the presence of the jury, Bellerouche’s trial counsel moved to

exclude the shirt photos from the December 2020 arrest. His counsel expressed

concern that the “State is trying to make a connection that because Mr.

Bellerouche is wearing a Hennessy, entirely different brand of cognac, t-shirt that

therefore, he is more likely to have committed this crime or be connected to this

crime because a cognac bottle was” found at the scene, which was “an incredibly

attenuated argument.” In other words, his counsel argued under ER 403 that the

photos’ “incredibly minimal” probative value was “deeply outweighed by presenting

Mr. Bellerouche in a shirt with an exposed woman’s bottom in it.” 3

3 On appeal, the State avers that Bellerouche improperly “argues for the first time

on appeal that the exhibit was unfairly prejudicial because it amounted to a

‘comment’ on his ‘apparent lifestyle.’” Even assuming arguendo Bellerouche failed

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No. 84887-9-I/8

The State responded in part that Robinson had testified that Bellerouche

was drinking cognac the night of this shooting and the “fact that Mr. Bellerouche is

later arrested wearing a cognac t-shirt . . . makes it more likely that that Robinson’s

testimony on the matter is credible.”

The court denied Bellerouche’s motion, explaining that “it is relevant the fact

that Hennessy, a cognac bottle was found at the scene . . . and Bellerouche was

photographed with a Hennessy shirt.” The court acknowledged that “there’s

prejudice by the fact that the shirt can be potentially considered by the jury as

crude,” but found that “the probative value in this instance outweighs the danger

of any unfair prejudice.”

The court admitted the shirt photos after the State laid further foundation.

During its cross examination, the State asked Bellerouche if he drank cognac at

the scene of the shooting and if he wore a Hennessy branded shirt when he was

arrested. Bellerouche responded affirmatively to both questions. There were no

questions related to the image on the shirt.

2. Discussion

a. Relevance

In general, “[a]ll relevant evidence is admissible.” ER 402. Evidence is

relevant “if it makes the existence of a fact of consequence more or less probable

to be true than without the evidence.” State v. Arredondo, 188 Wn.2d 244, 259,

394 P.3d 348 (2017); ER 401. Further, this court has held that “[w]hen the identity

to fully flesh out this argument below, we exercise our discretion to consider it as

presented here. RAP 2.5(a).

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No. 84887-9-I/9

of the perpetrator of a crime is at issue, any evidence tending to identify the

accused as the guilty person is relevant.” State v. Sellers, 39 Wn. App. 799, 805,

695 P.2d 1014 (1985); see also State v. Huber, 129 Wn. App. 499, 501-02, 119

P.3d 388 (2005). In sum, “[t]he threshold to admit relevant evidence is very low”

and “[e]ven minimally relevant evidence is admissible.” State v. Darden, 145

Wn.2d 612, 621, 41 P.3d 1189 (2002).

“This court reviews a trial court’s evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion.”

In re Pers. Restraint of Quintero, 29 Wn. App. 2d 254, 290, 541 P.3d 1007 (2024).

“A reviewing court may not find abuse of discretion simply because it would have

decided the case differently—it must be convinced that ‘no reasonable person

would take the view adopted by the trial court.’” State v. Salgado-Mendoza, 189

Wn.2d 420, 427, 403 P.3d 45 (2017) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting

State v. Perez-Cervantes, 141 Wn.2d 468, 475, 6 P.3d 1160 (2000)).

Bellerouche concedes the photographs were relevant but asserts that they

were “only marginally relevant.” He argues that there was only a “tenuous”

connection between him drinking a Remy Martin cognac bottle on the night of the

shooting and him wearing a Hennessey cognac shirt over four months later.

While this may be true as far as it goes, we hold that the court did not abuse

its discretion in finding the shirt photos were at least somewhat relevant and, thus

without more, admissible. Darden, 145 Wn.2d at 621. The shirt Bellerouche wore

in the photos references a brand of cognac and a cognac bottle was found at the

scene. The shirt photos, thus, make it at least somewhat more probable that

Bellerouche was at the scene of the shooting, clearly a relevant fact, even if not

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contested. Arredondo, 188 Wn.2d at 259. Further, Robinson testified that he saw

Bellerouche drinking cognac, and, thus, the shirt photos have some tendency to

bolster Robinson’s credibility, a fact relevant to Bellerouche’s culpability. Sellers,

39 Wn. App. at 805. Bellerouche fails to establish the court’s finding that the

evidence is simply relevant is one “no reasonable person” would take. Salgado-

Mendoza, 189 Wn.2d at 427.

b. Substantially Outweighed by Prejudice

The next question is whether this relevant evidence “is substantially

outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” ER 403. 4 “Evidence causes unfair

prejudice when it is ‘more likely to arouse an emotional response than a rational

decision by the jury.’” City of Auburn v. Hedlund, 165 Wn.2d 645, 654, 201 P.3d

315 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Cronin, 142 Wn.2d

568, 584, 14 P.3d 752 (2000)). And “the burden of demonstrating unfair prejudice

is on the party seeking to exclude the evidence,” here, Bellerouche. State v.

Burkins, 94 Wn. App. 677, 692, 973 P.2d 15 (1999).

The “linchpin word is ‘unfair’” and the court must “weigh the evidence in the

context of the trial itself.” State. v. Bernson, 40 Wn. App. 729, 736, 700 P.2d 758

(1985). As such, an ER 403 analysis “should consider the availability of other

means of proof” among other factors. State v. McCreven, 170 Wn. App. 444, 457,

284 P.3d 793 (2012).

4 ER 403 includes many ways in which the probative value of relevant evidence

may be outweighed by other considerations, including the “needless presentation

of cumulative evidence.” Bellerouche assigns error only to the danger of unfair

prejudice.

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No. 84887-9-I/11

The superior court’s “balancing of probative value against its prejudicial

effect or potential to mislead under ER 403 with a great deal of deference, using a

‘manifest abuse of discretion’ standard of review.” State v. Luvene, 127 Wn.2d

690, 707, 903 P.2d 960 (1995) (quoting State v. Russell, 125 Wn.2d 24, 78, 882

P.2d 747 (1994)). A manifest abuse of discretion occurs when “‘the trial court's

exercise of discretion is manifestly unreasonable or based upon untenable

grounds or reasons.’” State v. Case, 13 Wn. App. 2d 657, 668, 466 P.3d 799

(2020) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Lile, 188 Wn.2d 766,

782, 398 P.3d 1052 (2017)).

We hold that Bellerouche has not carried his burden to show a manifest

abuse of discretion. The court accurately described the shirt as “crude.” It

unnecessarily then found that “the probative value . . . outweighs the danger of any

unfair prejudice.” That is not the test. Bellerouche has to show, now on appeal,

that the unfair prejudice “substantially” outweighs the probative value of this

relevant evidence, a higher standard. ER 403.

Bellerouche’s trial counsel’s sole argument was that the State was “asking

for the jury to draw” inferences and ask “hypotheticals,” such as “why someone

buys the shirt, why someone wears the shirt, what that means.” On appeal,

Bellerouche avers that these photos “amounted to a prejudicial comment on Mr.

Bellerouche’s apparent lifestyle that alienated him from the jury” as it “recalls

offensive stereotypes of a misogynistic ‘gangster’ or ‘thug’” and “easily trigger

jurors’ unconscious racial biases.”

We hold that these arguments are based on questionable leaps of logic. It

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is unclear to us how a singular image on a “cheesy” shirt, which Bellerouche

happened to be wearing on the day of his arrest, would “manifestly” cause the

jurors to engage in such speculation and alienation, such that it “arouse[s] an

emotional” rather than “a rational decision by the jury,” when considering his guilt

and freedom, let alone clearly cause the jury to sit in judgment of his entire lifestyle.

Luvene, 127 Wn.2d at 707; Hedlund, 165 Wn.2d at 654. That is a stretch.

Moreover, it is unclear to us how the picture of the shirt is “unfair,” when

again it simply happens to be the lightly embarrassing shirt Bellerouche happened

to choose to wear the day he happened to be arrested. Bernson, 40 Wn. App. at

736. The putative unfairness cannot come from the fact that he was wearing a

shirt advertising alcohol or that he drinks such alcohol (as he testified to both), but

only that the photos contained a singular sexually suggestive image on it.

McCreven, 170 Wn. App. at 457.

We hold that Bellerouche has not shown, as is his burden, that that image

creates an unfairness that substantially outweighs the marginal probative value of

the connection between the shirt and either Bellerouche’s presence at the scene

or Robinson’s credibility. Thus, under the “great deal of deference” afforded to

such decisions, we do not find reversible error. Luvene, 127 Wn.2d at 707.

c. Harmlessness

Even assuming arguendo that the court erred in balancing the probative

value and prejudicial effect of the photos, an “[e]videntiary error is grounds for

reversal only if it results in prejudice.” State v. Neal, 144 Wn.2d 600, 611, 30 P.3d

1255 (2001). “An error is prejudicial if, ‘within reasonable probabilities, had the

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error not occurred, the outcome of the trial would have been materially affected.’”

Id. (quoting State v. Smith, 106 Wn.2d 772, 780, 725 P.2d 951 (1986)). Further,

“[i]mproper admission of evidence constitutes harmless error if the evidence is of

minor significance in reference to the evidence as a whole.” Id.; see also State v.

Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d 628, 653, 904 P.2d 245 (1995) (“In light of the gruesome photos

of the victims that were also before the jury, it cannot be said that the ‘in-life’ photos

could have added much additional prejudice.”).

Bellerouche argues the photographs of his shirt were “powerfully

inflammatory” due to the shirt’s “depict[ion of] a woman’s bare bottom with the

sexual innuendo ‘Hennything Is Possible Tonight.’” He reasons the case

essentially “boiled down to Mr. Bellerouche’s word against Mr. Robinson’s” and the

“inflammatory, unnecessary photographs put a proverbial thumb on the

prosecution’s scale.”

In support, Bellerouche analogizes to State v. Salas, 1 Wn. App. 2d 931,

408 P.3d 383 (2018). There, the State showed the jury a PowerPoint slide

comparing a photo of the defendant to that of the victim. Id. at 941. The victim’s

photo showed him “at an amusement park . . . crouched down, smiling, surrounded

by three people dressed in cartoon costumes.” Id. Further, the photo’s caption

read “‘Band leader, saxophone player, customer service representative.’” Id.

“Juxtaposed with this photograph is a grim image of Salas’s face cropped from his

driver’s license.” Id. The photo’s caption reads “‘Football player, fighter,

outdoorsman.’” Id.

This court held that the photos improperly “evoke[d] high school

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stereotypes” and “made the visual point that [the defendant] was dangerous, while

[the victim] was meek.” Id. at 945, 947. The court further likened the photo

comparison to the problematic usage of a “booking photo in Walker” which was

“shown alongside a smiling picture of the victim.” Id. at 945 (citing State v. Walker,

182 Wn.2d 463, 474, 341 P.3d 976 (2015)). Further, this court observed that

“[v]isual arguments ‘manipulate audiences by harnessing rapid and unconscious

or emotional reasoning process and by exploiting the fact that we do not generally

question the rapid conclusions we reach based on visually presented information.’”

Id. at 946 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting In re Pers. Restraint of

Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d 696, 708, 286 P.3d 673 (2012)). And we held that the “risk

of swaying a jury through use of prejudicial imagery is perhaps highest during

closing argument, when jurors may be particularly aware of, and susceptible to,

the arguments presented.” Id. at 947.

The present appeal is distinguishable from Salas. Here, there was no

juxtaposition with Robinson in the picture, evoking sympathy or preferences for the

victim. There, the photos played a much more central role as they were

prominently displayed during the State’s closing argument. Id. at 941. Here, the

shirt photos were only briefly referenced by the State in front of the jury when

questioning a detective and Bellerouche. There was no lingering on nor questions

about the sexually suggestive image on the shirt, and the photos were not

displayed and the shirt was not referenced at closing argument all. In sum, even

if we were to hold that the image here is somehow similar to the juxtaposed,

subconsciously manipulative photos in Salas simply for being a photo, the State

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here did not utilize or emphasize the shirt photos in the same manner as Salas,

thus eliminating any analogous material effect on the outcome of the trial, i.e., its

prejudice. Smith, 106 Wn.2d at 780.

Equally importantly, Bellerouche’s jury had numerous additional pieces of

evidence, first, to gauge the credibility of Bellerouche versus Robinson’s. For

example, the jury heard testimony on Robinson’s initial reluctance to cooperate

with authorities. The jury also heard testimony and argument on Robinson’s

statements that were inconsistent with his later identification of Bellerouche. The

jury also heard Robinson’s testimony that he, and Bellerouche, consumed cognac

and, indeed, cocaine the night of the shooting. Bellerouche also asserted that cell

phone location data supported his testimony that he left the scene with Egger. The

jury also heard, and thus could evaluate, Bellerouche’s explanations for why he

did not attempt to contact his friend Nguyen for days after the shooting. In other

words, the jury had ample evidence other than the shirt photos to assess

Bellerouche’s word against Robinson’s.

Finally, we cannot hold that it is “within reasonable probabilities,” that, had

the arguendo “error not occurred, the outcome of the trial would have been

materially affected.” Neal, 144 Wn.2d at 611. The victim reported at three different

times prior to trial and testified at trial, albeit reluctantly, that Bellerouche shot him

in the face. A shirt with a picture of a bare bottom is nothing if not of “minor

significance” in that context. Id. We find it hard to believe, even in a “credibility

contest,” as Bellerouche describes the central issue, that a jury of Bellerouche’s

peers would convict him of such a serious crime because of a shirt.

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Thus, in the context of the entire trial, Bellerouche has failed to establish it

is likely the photos, even if wrongly admitted, prejudiced him. Bernson, 40 Wn.

App. 729; Neal, 144 Wn.2d at 611 (quoting Smith, 106 Wn.2d at 780).

B. State’s Usage of the Term “Beef”

The State used the term “beef” five times during trial when exploring

whether Bellerouche and Robinson (or others) had a disagreement. Bellerouche

argues that such use of “the racially coded” term “‘beef’ to characterize argument

between young Black men . . . evoked harmful stereotypes of Black men engaged

in indiscriminate gun violence, suggesting Mr. Bellerouche was more likely to have

shot Mr. Robinson because of his race.” We disagree.

1. Additional Facts

The State used the term “beef” the following five times during trial. 5 First,

near the beginning of the State’s opening statement, it claimed “Robinson was

unsuspecting. There had been no argument. There was no beef. Suddenly

without provocation . . . Crucial [i.e., Bellerouche] turned on [Robinson] pulled the

gun and shot him. Pointblank.” (Emphasis added.)

Second, during the State’s direct examination of Robinson, it asked if he

“ha[d] any beef with . . . Eggers [sic] ?” (Emphasis added.) Robinson responded

“[n]ot at all.” Similarly, the State then asked Robinson if he had “any beef or any

argument with Crucial?” (Emphasis added.) Robinson responded “[n]o.”

Fourth, during the State’s cross examination of Bellerouche, it asked if he

5 The State also used the term “beef” a sixth time. However, this reference is

irrelevant as it referred to a “Mongolian beef” dish at a restaurant near the scene

of the shooting.

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“ha[d] any arguments with [Nguyen, Egger, or Robinson] on or about July 25th and

July 26th, 2020?” Bellerouche responded “[n]o.” The State then asked “[a]ny beef

with any of them?” (Emphasis added.) Bellerouche again responded “[n]o.” The

State additionally asked if he “ha[d] any arguments with anybody else who was

present that night at the parking lot outside the Chinese restaurant?” Bellerouche

again responded “[n]o.”

Finally, the State claimed during its closing argument that “[Robinson] was

correct, there were no arguments, no beefs between anybody at that parking lot

that Mr. Bellerouche knew about.” (Emphasis added.) The State made this remark

within a list of “the many things that [Robinson] testified to about Crucial” and the

shooting itself.

2. Discussion

A prosecutor serves “as the representative of the people” and “[d]efendants

are among the people the prosecutor represents.” State v. Monday, 171 Wn.2d

667, 676, 257 P.3d 551 (2011). Thus, the State “owes a duty to defendants to see

that their rights to a constitutionally fair trial are not violated.” Id. The State violates

a defendant’s “right to an impartial jury when the prosecutor resorts to racist

argument and appeals to racial stereotypes or racial bias to achieve convictions.”

Id. (citing CONST. art. I, § 22).

When a defendant claims race-based prosecutorial misconduct,

Washington courts apply the objective observer test. State v. Bagby, 200 Wn.2d

777, 792-93, 522 P.3d 982 (2023). Under this test, courts must determine whether

the State “flagrantly or apparently intentionally appealed to jurors’ potential racial

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bias” in the sense that “an objective observer could view the prosecutor’s questions

and comments as an appeal to jurors’ potential prejudice, bias, or stereotypes in a

manner that undermined the defendant’s credibility or the presumption of

innocence.”6 Id. at 793 (emphasis added); Henderson v. Thompson, 200 Wn.2d

417, 438-39, 518 P.3d 1011 (2022) (same). The State’s “subjective intent is not

considered in race-based prosecutorial misconduct claims.” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at

791. Further, the court considers “the context of the trial as a whole.” State v.

Roberts, 32 Wn. App. 2d 571, 607, 553 P.3d 1122 (2024).

We also assume an objective observer “is aware of the history of race and

ethnic discrimination in the United States and that implicit, institutional, and

unconscious biases, in addition to purposeful discrimination, have influenced jury

6 We agree with our esteemed colleague in dissent that the term “could” does not

mean always. Dissent at 31, n. 28 (citing Simbulan v. Nw. Hosp. & Med. Ctr., 32

Wn. App. 2d 164, 177, 183, 555 P.3d 455 (2024)). And, instead, the term “could”

means “reasonable possibility.” Id. (citing Al Hayek v. Miles, No. 39989-3-III, slip

op. at 9 (Wash. Ct. App. Jan. 30, 2025),

https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/399893_pub.pdf); see also State v.

Phillips, No. 39857-9-III (Wash. Ct. App. Jan. 30, 2025),

https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/398579_pub.pdf. That is the standard we

are applying. We are not demanding that the term “beef” “‘unmistakably or

exclusively,’ or even likely, has a racial connotation,” as the dissent accuses the

majority of doing. Dissent at 30. But it is worth repeating that mere conceivability

or theoretical possibility is not the standard. Simbulan, 32 Wn. App. 2d at 176-77

(distinguishing “possible” from “probable”) ((quoting W EBSTER’S THIRD NEW

INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 323 (2002)); see also W EBSTER’S THIRD INTERNATIONAL

DICTIONARY 1771 (2002) (defining “possible” as “falling within the bounds of what

may be . . . conceived”); BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY 1410 (12th ed. 2024) (defining

“possibility” as a “quality, state, or condition of being conceivable in theory”). And,

respectfully, the dissent’s analysis at key points strays into theoretical possibility.

See, e.g., Dissent at 35-36 (“. . . use of ‘beef’ could have primed jurors to pay more

attention, even subconsciously, to Bellerouche’s race”), 39 (the fact that the victim

was black “does not negate the reasonable possibility that the prosecutor’s racially-

coded language could have also impacted jurors’ decision-making processes as

to Bellerouche’s guilt”).

18

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verdicts in Washington State.” Id. at 801. Further, “courts must account for the

unique nature of implicit bias” and the inherent challenge of gauging implicit bias.

State v. Berhe, 193 Wn.2d 647, 663, 444 P.3d 1172 (2019). After all, “[n]ot all

appeals to racial prejudice are blatant” and “a careful word here and there can

trigger racial bias.” Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 678.

To make such a determination, our Supreme Court directs us to “consider

(1) the content and subject of the questions and comments, (2) the frequency of

the remarks, (3) the apparent purpose of the statements, and (4) whether the

comments were based on evidence or reasonable inferences in the record.”

Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 794. We address each factor in turn.

a. Content and Subject of the State’s Questions and Comments

Our Supreme Court observed in Bagby that “[c]oded language often

involves themes or euphemisms that evoke a conception of ‘us’ versus ‘them.’”

200 Wn.2d at 794 (quoting Praatika Prasad, Note, Implicit Racial Biases in

Prosecutorial Summations: Proposing an Integrated Response, 86 FORDHAM L.

REV. 3091, 3101 (2018)). This “othering” “‘highlight[s] the difference between the

jurors and Black defendants’ and suggest[s] that Black defendants are inherently

different from white jurors and deserve less sympathy.” Id.

In Bagby, the State called “attention to Bagby’s ‘nationality,’” and “played

into a stereotype that to be American is to be white and to be Black is somehow

‘foreign.’” Id. at 795 (citing Claire Jean Kim, President Obama and the

Polymorphous “Other” in U.S. Political Discourse, 18 ASIAN AM. L.J. 165, 168, 170

(2011)). Additionally, the State’s “use of racial identifiers and frequent

19

No. 84887-9-I/20

juxtapositioning of Black versus white further drew attention to Bagby’s race as a

factor in the trial.” Id. at 796.

The State’s questions and comments in Bagby, and other similar cases,

pertained to content or referred to subjects that clearly invoked racial biases. Id.

at 795-96; Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 678-79 (State referenced the “‘no snitching’

movement” and “referr[ed] to ‘police’ as ‘po-leese’”); State v. Ibarra-Erives, 23 Wn.

App. 2d 596, 606, 516 P.3d 1246 (2022) (“‘Mexican ounce’”); State v. McKenzie,

21 Wn. App. 2d 722, 723, 508 P.3d 205 (2022) (“The only purpose served by

referencing the gorilla pimp concept was to tap into deep-seated racial prejudice”);

State v. Zamora, 199 Wn.2d 698, 703, 512 P.3d 512 (2022) (State referenced a

“‘drug bust down at Nogales’” as well as “border security, illegal immigration,

undocumented immigrants, and drug smuggling.”); State v. Loughbom, 196 Wn.2d

64, 67, 470 P.3d 499 (2020) (invocation of the “‘war on drugs’”).

Here, Bellerouche argues that “beef” “is frequently used by Black hip-hop

and rap artists, and connotes violence, gun violence in particular.” Bellerouche

cites to two sources in support of his understanding of the meaning of this term:

(a) non-standard dictionaries and (b) scholarly sources, news articles, and rap

lyrics, which he claims define the term’s meaning in popular culture. We address

each in turn.

Bellerouche relies on the online Urban Dictionary, Wiktionary, and the

etymology within the Oxford English Dictionary in asking us to understand the term

“beef” as an “argument between two young Black men.”7

7 At oral argument, this court asked Bellerouche’s appellate counsel which of these

20

No. 84887-9-I/21

Although in a slightly different context, we have long urged courts to avail

themselves of and to utilize, not just any resource, but a “standard dictionary” when

seeking to understand an undefined term. State v. Watson, 146 Wn.2d 947, 954,

51 P.3d 66 (2002). Bellerouche’s citations are not to the standard dictionaries we

have relied on in the past to define a term. See, e.g., State v. Gonzalez, 168 Wn.2d

256, 263-64, 226 P.3d 131 (2010) (citing W EBSTER’S THIRD INTERNATIONAL

DICTIONARY); State v. Hammock,154 Wn. App. 630, 635, 226 P.3d 154 (2010)

(same); State v. Myles, 127 Wn.2d 807, 813, 903 P.2d 979 (1995) (same). Using

a standard dictionary, the meaning of the term “beef” is simply slang for a

“grievance or ground for complaint” without any racialized sense of the word.

WEBSTER’S THIRD INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 196 (2002). 8 The State cites to

Webster’s and it is hardly “cherry picking” dictionaries, as Bellerouche asserts to

rely on that dictionary rather than the many found in the recesses of the Internet to

understand the meaning or content of the term.

At oral argument, Bellerouche’s counsel “absolutely acknowledge[d] that

‘beef’ has gained much wider usage,” but averred that “we still have to be careful

sources, if any, we should rely on as “standard dictionaries.” State v. Bellerouche,

No. 84887-9-I (Sept. 13, 2023), at 1 min., 35 sec. through 1 min., 48 sec. video

recording by TVW, Washington State’s Public Affairs Network,

https://tvw.org/video/division-1-court-of-appeals-

2024091211/?eventID=2024091211. His counsel responded, “certainly the OED.”

Id. at 1 min., 48 sec. through 1 min., 51 sec.

8 The Oxford English Dictionary’s (OED) primary definition of “beef” similarly is “[a]

complaint, a grievance; a protest.” OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY,

https://www.oed.com/dictionary/beef_n2 (last visited Nov. 11, 2024). Even if we

were to avail ourselves, not of its definition, but of the OED’s famous etymology,

the historical sources of that primary definition originated in late 1890’s and

continued through this decade, also without any reference to a racialized

connotation.

21

No. 84887-9-I/22

with colloquialisms.” Wash. Ct. of Appeals oral argument, State v. Bellerouche,

No. 84887-9-I (Sept. 13, 2023), at 20 min., 33 sec. through 20 min., 42 sec. video

recording by TVW, Washington State’s Public Affairs Network,

https://tvw.org/video/division-1-court-of-appeals-

2024091211/?eventID=2024091211. It is true that prosecutors should be careful

with colloquialisms, but we should assess the words prosecutors use—in the first

instance and when necessary—by reference to the general meaning of the term

found in a standard dictionary, particularly when a term is widely used. 9

As to his citations in support of the pop culture definition, Bellerouche avers

that “the late rapper Notorious B.I.G., who was himself a victim of gun violence,”

wrote a song containing numerous references to the term “beef.” Bellerouche also

cites to “Lil Wayne,” who also wrote a rap song that references “beef.” And

Bellerouche cites to a law review article and a newspaper analyzing such

references.

Our Supreme Court in Bagby, however, appeared to caution against

determining a word’s meaning through pop culture references. 200 Wn.2d at 804,

808 (Stephens, J., concurring). There, five justices disagreed with the main

opinion’s argument that the State “prim[ed] the jury to think of Michael Vick and

associate Bagby with animal abuse.” Id. at 804 (Stephens, J., concurring). We

9 The dissent accuses the majority of “limit[ing] review of a prosecutor’s rhetoric

within the bounds of standard dictionaries.” Dissent at 30. We do no such thing.

It is Bellerouche who attempts to ground the meaning of “beef” in a dictionary of

some kind. When assessing this first factor (“content and subject”), we agree with

Bellerouche than meaning matters, but caution against cherry-picking a definition

from random dictionaries or other questionable sources.

22

No. 84887-9-I/23

likewise should be wary then about effectively searching the Internet for a term

and deriving meaning from the various hits that appear. A standard dictionary is a

better to place to start. Watson, 146 Wn.2d at 954.

At a minimum, this exercise shows that, unlike the terms or phrases utilized

in cases like Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 678-79, Ibarra-Erives, 23 Wn. App. 2d at 606,

or Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 703, a racial meaning is not unmistakably or exclusively

tied to the term “beef.” In other words, we hold that the term “beef” does not have

a clear racial connotation to an objective observer, absent additional context.

As to that context, we are cognizant that facially neutral terms can become

suspect depending on the context of their usage. For example, our Supreme Court

reversed a civil case because of “defense counsel’s reli[ance] on racist stereotypes

about Black people and us-versus-them descriptions to undermine the credibility

of Henderson and her witnesses.” Henderson, 200 Wn.2d at 437. There, “defense

counsel repeatedly characterized Henderson as ‘combative’ and confrontational’”

which “evoke the harmful stereotype of an ‘angry Black woman.’” Id. at 436. In

contrast, the defendant characterized themselves “as ‘rightly’ ‘intimidated’ and

emotional’ which “invited the jury to make decisions on improper bases like

prejudice or biases about race aggression and victimhood.” Id. at 436-37.

Additionally, Henderson involved a defendant who “was a white woman.

The judge was a white woman, and there were no Black jurors. The only Black

people in the courtroom were Henderson, her attorney and her lay witnesses.” Id.

at 423.

In this matter, in contrast, the State’s use of the term “beef” did not juxtapose

23

No. 84887-9-I/24

one side to another to create the appearance of an “us-versus-them” narrative, as

seen in Henderson, 200 Wn.2d at 437, and Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 794. Here, the

State asked both Robinson and Bellerouche whether any “beef” preceded the

shooting. The State further used the term “beef” at opening and closing

arguments, but did so to emphasize how both Bellerouche and Robinson claimed

there was no argument or animosity preceding the shooting. In other words, the

context of the State’s usage of “beef” would not indicate to an objective observer

that there could be an apparent intent to contrast one side to another. Bagby, 200

Wn.2d at 792-93.

Moreover, while none of the jurors in Bellerouche’s trial identified as Black,

both Robinson and Bellerouche were Black, as was the trial judge. Unlike in Bagby

then, it would be incoherent here to conclude that the term was used to “suggest

that Black defendants are inherently different from white jurors and deserve less

sympathy.” 200 Wn.2d at 794. To do so would have deprived the victim and the

presiding judge of their humanity as well. If dehumanizing every black person in

the courtroom had been the apparent intent, the lack of an objection would be

perplexing. See State v. Swan, 114 Wn.2d 613, 661, 790 P.2d 610 (1990) (lack

of objection “strongly suggests to a court that the argument or event in question

did not appear critically prejudicial to an appellant in the context of the trial”). 10

Thus, we are unconvinced that the first Bagby factor favors Bellerouche’s

10 The dissent is “profoundly trouble[ed]” by the “indirect implication” that this

opinion will permit “racism in moderation.” Dissent at 39, n. 39. Nothing in the

preceding three paragraphs would sanction such a thing. There simply are facts

in the limited precedent we cite that are not present here.

24

No. 84887-9-I/25

claim that an objective observer would view the State’s “questions and comments

as an appeal to jurors’ potential prejudice.” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 793.

b. Frequency

The second Bagby factor concerns “the frequency of the remarks.” Id. at

793. There, the prosecutor “asked nearly every witness about Bagby’s nationality.”

Id. at 795. In other words, the prosecutor “questioned witnesses about Bagby’s

‘nationality’ at least half a dozen times” and “also asked the witnesses to identify

[the defendant] and other witnesses by their race over a dozen times.” Id. at 796.

Euphemistically, it “was not an isolated incident.” Id. at 796.

In Henderson, the defense repeatedly invoked the plaintiff’s race. 200

Wn.2d at 424-26, 436-38. The defense’s invocations took many forms, such as

directly comparing and contrasting defendant and plaintiff, accusing the plaintiff of

being only motivated by money, and additionally describing the plaintiff’s witnesses

as “‘inherently biased.’” Id.

That said, our Supreme Court also has found misconduct when the State

“referenced the war on drugs three times.” Loughbom, 196 Wn.2d at 68. As such,

a relatively small number of references is not necessarily determinative of whether

there is race-based misconduct. The placement and deployment of the challenged

language matters. Loughbom was a one-day trial in which the State’s “invocation

of the war on drugs [in its opening statement and twice in its closing argument]

was a thematic narrative designed to appeal to a broader social cause.” 196

Wn.2d at 70.

Here, the State used the term “beef” five relevant times in a 10-day trial.

25

No. 84887-9-I/26

While the State’s usage was spread out over those 10 days, each usage of the

term beef focused, not on the State’s trial theme, but on a major weakness of the

State’s case, the apparent lack of a motive for the shooting. The use of the term

“beef” did not, as in Loughbom, constitute “improper framing of [the] prosecution

as representing” something entirely tangential to the jury’s charge, there, the war

on drugs. 196 Wn.2d at 75 (emphasis omitted). The term “beef” did no framing of

any kind and played no role in the State’s theory of the case.

In short, even if the term’s content and subject were improper, we are

unconvinced that the second Bagby factor favors Bellerouche’s claim that an

objective observer could view the State’s “questions and comments as an appeal

to jurors’ potential prejudice.” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 793.

c. Apparent Purpose

The third Bagby factor considers the “the apparent purpose of the

statements.” Id. To be clear, “a race-neutral alternative explanation does not

excuse the effect of language that appeals to racial bias.” Henderson, 200 Wn.2d

at 439. The State’s subjective intent is also irrelevant. Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 791.

Instead, we must discern how an objective observer could “understand” the

purpose of the State’s conduct. Id. at 796.

To illustrate, our Supreme Court in Bagby held that “the State’s use of the

term ‘nationality’ can be understood only as a way to emphasize Bagby’s race.”

Id. (emphasis added). In Henderson, defense counsel repeatedly “relied on racist

stereotypes about Black people and us-versus-them descriptions to undermine the

credibility of Henderson and her witnesses.” 200 Wn.2d at 437. There was no

26

No. 84887-9-I/27

other purpose in those cases but appeals to racial prejudices.

In contrast, this court has previously held that this factor weighed in favor of

the State when “the prosecutor’s apparent purpose for eliciting the testimony was

to show that [the defendant] was describing the circumstances of the burglary in

his music video and rap lyrics,” which “seemed to contradict the defense theory.”

Roberts, 32 Wn. App. 2d at 607.

This case is much closer to Roberts than Bagby or Henderson. The State’s

use of the term “beef,” e.g., in its examination of Robinson and Bellerouche, was

to determine the circumstances surrounding and prior to the shooting. Before

asking Robinson about his potential “beef” with Bellerouche and others, the State

asked about his familiarity with the scene of the shooting and the general state of

his relationships with Egger and Bellerouche. The State then went through a step-

by-step inquiry of the shooting itself. Similarly, the State asked Bellerouche about

any possible “beef” with Robinson, contemporaneously to showing him the

surveillance video and asking about his actions after the shooting. We hold that

an objective observer could only find that the purpose of the term “beef” was simply

part of establishing the “circumstances of the [crime],” as in Roberts, 32 Wn. App.

2d at 607.

In turn, we are unconvinced that the third Bagby factor favors Bellerouche’s

claim that an objective observer could view the State’s “questions and comments

as an appeal to jurors’ potential prejudice.” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 793.

d. Basis in Evidence

The fourth Bagby factor concerns “whether the comments were based on

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No. 84887-9-I/28

evidence or reasonable inferences in the record.” Id. at 793. In Bagby’s case, his

“citizenship had absolutely nothing to do with the crimes he was charged with or

the facts of the case.” Id. at 797 (emphasis added). In so holding, the Court

rejected the State’s argument that the questions “about Bagby’s race was to help

witnesses identify participants” because “Bagby’s identity was not at issue in this

case” as “he did not deny that he was the person involved” and because “the only

issue at trial was whether his actions constituted a crime.” Id. In other words, the

State’s remarks were made “not to prove a relevant fact nor [were] based on

evidence in the record.” Id.

Here, the State’s use of the term “beef,” e.g., in its opening statement and

closing argument derived directly from its examination of Robinson and

Bellerouche. This court recently denied a race-based assignment of error, in part,

because the “few isolated instances” of the putatively offending term were “directly

tied to [the parties’] testimony and relevant to the case.” Simbulan v. Nw. Hosp. &

Med. Ctr., 32 Wn. App. 2d 164, 186, 555 P.3d 455 (2024). The present appeal is

much closer to Simbulan than Bagby, where the State’s questions had “absolutely

nothing” to do with the charges. 200 Wn.2d at 797. Had Robinson admitted he

had a “beef” with Bellerouche, the jury could have interpreted that as bias, which

is “always relevant.” State v Orn, 197 Wn.2d 343, 353, 482 P.3d 913 (2021). Or,

had Bellerouche admitted he had a “beef” with Robinson, that fact could have

bolstered the State’s case by establishing a motive. And the fact that there was

no underlying disagreement is tied to the actual testimony of these key witnesses.

As such, we are unconvinced that the final Bagby factor favors

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No. 84887-9-I/29

Bellerouche’s claim that an objective observer could view the State’s “questions

and comments as an appeal to jurors’ potential prejudice.” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at

793. 11

For the reasons above, we hold all four Bagby factors weigh against

Bellerouche’s claim and he has failed to establish that an objective observer could

view the State’s conduct as an appeal to racial prejudice. Id. at 793-94. 12

C. State’s Argument That Bellerouche Would “Come Back and Finish the Job”

The State asserted in its closing argument that Robinson refused to return

to his apartment after the shooting because Bellerouche “might well come back

and finish the job.” Bellerouche argues the State’s committed prosecutorial

11 Following oral argument, the State filed a motion to supplement the record. As

we need not rely on the evidence the State wishes to add to the record, we deny

this motion as moot.

12 Bellerouche also more generally argues that “at every turn, harmful racial

stereotypes about young Black men cropped up” even though the “defense

successfully obtained the exclusion of some of that evocative evidence.”

Specifically, he complains about (a) a cellphone video, which the State argued

showed Bellerouche with a gun; (b) song lyrics which could be heard in the same

cellphone video, though slurs were redacted; and (c) the fact that the State

unsuccessfully attempted to admit approximately 200 photos from Bellerouche’s

Arizona home, the vast majority of which the trial court excluded. It is true that we

are instructed to gauge the State’s conduct “in the context of the entire record and

the circumstances at trial.” State v. Azevedo, 31 Wn. App. 2d 70, 78, 547 P.3d

287 (2024). But, as to (c), we “generally do not apply the concept [of prosecutorial

misconduct] to the introduction of evidence.” State v. Kelly, 32 Wn. App. 2d 241,

260, 555 P.3d 918 (2024). And, still as to (c), Bellerouche does not connect the

challenged evidence to the State’s usage of “beef.” For none of this does

Bellerouche explain specifically how the State’s actions above were not in good

faith. Id. We are left with nothing more than high level accusations of “pervasive”

racial bias, tied to very little in the record. Otherwise, the dissent’s assertion that,

in considering these facts (and others Bellerouche does not), “the objective

observer could conclude that the ‘beef’ remarks were among the breadcrumbs

dropped by the prosecutor to lead jurors down a path . . . to jurors’ racial bias” is

another example of straying into “theoretical conceivability,” rather than

“reasonable possibility.” Dissent at 43-48.

29

No. 84887-9-I/30

misconduct when its closing argument improperly “urge[d] the jury to decide the

case based on evidence outside the record” and “appeal[ed] to jurors’ fear of ‘what

would have happened.’” United States v. Nobari, 574 F.3d 1065, 1077 (9th Cir.

2009). In other words, he avers the State’s closing argument “was not a

reasonable inference from Mr. Robinson’s testimony” and “invited jurors to

speculate about what might happen if they did not convict Mr. Bellerouche.” We

disagree.

1. Additional Facts

The State argued in full:

[Robinson] realized that [Egger] wasn’t his friend, that [Egger] was

better friends with [Bellerouche]. Which meant, of course, that

[Bellerouche] could figure out in a minute where . . . Robinson lived

because . . . Egger had been living there too. And . . . Robinson

knew that if [Bellerouche] did this at 2:35 a.m. on July 26, 2020, he

might well come back and finish the job.

(Emphasis added.) Bellerouche’s trial counsel objected, stating “[f]acts not in

evidence” and “[e]motional appeal.” The court overruled the objection.

Earlier at trial, the State asked Robinson if Egger “was sta[ying] 13 with you

at the time of this shooting in your apartment?” Robinson answered affirmatively.

The State then asked “[d]id you ever go back to that apartment after the shooting?”

Robinson answered “I did not.” When the State asked Robinson why he never

returned to the apartment, he explained he “wasn’t taking no chances” and “[j]ust

the fact that [Egger] knew that I got shot, just (inaudible) that apartment.”

Additionally, Bellerouche agreed with the State’s characterizations that he had

13 The trial transcript used the word “standing.” However, “standing” is likely a typo

given the context of the State’s questions.

30

No. 84887-9-I/31

been “friends” with Egger “for years.”

2. Discussion

For a claim of non-race-based prosecutorial misconduct, “the defendant

bears the burden of proving the prosecutor’s conduct was both improper and

prejudicial.” State v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d 741, 756, 278 P.3d 653 (2012).

We assess the propriety of a prosecutor’s conduct “in the context of the

entire record and the circumstances at trial.” State v. Azevedo, 31 Wn. App. 2d

70, 78, 547 P.3d 287 (2024). We have long held that prosecutors have “wide

latitude in closing argument to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence.”

State v. Boehning, 127 Wn. App. 511, 519, 111 P.3d 899 (2005). That said, “a

prosecutor may not make statements that are unsupported by the evidence and

prejudice the defendant.” Id. Further, “[r]eferences to evidence outside of the

record and bald appeals to passion and prejudice constitute misconduct.” State v.

Fisher, 165 Wn.2d 727, 747, 202 P.3d 937 (2009).

If “‘the defendant objected at trial,” as Bellerouche did here, “the defendant

must show that the prosecutor’s misconduct resulted in prejudice that had a

substantial likelihood of affecting the jury’s verdict.’” Azevedo, 31 Wn. App. 2d at

78.

“Evidentiary rulings are reviewed for abuse of discretion and reversed only

if the ‘exercise of its discretion is manifestly unreasonable or based upon untenable

grounds or reasons.’” State v. Lormor, 172 Wn.2d 85, 94, 257 P.3d 624 (2011)

(quoting In re Det. of Post, 170 Wn.2d 302, 309, 241 P.3d 1234 (2010)).

Tying these principles together, our Supreme Court reversed a conviction

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because the State invoked the defendant’s “associations with [the American Indian

movement] rather than properly admitted evidence.” State v. Belgarde, 110 Wn.2d

504, 507-08, 755 P.2d 174 (1988). As a further example, this court disapproved

of the State’s “argument as to [the defendant’s] thought process before the crimes.”

State v. Pierce, 169 Wn. App. 533, 553, 280 P.3d 1158 (2012). While the State

“could have properly argued that the jury should infer from the evidence” what the

defendant’s motivations were, the State “went beyond” and “effectively testif[ied]

about what particular thoughts [the defendant] must have had in his head.” Id. at

554-55.

In the present appeal, the State’s closing argument was based on a

reasonable inference from trial testimony. Robinson testified that he did not return

to his apartment as he was “taking no chances.” Robinson further explained that

Egger, his then roommate and a friend of Bellerouche, “knew that I got shot.” The

State reasonably inferred from this testimony that Robinson was “taking no

chances” because he feared Bellerouche could find him through his friend, Egger.

In response, Bellerouche cites to Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 89, for the

proposition that “prosecutors are not permitted to play to the jury’s fear with

hypothetical scenarios.” There, our Supreme Court disapproved of the

prosecutor’s comment that the defendant would “find new friends” as there “‘is no

shortage of naieve [sic], trusting, foolish young people in the cities of this country.’”

125 Wn.2d at 89.

In the present appeal, the State’s closing argument was closely tied to

Robinson and Bellerouche’s own testimony. It was not based on mere

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No. 84887-9-I/33

“hypothetical scenarios” as Bellerouche argues under Russell, but on a reasonable

inference from Robinson’s desire not to return home. As our Supreme Court

explained in State v. Dhaliwal, the “spontaneous statements” untethered to the

record in cases like Belgarde lie in stark contrast to “inferences from prior

testimony.” 150 Wn.2d 559, 579, 79 P.3d 432 (2003).

As such, we hold the State’s argument was neither based on evidence

outside the record or a “bald appeal” to the jury’s prejudice or passions. Fisher,

165 Wn.2d at 747. In other words, the court did not abuse its discretion in

overruling Bellerouche’s objection. Lormor, 172 Wn.2d at 94. 14

D. Victim Penalty Assessment and Clerical Error

At Bellerouche’s January 2023 sentencing, the court imposed a Victim

Penalty Assessment (VPA). Subsequently, the legislature amended RCW

7.68.035 to add subsection (4) which states the “court shall not impose the penalty

assessment under this section if the court finds that the defendant, at the time of

sentencing, is indigent.” LAWS OF 2023, ch. 449, § 1. The legislature also added

that “[u]pon motion by a defendant, the court shall waive any victim penalty

assessment imposed prior to [the effective date] if . . . [t]he person does not have

the ability to pay the penalty assessment . . . if the person is indigent.” Id. Later,

this court held that because “this amendment did not take effect until after [the

defendant’s ]sentencing, it applies to [the defendant] because this case is on direct

14 Bellerouche also briefly alludes to the cumulative error doctrine, which

“applies

when several errors occurred during trial that would not merit reversal standing

alone, but together effectively denied the defendant a fair trial.” In re Det. of

McGray, 175 Wn. App. 328, 343, 306 P.3d 1005 (2013). This doctrine is

inapplicable where, as here, we have found no error.

33

No. 84887-9-I/34

appeal.” State v. Ellis, 27 Wn. App. 2d 1, 16, 530 P.3d 1048 (2023).

Here, Bellerouche argues and the State concedes that this court should

remand to strike the VPA. As Bellerouche’s case is on direct appeal, we accept

the State’s concession and remand with instructions for the superior court to strike

the VPA.

Bellerouche’s judgment and sentence also states he was convicted of

assault in the first degree under both subsections (a) and (d) of RCW 9A.36.011(1).

RCW 9A.36.011(1)(a) requires the accused act “with intent to inflict great bodily

harm” and “[a]ssault[] another with a firearm.” RCW 9A.36.011(1)(d) requires the

accused act with the same intent, but to “assault[] another and inflict[] great bodily

harm.” At trial, the court instructed the jury only on RCW 9A.36.011(1)(a). Further,

the jury returned a verdict only on RCW 9A.36.011(1)(a).

Here, Bellerouche argues and the State concedes that the judgment and

sentence lists RCW 9A.36.011(1)(d) in error. We accept the State’s concession

and remand with instructions for the superior court to correct the error and strike

all references to RCW 9A.36.011(1)(d) from Bellerouche’s judgment and sentence.

III. CONCLUSION

We remand the matter with instructions for the superior court to strike the

VPA and references to RCW 9A.36.011(1)(d) in Bellerouche’s judgment and

sentence. Otherwise, we affirm.

I CONCUR:

34

State v. Bellerouche No. 84887-9-l

COBURN, J. (concurring in part and dissenting in part) — This appeal stems from

a trial in which Bernard Bellerouche, a Black man, was convicted of shooting Terrance 1

Robinson, another Black man. 2 There is no question that Robinson was shot. The issue

for the jury was by whom. With no direct evidence to identify Bellerouche as the shooter

other than Robinson’s testimony, and no evidence of a motive, the trial hinged upon the

jury’s assessment of Bellerouche’s credibility as compared to that of the victim.

With regard to Bellerouche’s race-based prosecutorial misconduct claim, the

majority correctly identifies that the proper test in determining whether a prosecutor

“flagrantly or apparently intentionally appealed to jurors’ potential racial bias” requires

an appellate court to “ask whether an objective observer could view the prosecutor’s

questions and comments as an appeal to jurors’ potential prejudice, bias, or stereotypes

in a manner that undermined the defendant’s credibility or the presumption of

innocence.” State v. Bagby, 200 Wn.2d 777, 793, 522 P.3d 982 (2023) (plurality

opinion); 3 see majority at 18. And although the majority mentions, correctly, that this

analysis must be considered in “the context of the trial as a whole,” State v. Roberts, 32

1

The record varies in the spelling of Robinson’s first name. This dissent uses the

spelling that is used by the parties in their briefing to this court.

2

This dissent uses the term “Black” instead of “African American” because it is the term

used by Bellerouche in his briefs. It is undisputed that Robinson also identifies as Black.

3

As stated in a per curiam summary that preceded the lead opinion, the state Supreme

Court in Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 779, unanimously held that “the prosecutor’s conduct objectively

constituted a flagrant or apparently ill-intentioned appeal to jurors’ racial bias in a way that

undermined the defendant’s credibility and presumption of innocence.” The two bases of race-

based misconduct were the prosecutor’s repeated use of the term “nationality” to differentiate

Bagby from other witnesses and the prosecutor’s description of several White witnesses as

“Good Samaritans” while conspicuously not doing the same for the only Black witness. Id.

However, as further discussed below, five justices in a concurring opinion written by Justice

Stephens disagreed with the four-justice lead opinion that the prosecutor committed race-based

misconduct by questioning a witness about Bagby’s dog. See id. at 779-80 (lead opinion of

Montoya-Lewis, J.); id. (Stephens, J., concurring) at 804-08.

84887-9-I/2

Wn. App. 2d 571, 607, 553 P.3d 1122 (2024), they fail to do so, either relegating much

of the relevant context to a footnote or ignoring it altogether. See majority at 18, 22 n.9.

Despite recognizing that the Washington Supreme Court has held that “a race-neutral

alternative explanation does not excuse the effect of language that appeals to racial

bias,” Henderson v. Thompson, 200 Wn.2d 417, 439, 518 P.3d 1011 (2022) (citing

State v. Berhe, 193 Wn.2d 657, 666, 444 P.3d 1172 (2019)), the majority shrugs off the

prosecutor’s “beef” remarks as isolated uses of a term that is “simply slang for a

‘grievance or ground for complaint’ without any racialized sense of the word.” See

majority at 21 (quoting WEBSTER’S THIRD INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 196 (2002)), 25.

The majority recognizes but fails to apply the lens by which we are to look at a

prosecutor’s rhetoric, which is not constrained to any dictionary’s chosen lexicon, but

through the perspective of an objective observer who is aware of the history of race and

ethnic discrimination in our country and that implicit, institutional, and unconscious

biases, in addition to intentional discrimination, have influenced jury verdicts in our

state. Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 793, n.7.

In consideration of a trial that turned on a credibility contest and based on a close

review of the record, I believe Bellerouche met his burden in establishing race-based

prosecutorial misconduct. An objective observer could conclude that by repeatedly and

unnecessarily using the term “beef” in the context of this trial, it was apparent that the

prosecutor intentionally appealed to jurors’ potential racial bias to speculate a potential

motive that was not otherwise supported by the evidence. Additionally, I believe the trial

court abused its discretion by admitting photos of Bellerouche wearing a T-shirt with a

sexually suggestive pun and image that could be viewed as objectifying women, and

2

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that such error was not harmless. Either error violates Bellerouche’s constitutional right

to a fair trial before an impartial jury. Thus, I respectfully dissent. I concur with the

majority’s resolution of the remaining issues.

FACTS

Because “[a]n allegation of race-based prosecutorial misconduct requires a close

and thorough examination of the record,” State v. Zamora, 199 Wn.2d 698, 704, 512

P.3d 512 (2022), I start by providing a summation of the facts. Though admittedly

lengthy, it is these facts that provide the determinative context that supports remand for

a new trial. I then examine Bellerouche’s race-based prosecutorial misconduct and

evidentiary contentions in turn.

A. The Memorial

In the afternoon on July 25, 2020, Bellerouche drove himself to a memorial for

his childhood best friend Lloyd Whitney. Whitney died the previous year in north Seattle

near 102nd and Aurora Avenue. The memorial was held on Whitney’s birthday outside

his sister’s house in Auburn. 4 See Ex. 65. Many children and adults attended the

memorial, including Solomon Egger. 5 See Ex. 65. Bellerouche and Egger were friends

and also grew up with each other. At this time, Egger was staying with Terrance

Robinson. Robinson testified he dropped Egger off at the memorial in Auburn, but did

not attend himself.

The State introduced a text message exchange between Bellerouche and Egger

that occurred around 1 a.m. the morning of the memorial. See Ex. 86. Bellerouche

4

Though the testimony described the location as outside a “house,” the event that is

captured on video appears to take place in the parking lot of an apartment complex. See Ex. 65.

5

As the majority notes, the record also uses “Eggers.” This dissent uses “Egger” based

on the parties’ briefing.

3

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wrote, “I’m sad bro.” Id. Egger responded in part, “I miss him so much Bro I need you

Bro.” Ex. 86. Bellerouche texted, “I can’t do it bro. I can’t. Gotta get my mind right. I’ll

link with you in the morning bro.” Ex. 86. Egger responded, “I understand I’m here if you

need me.” Ex. 86. When asked what Bellerouche was talking about, Bellerouche

testified he was referring to going to Whitney’s memorial. Bellerouche testified he

ultimately attended the memorial because “my kids’ mother convinced me to go, saying

that Lloyd [Whitney] would actually want me there.”

At the memorial, individuals, including someone in a blue shirt later identified at

trial by Bellerouche as his friend Demetrius Lindsey, distributed balloons for people to

write messages on before releasing them. Ex. 65 at 00:08-00:23, 01:59, 02:01-02:25,

08:21-08:43. 6 Bellerouche took photos of the released balloons with his cell phone. See

Ex. 11.1-.4. 7 One of the photos from Bellerouche’s cell phone captured part of Lindsey’s

blue shirt at the memorial. Ex. 11.1. Some of the memorial was recorded in a video on

Egger’s cell phone. See Ex. 65. Throughout the day of the memorial, Bellerouche texted

his friend Dino Nguyen. Bellerouche expressed sadness and encouraged Nguyen to

come to the memorial. Bellerouche testified that someone brought a bottle of Remy

Martin cognac to the memorial that he and “various” people drank from. Bellerouche

drank from the bottle throughout the night but testified he was not intoxicated.

Later in the evening the memorial gathering moved to the location in north

Seattle where Whitney died. Bellerouche drove himself and his first son’s mother,

Leandra Stanton, to the north Seattle location. Fifty or more people, including Robinson,

6

All times referenced to Exhibit 65 represent minutes:seconds in relation to playing time

of the video and not the time of day.

7

Citation to exhibit 11 incorporates how the slides of the photos are identified by

number. The same applies for exhibits 54 and 68.

4

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gathered to place candles and flowers and release more balloons.

B. The Business Plaza Shooting

Around midnight about 30 people left the north Seattle site and gathered outside

of a Chinese restaurant in a business plaza in Shoreline near 152nd Street and Aurora.

According to Bellerouche, Egger drove himself and Bellerouche in Bellerouche’s BMW

to the business plaza, along with Bellerouche’s children and Stanton. Nguyen also

arrived in his Audi. Robinson drove his rental car and arrived before the BMW or Audi.

Robinson had a gun with him but testified at trial that he left it in his rental car before

later getting into Nguyen’s Audi. After he arrived at the plaza, Robinson first met up with

“a lady friend” named Naj. They got some Chinese food together but by 2:30 a.m., she

was gone. At trial Robinson testified that Bellerouche drove the BMW to the business

plaza. 8 Robinson did not particularly take note as to how Egger arrived, but indicated

that Egger could have arrived in either Bellerouche’s BMW or Nguyen’s Audi. People,

including Bellerouche and Robinson, got food at the business plaza and drank cognac

in the parking lot.

A security video from a McDonald’s restaurant neighboring the business plaza

shows part of the business plaza’s parking lot where the shooting occurred. The video

never shows Bellerouche, Nguyen, or the shooting. The video starts at two in the

morning with Nguyen’s Audi and Bellerouche’s BMW already parked in the parking lot.

8

In response to the prosecutor’s question to Robinson, “[D]o you know who was driving

which truck when they arrived?” the transcription reads, “(Inaudible) was driving his truck and

[Nguyen] was driving his truck.” It is apparent from the preceding exchange that “trucks” refers

to Nguyen’s white Audi and Bellerouche’s black BMW. Robinson identified Nguyen as the owner

of the Audi and Bellerouche as the owner of the BMW.

5

84887-9-I/6

See Ex. 17 at 2:00:00 a.m. 9 Robinson’s rental car also is already parked, located on the

far side of the parking lot from the Audi and BMW. See Ex. 17 at 2:00:00 a.m. Police

only requested and obtained one hour of security video from McDonald’s for the time

period of 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

At the start of the video, other than the Audi, BMW, and Robinson’s rental car,

only a few other vehicles are parked in the part of the parking lot captured by the

security camera. Ex. 17 at 2:00:00 a.m. Nobody can be seen inside any of the vehicles

and nobody can be seen outside in the parking lot. Ex. 17 at 2:00:00 a.m. For the entire

video, the driver’s side of Nguyen’s white Audi is closest to the security camera. Ex. 17.

To the right of the Audi, about one parking space over, is Bellerouche’s black BMW.

See Ex. 17. Throughout the video, only the bottom half of the driver’s side of the BMW

can be seen. Ex. 17. The backs of the Audi and BMW face the camera and are angled

in a way that makes it impossible to see the passenger side of either vehicle at any

point in the video. Ex. 17. An empty bottle, later identified as the Remy Martin cognac

bottle, sits on the pavement near the curb between the two vehicles. See Ex. 17. At trial

Bellerouche conceded his fingerprints were on the Remy Martin cognac bottle.

The first half an hour of the video, see exhibit 17, captures a few vehicles that

come in and out of the scene. Robinson testified that the person driving an SUV that is

shown temporarily stopped in front of the Audi was like a brother to him but Robinson

did not want to give his name. See Ex. 17 at 2:02:34 a.m.-2:04:54 a.m. A few minutes

later, Robinson is seen walking out from behind the passenger side of the Audi to his

rental car and later returning to the Audi and getting into the backseat on its driver’s

9

Time references related to events captured in the McDonald’s video, exhibit 17, reflect

the time of day indicated on the video recording.

6

84887-9-I/7

side. See Ex. 17 at 2:06:09 a.m.-2:06:40 a.m., 2:09:48 a.m.-2:09:51 a.m., 2:10:26 a.m.

The video also captures someone walking back and forth between the BMW and the

Audi before walking out of view. Ex. 17 at 2:09:48 a.m.-2:09:51 a.m., 2:11:08 a.m.-

2:11:41 a.m. At trial Robinson was asked if this person was his mother. His answer was

inaudible for the transcriptionist.

The video also captures Egger exiting the driver’s seat of the BMW and stand

and walk alongside the BMW. See Ex. 17 at 2:13:52 a.m.-2:16:44 a.m. He is seen

approaching a sedan that eventually parks in reverse in a parking spot that appears to

be directly across from and facing the Audi. See Ex. 17 at 2:16:44 a.m.-2:17:43 a.m.

Robinson knows the person in that vehicle but declined to say who it was at trial. On

cross when asked “Who were they?” Robinson responded, “I wouldn’t tell you, it was

just one person.” Robinson said, without elaboration, the sedan’s driver “didn’t know

what was going on” and that Robinson did not know “his government name.”

Egger walks back and forth between the Audi and BMW. See Ex. 17 at 2:19:31

a.m.-2:19:42 a.m. He eventually gets into the driver’s seat of the BMW where he sits

with the door open after Robinson opens the Audi’s driver’s side rear passenger door

from the inside and leaves it slightly ajar. See Ex. 17 at 2:27:55 a.m.-2:33:57 a.m.

(Egger sits with door open), 2:20:51 a.m.-2:20:56 a.m. (Robinson opens door). About a

minute before Egger gets into the driver’s seat of the BMW, another vehicle is seen

coming into view from the right of the BMW, driving in front of it and the Audi and then

out of view. Ex. 17 at 2:26:14 a.m.-2:26:22 a.m. Bellerouche testified that Stanton and

her friend were inside this vehicle.

7

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Several minutes later, the rear passenger door on the driver’s side of the Audi

opens further and remains almost fully open. Ex. 17 at 2:33:25 a.m. Robinson first

dangles his left foot outside the door. See Ex. 17 at 2:33:40 a.m.-2:33:47 a.m. He then

kicks the door more open, jumps out of the Audi, and slams the door close behind him

as he runs to the left out of frame. Ex. 17 at 2:33:49 a.m.-2:33:51 a.m. Robinson

testified to being shot in the face while he was in the Audi and that he believed he was

shot again while he ran away. On direct the prosecutor asked Robinson, “Where did the

shot come from?” Robinson answered, “I’m not sure, in the door.” Within seconds of

Robinson running away, the Audi, BMW, and the unidentified sedan that was parked

directly across the Audi drive out of the frame. See Ex. 17 at 2:33:59 a.m.-2:34:13 a.m.

Robinson ran across Aurora Avenue to a casino, where employees called 911.

Robinson informed an emergency responder that he did not get a good look at who shot

him. Robinson communicated to a responding deputy that someone in a “bluish” car

pulled up to him and shot him while he was walking.

C. The Investigation

While at the hospital after the shooting, Robinson refused to meet with

detectives. Robinson’s stepfather, Karlton Daniel, testified Robinson told him in the

hospital that “Crucial” was the person who shot him. The parties stipulated during trial

that Bellerouche’s nickname is “Crucial.”

Investigating detective John Free connected the name “Crucial” with Bernard

Bellerouche and prepared a photomontage with his photo. When detectives Free and

Chris Johnson visited Robinson on July 29, Robinson was uncomfortable speaking with

them and refused to look at the photomontage or be recorded. Both detectives testified

8

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that Robinson told them something to the effect of “I can do one better” or “I’ll do you

one better,” and showed the detectives a photo through his cell phone. Detective Free

testified that the phone displayed the same photo of Bellerouche that was in the

photomontage and that after Robinson showed the photo on his cell phone, Robinson

said, “That’s him right there.” Robinson testified at trial that he did not believe he

showed the detectives any photo, the same answer he gave the prosecutor previously

during a defense interview. 10

After initially closing the investigation as a result of Robinson’s lack of

cooperation, detectives visited Robinson again on August 13. Robinson again appeared

nervous, refused to be recorded, and identified “Crucial” as the person who shot him.

Robinson identified both Egger and Nguyen through photomontages. After looking at a

photomontage that included Bellerouche, Robinson wrote “No pic” on the

photomontage. See Ex. 81. At trial detective Free testified that Robinson, as he was

looking at the photomontage, said, “You saw the picture I showed you before.” During

this same meeting, Free testified that Robinson identified the shooter by the name

“Crucial.” At trial Robinson testified he did not identify “Crucial” in the photomontage.

Bellerouche moved to Arizona in September to join three of his children and their

mother, Amanda Marks. The State charged Bellerouche in October with assault in the

first degree and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree. A detective flew to

Arizona and arrested Bellerouche in December 2020. Police took photos of Bellerouche

10

On direct Robinson was asked, “Did you at that first meeting show the phone and tell

Detective Free you’ll do him one better rather than the photo lineup?” and “Did you tell Detective

Free at that first meeting who shot you?” Robinson’s responses to both questions were

transcribed as “Inaudible.” The State does not assert that Robinson testified that he showed a

photo of Bellerouche to the detectives. On cross Robinson confirmed his answers on direct that

he did not believe he showed the detectives any photo.

9

84887-9-I/10

at the time of arrest and of his BMW parked in the driveway. See Ex. 68.1; Ex. 54.2-.4.

These photos, as well as dozens of photos taken inside Bellerouche’s home, were

admitted and shown at trial.

C. Trial

Bellerouche’s 10-day trial was held the fall of 2022. 11 At the start of the State’s

opening statement, the prosecutor introduced the State’s theory of the case, stating:

On July 26th, 2020, around 2:35 a.m. Terrence Robinson was shot in the

face while he was sitting in the back of a parked car. A guy that [Robinson]

knew as Dino [Nguyen] was in the driver’s seat. A guy that [Robinson]

knew by the nickname Crucial was sitting in the front passenger seat to

[Robinson’s] right. Terrence Robinson was unarmed. Terrence Robinson

was unsuspecting. There had been no argument. There was no beef.

Suddenly and without provocation Crucial, whose real name is

Bernard Bellerouche, …. turned on [Robinson] pulled the gun and shot

him. Pointblank. … As [Robinson] pled for his life[12] Bernard Bellerouche

shot [Robinson] twice more. Once in the shoulder as [Robinson]

scramble[d] out of the car. Once in his back. In Terrence Robinson’s back

as he flailed and fled.

The prosecutor continued by telling the jury that the day before the early morning

shooting, on July 25, 2020, Bellerouche was honoring the life and birthday of his best

friend, T.C., who “passed away the year before.” “You’ll see text messages about how

heavy [Bellerouche] felt mourning the loss of his friend.” The prosecutor told the jury

that in the memorial video they would see a bottle of cognac being passed around,

“T.C.’s favorite alcohol.”

11

Because the trial was bifurcated, the jury only heard evidence related to the charge of

assault in the first degree and determined a verdict before hearing unrelated evidence of

Bellerouche’s previous conviction that supported the second charge of unlawful possession of a

firearm (UPF) in the first degree. The UPF charge was based on the shooting of Robinson.

12

It appears from the record that the prosecutor’s statement that Robinson “pled for his

life” may be a transcription error. At rebuttal the prosecutor stated that Robinson “fled for his

life,” as corroborated by Robinson’s testimony and video evidence. See Ex. 17 at 2:33:49 a.m.-

2:33:51 a.m. There was no evidence presented that Robinson pled or begged for his life.

10

84887-9-I/11

Defense conceded at opening that Bellerouche was in the business plaza

parking lot when Robinson was shot. Defense asserted, however, that Bellerouche

“never was in Dino Nguyen’s [Audi] …. and he was not the shooter” and that there was

“nothing corroborating Terrence Robinson’s story that he was.”

The State’s only witness who was present at the time of the shooting was

Robinson. By the time of trial, Robinson was willing to identify Bellerouche in the same

photomontage he was shown by the detectives on August 13, 2020. When asked why

he did not previously identify “Crucial” in the photomontage presented by detectives,

Robinson said, “[inaudible] I don’t know” and that at the time he “wanted to go

underground.” When asked why he did not previously identify “Bernard Bellerouche” in

the photomontage, Robinson said, “I wasn’t ready.”

Detectives were unable to locate Nguyen. Egger was “discovered dead in

Seattle” before investigators could speak with him. Police obtained Egger’s cell phone.

The prosecutor referenced Egger’s death during the State’s opening statement:

On September 5, 2020, about five weeks after the shooting in this

case, as investigators were seeking to talk with Solomon Egger[] about his

role in this case as a witness in this case, Solomon Egger[] was found

dead in Seattle. There was an investigation … [of Egger’s] death. Some

evidence from that investigation is included in this case. A cell phone and

video was pulled from Solomon [Egger’s] … phone. You’ll see that video

during this trial. It was taken a few hours before our shooting, … the video

is from the evening of July 25th. It’s at what appears to be a birthday

party. You’ll see the Cognac bottle that I mentioned earlier that Karlton

Daniels found. You’ll see that in the video.

You’ll see somebody who looks an awful lot like Bernard

Bellerouche carrying an object that looks an awful lot like a firearm.

The video of the memorial is captured from the perspective of outside the right side of

11

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Bellerouche’s BMW 13 that is partially in view. See Ex. 65.

On direct the State questioned detective Joshua Rurey about the contents of the

memorial video taken with Egger’s cell phone, which was also played for the jury during

his testimony. The video begins by showing a Black man in a blue shirt among a group

of adults and children and a large collection of balloons that are being distributed. Ex.

65 at 00:00-00:05. The man holds balloons in both hands and walks towards the BMW.

Ex. 65 at 00:00-00:20. Something slender, silvery, and shiny appears to be dangling

from his left hand as he holds the balloon strings. The video captures a close-up view of

the man’s face that shows a nose piercing on the left side of his nose and earrings in

both ears. 14 Ex. 65 at 00:52-00:54. He also appears to be wearing prescription glasses.

The video also captures someone sitting in the BMW wearing a black shirt with a design

on it and what appears to be the person holding the phone that is taking the video. Ex.

65 at 00:56-01:01. Bellerouche testified that he was the person wearing the black shirt

and was sitting in the driver’s seat of the BMW, and that the person taking the video

was Egger. About a minute later the video shows what appears to be the same Black

man in the blue shirt who was previously holding balloons walking with his back to the

camera around the front of the BMW with something sticking out of his right hand that is

slender, silvery, and shiny. Ex. 65 at 00:52-00:53, 01:58-01:59.

Rurey testified the man’s face “appeared similar to Mr. Bellerouche” and that he

was holding what “appeared” to be a firearm. Detective Free also testified that he

13

The video itself does not indicate that the black vehicle is Bellerouche’s BMW, but

Bellerouche testified at trial that it is his black BMW in the video.

14

The earring in the man’s right ear can be seen the second time that his right ear

appears on screen. See Ex. 65 at 00:52-00:54. In real time it can be difficult to see the earring in

the man’s right ear, but clearly visible when the video is played at an extra slow speed.

12

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believed the man in the blue shirt to be Bellerouche holding a gun. Free conceded that

he reviewed the video with another detective who had the capability of enhancing the

video to either rule in or out whether the object was a firearm, but the detectives

decided not to get the video enhanced:

Q: You have the ability to – you have someone in your office,

Detective Mellis?

A: Yes.

Q: And he does video enhancement?

A: He does, yeah.

Q: And you both looked at this particular video?

A: Yes.

Q: But you decided not to get this enhanced?

A: Decided not to get it enhanced. I think – so he did look at, he did

look at this video, and I think we – ultimately, it was my opinion, and

it was his opinion that it could either be ruled out or ruled in as a

firearm.

Q: Alright. But you have said that you believed it to be a firearm?

A: Yes. In fact, the dark handle, the shape, the length, one particular

firearm that comes to mind for me is an Airweight .38, but I don’t

say for certain.

Bellerouche offered expert testimony of enhanced still images of the memorial video

that showed the item in the man’s hand. See Ex. 78. The expert testified that the item

was made up of two different parts with different hue and brightness levels, and that the

lower piece reflects more light than the upper piece and was about half the size of the

holder’s “next finger.”

On cross, when shown still photos from the enhanced video that captured a

close-up of the Black man’s face, detective Rurey confirmed the image of the man’s

face appeared to show he had an earring and nose jewelry. See Ex. 71. Bellerouche

testified he did not have nose jewelry or earrings, and the man in the memorial video

was his friend Demetrius Lindsey who was holding car keys with a bottle opener

attached. Photos that Bellerouche took with his own phone obtained by police also

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included a photo that captured in the foreground a part of the Black man in the blue shirt

identified by Bellerouche as Lindsey. See Ex. 11.1. 15 Lindsey was clean shaven in the

video. See Ex. 65 at 00:53-00:54. An identification card of Bellerouche obtained during

a search of his home in Arizona and admitted at trial depicts him with a slight

moustache and filled-out beard and without glasses, nose piercings, or earrings. See

Ex. 54.8. The arrest photos that were admitted at trial also depict Bellerouche with a

slight moustache and filled-out beard, and without glasses, nose piercings, or earrings.

See Ex. 68.1. Bellerouche’s testimony that the Black man with the blue shirt was

Lindsey was unrebutted. Robinson was never asked to identify whether the Black man

in the blue shirt was Bellerouche, whether the Black man wearing the blue shirt was

carrying an object that resembled the gun that was used to shoot Robinson, or whether

Bellerouche wore a blue shirt at the time of the shooting.

In the memorial video obtained from Egger’s cell phone, the playing of artist Lil

Wayne’s entire rap song “I Miss My Dawgs” 16 is captured, which runs for approximately

4 minutes and 18 seconds. See Ex. 65 at 01:12-05:30. Before trial, defense objected to

the audio, arguing that “the cultural expressions in the video could be misperceived as

‘gangsta rap’ or some sort of endorsement of gang-mentality or attitudes” and place

Bellerouche in an unfairly negative light based on his race.

The State agreed to redact any use of “the N word” but argued the remaining

song audio should remain in the video because the song overlaps with audio relevant to

15

Bellerouche’s testimony that identified the man in the memorial photos taken with his

phone referred to Exhibit 12. Both Exhibit 11 and 12 were admitted at trial, but Exhibit 12 was

not designated in the clerk’s papers. The context of the testimony indicates that the photos in

Exhibit 11 and Exhibit 12 were similar.

16

Defense identified the artist and song title to the trial court.

14

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the State’s theory, including someone asking “are you off to Aurora?” and the sound of

liquid being poured out of what the State believed was the Remy Martin cognac bottle.

The State explained that its theory of the case was based on “the idea” that Bellerouche

attended a birthday party for his friend, Whitney, who had recently been murdered, that

Bellerouche had that friend’s initials tattooed on his hand, that Bellerouche talks about

his friend as his “right-hand man,” and that Bellerouche was missing the friend. 17 The

State explained the audio is part of its “pouring one out” theory and “obviously squarely

relevant to proving that Mr. Bellerouche was later at Aurora.”

This discussion followed the State’s concession at an earlier pre-trial discovery

hearing when the court asked the State if it had identified a motive in the instant case

and whether there was “a relationship between these people that the state is alleging

would have led to an act of violence?” The prosecutor conceded that because there was

no indication that Robinson or Egger had any connection with the “murder” of Whitney,

the State’s theory was “not retaliatory.” Instead, the prosecutor stated that “there is

speculation about the motive, I think that will be one of the difficult issues at trial” and

that “[t]here is the speculation from witnesses … that it was done sort of to

commemorate a prior murder” “as a reflection of the gravity of that prior murder others

must pay.” The prosecutor said that “it’s not retaliatory, [but] it’s commemoration,” “sort

of a poor [sic] one out kind of respect situation.” 18 At a different pre-trial hearing, the

17

Later at trial the State introduced a photo of Bellerouche’s tattooed hand, which I

reference below. See Ex. 68.2.

18

At trial the jury did not hear any evidence that Whitney was murdered or an

explanation of the term “pouring out.” At trial the prosecutor asked Bellerouche with regard to

the sound of liquid being poured out in the memorial video, “Does pouring out liquor like that,

does it have a meaning?” Bellerouche answered, “I’m not too sure.” The prosecutor then asked

Bellerouche, “You’ve never like heard of like ‘pour one out’?” Bellerouche responded, “No.”

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court granted defense motion to limit Robinson’s stepfather’s testimony by barring any

references to drug dealing, gang use, gang activity, violence, or murders. The court also

directed the parties to raise any motions regarding gang activity to the extent either

party believed it became relevant to the case so that the issue could be addressed

outside the presence of the jury.

After the prosecutor made his initial argument during motions in limine as to why

the entire audio of the video was needed, the trial court pointed out that the question of

“are you off to Aurora?” occurs before the song starts and that the pouring-out sound of

liquid occurs after the song ends. The prosecutor later renewed the request that only

specific slurs be redacted from the audio. The prosecutor maintained that during the

song there are moments of “some coming and going” and that the vehicle shown in the

video is consistent with one the victim identifies as belonging to the shooter. The

prosecutor continued:

When we see the person kind of walking across the screen, the blue

individual we believe is Mr. Bellerouche, at two minutes and 15 seconds

we hear a car door close. And so like if, if that portion there was no audio

we wouldn’t be able to hear the car door closing. And so that just

demonstrates connection between the vehicle and the person in the video

and all of that stuff. There’s somebody yelling missing him at about 3

minutes and 39 seconds. And so theres’ [sic] just like a lot of context that I

think gets eliminated when we use such a, such a rough instrument by

suppressing all of the audio.

Defense argued that playing the music “may over emphasize [sic] gang

involvement.” Defense asserted the song could be connected to Lil Wayne as the artist

“who very publicly boasts and brags of his own gang involvement. So if any of the jurors

were to recognize that music and song I think that’s a very main stream [sic] and public

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connection.”19 The trial court denied the motion but ordered certain words be redacted

from the song. 20

At trial the video of the memorial, exhibit 65, was played for the jury and admitted

into evidence. Contrary to what the prosecutor argued to the court, the video does not

capture the sound of a car door closing at two minutes and 15 seconds after the Black

man in the blue shirt walks in front of the BMW and out of view. In fact, at four minutes

and 57 seconds the man can be seen walking in front of and then away from the BMW

to the right. Well after the song has finished, at eight minutes and 43 seconds, the Black

man in the blue shirt can be seen again walking in front of the car to the left. As the trial

court observed, the audio of someone asking a question about “to Aurora” occurs

before the song begins at 45 seconds and the sound of pouring liquid occurs around six

minutes and 16 seconds after the song ends. See Ex. 65 at 00:44-00:45 (Aurora),

06:09-06:11 (liquid), 06:14-06:16 (cognac bottle). Once the song plays, it is so loud that

it drowns out most other sounds. See Ex. 65 at 01:27-05:30. The lyrics to “I Miss My

Dawgs” also come through loud and clear. See Ex. 65 at 01:27-05:30. The lyrics include

the following chorus that repeats three times:

Man, I miss my dogs, many nights club poppin’

Many nights we were blowin’ trees, many nights we were hustlin’

Man I miss my dogs, me and you through thick and thin

Me and you through the very end, for only you I’ll sin again

Man, I miss my dogs, many nights club poppin’

Many nights we were blowin’ trees, many nights we were hustlin’

Man I miss my dogs, me and you through thick and thin

Me and you through the very end, for only you I’ll sin again

19

In response to defense’s argument, the prosecutor cited Wikipedia as stating that Lil

Wayne is one of the best-selling global music artists of all time and “one of the greatest rappers

of all time.”

20

As ordered by the court, the State redacted the “n” word and the word “bitch,” and also

offered to redact various iterations of “motherfucker.”

17

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Ex. 65 at 02:28-02:53, 03:42-04:07, 04:56-05:21. The jury also heard these lyrics

in the song:

You was my [redacted], my nerve, my joy, my hurt

My main [redacted] man Turk (oh)

My other, my partner, I was teacher, he was father

I skilled, he schooled, we chilled, we moved

We thug, we hung, we ate, we slept

We lived, we died, I stayed, you left

Remember how we played to the left?

Ex. 65 at 04:07-04:28. During the State’s cross-examination of Bellerouche, the

prosecutor asked about Bellerouche’s relationship with Whitney:

Q: …. you were sad [the day of the memorial]?

A: Yes.

Q: Because Lloyd Whitney was your friend?

A: Yes.

Q: Your right-hand man?

A: My best friend.

Q: Your best friend. And your right-hand man was the phrase I was

using.

A: Yes.

Q: And I’m pointing to my own right hand just because that’s where

your tattoo is located, right?

A: Yes.

Q: And you texted with somebody – in your text messages, you

referred to Lloyd [Whitney] as your right-hand man, right?

A: Yes.

Q: And July 25th, 2020 would have been his birthday had he still been

alive?

A: Yes.

Q: You were feeling emotional that day about him and his situation

and your loss, correct?

A: Can you repeat that?

Q: Yeah. You were feeling emotional on July 25th of 2020 about him

and the situation and your loss?

A: Yes.

Without objection, the State admitted and published a photo of Bellerouche’s

tattooed hand during detective Rurey’s testimony. See Ex. 68.2. The tattoo is a design

made up of the letters “TC.” See Ex. 68.2. Later at trial Bellerouche testified he got the

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initials tattooed on his hand “as a way to remember” Whitney, who went by “TC” for the

nickname “Tone Capone.”

The prosecutor asked Robinson about his relationships with Egger, Nguyen, and

Bellerouche. Robinson testified he was friends with Egger, had known him for more

than 10 years, and that Egger was staying with him at in his apartment in Kent at the

time of the shooting. The prosecutor asked, “Did you have any beef with Solomon

Egger[]?” Robinson answered, “Not at all.” The prosecutor inquired again, “Were you

guys, were you trying to kick him out [of your Kent apartment] or were you fighting or

anything like that around July 26th?” Robinson responded, “No.” Robinson testified that

Egger introduced him to Nguyen, who Robinson saw weekly, but did not know well.

Robinson testified he and Bellerouche had a friendly relationship before the

shooting and had known each other since at least 2009 or 2010. Similar to Egger, the

prosecutor inquired, “Prior to this, July 26, 2020, did you have any beef or any argument

with Crucial?” Robinson answered, “No.”

Robinson testified that he, Bellerouche, Egger, and Nguyen were “[j]ust hanging

out” together in the parking lot. A toxicology screening of Robinson’s blood after the

shooting was positive for cocaine and alcohol. The prosecutor asked Robinson about

what he, Bellerouche, Nguyen, and Egger were doing in the parking lot. Robinson

confirmed they were drinking cognac but he did not know who brought it. When the

prosecutor also asked, “Were you doing cocaine?” the following exchange took place:

A. We were.

Q. Who brought that?

A. I don’t know, they both had it.

Q. They both had it. What does that mean?

A. (Inaudible) and his girlfriend. He purchased it (inaudible.)

Q. Okay. Was that a normal thing to be doing in the parking lot

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when you’re hanging out at that place?

A. No.

Q. No? So it was a little unusual?

A. (Inaudible string of words.)

Q. Okay. While you were drinking or eating or doing whatever

you were doing in the parking lot, were you, did you get into arguments

with any of the people that were there?

A. No. (Inaudible.)

On cross Robinson testified he was high on cocaine and alcohol at the time of the

shooting but “was still functioning.”

At the time of the shooting, Robinson testified he was sitting in the back seat of

Nguyen’s Audi on the driver’s side. Nguyen was in the driver’s seat and Bellerouche

was in the front passenger seat. Robinson testified Egger was in Bellerouche’s BMW

when the shooting occurred but that he had been in the Audi at some point before the

shooting. When asked on direct who shot him, Robinson answered, “The passenger in

the white truck.”21 When the prosecutor followed up by asking “Is that all you want to

say?” Robinson said, “That’s it.” Later the prosecutor again asked Robinson, “I’m going

to ask this one last time. Did Crucial shoot you?” Robinson answers, “Yes.”

Bellerouche testified that he arrived at the business plaza around 12:30 a.m. He

and other people talked and got food. He did not see Robinson at the prior gathering in

north Seattle but Egger told him that Robinson was at the business plaza parking lot.

Bellerouche knew Robinson through Egger, and that Egger was staying at Robinson’s

apartment at the time. When asked if he had seen Robinson before July 26,

Bellerouche answered, “I seen him through [Egger] and like that. But other than that, I

didn’t have any interactions with him or anything like that. …. I didn’t know him well.”

21

It is apparent from the record that Robinson was referring to a passenger in Nguyen’s

white Audi. As noted above, see supra note 8 and accompanying text, Robinson referred to

Nguyen and Bellerouche’s vehicles as the “trucks.”

20

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Bellerouche denied using any drugs the night of the shooting. The State cross-

examined Bellerouche about the cocaine:

Q: In the parking lot … let me be clear. I’m talking about the … place

of the shooting. In that parking lot that night prior to the shooting,

were people doing cocaine?

A: Not that I’m aware of.

Q: You heard [Robinson] testify that he bought some cocaine from

[Nguyen]?

A: Yes.

Q: [Nguyen] was your friend for years. Would it surprise you if

[Nguyen] did cocaine that night?

A: I’m not sure what they were doing that night.

Q: You’re not sure what they were doing that night?

A: No. I’m not aware of any of that.

Q: Would you be surprised if [Nguyen] sold cocaine to [Robinson] that

night?

A: I’m not aware of what [Nguyen] does.

Q: You’re not aware of what?

A: I’m not aware of him doing any drugs.

Q: That night or ever?

A: Ever.

Q: [Robinson] also testified that he bought some cocaine from you.

A: That’s not true.

Q: Is that true because you know you did not sell cocaine to

[Robinson] specifically or because you do not sell cocaine at all?

A: Can you repeat the question?

Q: Yeah. You said it’s not true, so I’m asking if you are testifying “I

know I did not sell cocaine to Terrance Robinson,” or are you

saying “It’s not true. I never sell cocaine”?

Q: I never sold cocaine to Terrance Robinson.

A: To Terrance Robinson. How would you know that if you don’t really

know who Terrance Robinson is?

A: I, I’d know if I did something with Terrance Robinson.

Q: How would you know?

A: Because I’ve seen him up here on the stand, and I don’t recognize

him.

Defense did not object.

Bellerouche testified to sitting in the passenger seat of his BMW at 2:00 a.m.

While in the BMW, Bellerouche spent time talking to Stanton and her friend, who were

on the passenger side of the BMW. Bellerouche testified that starting before 2:00 a.m.,

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there were people getting in and out of the Audi but he “wasn’t really paying attention to

who was in that vehicle.” When Stanton and her friend left at 2:26 a.m., Bellerouche

testified that Egger was already in the BMW and that they “were getting ready to leave.”

See Ex. 17 at 2:26:18 a.m.-2:26:20 a.m.

After hearing what sounded like gunshots around 2:30 a.m., Bellerouche and

Egger left in the BMW. Bellerouche testified he and Egger went to Lindsey’s house in

Pacific Algona. Bellerouche provided cell tower data analysis that showed his cell phone

and Egger’s cell phone moving south through the same neighborhood, supporting his

testimony that they left the parking lot together and drove towards Pacific Algona.

Bellerouche testified Egger told him someone got shot, but Bellerouche did not

know who. He testified it was not until his arrest in Arizona that he learned it was

Robinson who had been shot. The prosecutor cross-examined Bellerouche about Egger

not telling him that Robinson was shot in the face:

Q: Were you aware that [Robinson] had a gun?

A: I don’t know [Robinson] like that to know that.

Q: Like that? “I don’t know [Robinson] like that.” What do you mean

“like that”?

A: I don’t, I don’t know him. All I know is what [Egger] has said, talked

about it, and that’s it.

Q: But [Egger] never talked to you about the fact that Terrance

Robinson got shot in the face?

A: No.

Q: Were you in fear for your safety with any of those people, [Nguyen],

[Egger], or [Robinson]?

A: No.

Q: Did you have any arguments with any of them on or about July 25th

and July 26th, 2020?

A: No.

Q: Any beef with any of them?

A: No.

Q: Did you have any arguments with anybody else who was present

that night at the parking lot outside the Chinese restaurant?

A: No.

22

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In the State’s closing argument, the prosecutor acknowledged to the jury the lack

of an apparent motive for the shooting: “Yes, [Robinson] was correct, there were no

arguments, no beefs between anybody at that parking lot that Mr. Bellerouche knew

about.” The prosecutor continued:

We talked earlier about the four things that I need to prove in this

case. One thing that isn’t on that list is why. Why? [Robinson] didn’t give

us a reason because he didn’t have one. Why would Bernard Bellerouche

shoot Terrance Robinson in such a cold-blooded way? Point blank. No

provocation. [Robinson] had no inkling of any argument.

.…

So how does this happen? The disdain it takes to commit this crime

I think is a clue. Because Bernard Bellerouche’s testimony yesterday

demonstrated disdain towards Terrance Robinson. …. Bellerouche only

says “I seen [Robinson]. I didn’t know him.” … Disdainful.

….

There was no “I’m sorry about what happened to the friend of my

friend, but I didn’t do it.” …. Instead, “He was roommates with my friend

Solomon Egger. Yeah, he was friendly, [Robinson] was, with [Nguyen], a

guy I was talking to all the time. But no, I didn’t know him and I didn’t even

know he was shot.” Full stop.

And in that way, Bernard Bellerouche in his testimony gave us the

why in his case, because Terrance Robinson meant nothing to him. …

Terrance Robinson did not matter to Bernard Bellerouche.

The prosecutor later ended the State’s rebuttal by stating:

The witness in this trial who owned up to these actions, who

acknowledged that he might be different from an average Seattle juror

was Terrance Robinson. He’s not asking for your sympathy. He’s not

pretending to be a straight-laced boy scout hanging out on Aurora at 2:30

a.m. He told you who he is. He told you he’s different. He told you he’s

familiar with cocaine and guns. And he told you what happened to him.

And he told you who did it. Crucial shot him in the face from point blank in

cold blood, and then Crucial shot him again as he fled for his life. Don’t

hold Bernard Bellerouche accountable because he’s different. Hold him

accountable because he’s guilty.

DISCUSSION

Race-Based Prosecutorial Misconduct

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Bellerouche argues the prosecutor’s use of the term “beef” during trial evoked

harmful stereotypes of Black men engaged in a world of violent crime, consequently

depriving him of a fair trial by “other[ing]” him from the jury. The majority holds that

Bellerouche failed to establish that an objective observer could view the prosecutor’s

repeated use of “beef” as an appeal to racial prejudice. Majority at 28. I disagree.

A criminal defendant has a constitutionally-protected right to a “fair trial by a

panel of impartial, ‘indifferent’ jurors.” Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 722, 81 S. Ct. 1639,

6 L. Ed. 2d 751 (1961); U.S. CONST. amends. VI, XIV; W ASH. CONST. art. I, § 22. The

right to a fair trial includes the right to be presumed innocent, “‘and its enforcement lies

at the foundation of the administration of our criminal law.’” State v. Butler, 198 Wn.

App. 484, 493, 394 P.3d 424 (2017) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Estelle

v. Williams, 425 U.S. 501, 503, 96 S. Ct. 1691, 48 L. Ed. 2d 126 (1976)). A jury is

impartial if it is “‘capable and willing to decide the case solely on the evidence before it.’”

McDonough Power Equip., Inc. v. Greenwood, 464 U.S. 548, 554, 104 S. Ct. 845, 78 L.

Ed. 2d 663 (1984) (quoting Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 217, 102 S. Ct. 940, 71 L.

Ed. 2d 78 (1982)). Impartiality requires that the jury be unbiased and unprejudiced.

Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 787.

Racial prejudice is “a familiar and recurring evil” that risks systemic harm to the

justice system. Peña-Rodriguez v. Colorado, 580 U.S. 206, 224, 137 S. Ct. 855, 197 L.

Ed. 2d 107 (2017). A criminal defendant relies on the jury to be a bulwark against racial

prejudice and the wrongful exercise of the government’s power. Id. at 223. “Courts have

been ‘called upon to enforce the Constitution’s guarantee against state-sponsored racial

discrimination in the jury system’ and to safeguard ‘a criminal defendant’s fundamental

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protection of life and liberty against race or color prejudice.’” Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 711

(internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Peña-Rodriguez, 580 U.S. at 222-23).

Allowing bias or prejudice by even one juror to contribute to a verdict violates a

defendant’s constitutional rights. State v. Berhe, 193 Wn.2d 647, 658, 444 P.3d 1172

(2019). This grave error “undermines the public’s faith in the fairness of our judicial

system.” Id.

The Washington Supreme Court has repeatedly observed a prosecutor’s dual

role as critical to ensuring our judicial system’s integrity. See, e.g., Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at

787; State v. Walker, 182 Wn.2d 463, 476, 341 P.3d 976 (2015). A prosecutor must

both enforce the law and represent the people in a quasi-judicial capacity in the pursuit

for justice. State v. Monday, 171 Wn.2d 667, 676, 257 P.3d 551 (2011). Defendants are

therefore among the people that a prosecutor represents. Id. Prosecutors owe a duty to

defendants to ensure that their constitutional right to a fair trial is respected. Id.

A defendant’s state constitutional right to an impartial jury “‘is gravely violate[d] …

when the prosecutor resorts to racist argument and appeals to racial stereotypes or

racial bias to achieve convictions’—such convictions undermine the integrity of our

entire criminal justice system.” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 788 (alteration in original) (quoting

Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 676, 680); see Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 676 n.2. Courts must

understand that “[w]hen the government resorts to appeals to racial bias to achieve its

ends, all of society suffers including victims.” Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 681 n.5.

A defendant’s right to an impartial jury is violated “when explicit or implicit racial

bias is a factor in [the] jury’s verdict.” Berhe, 193 Wn.2d at 657 (emphasis added).

“Whether explicit or implicit, purposeful or unconscious, racial bias has no place in a

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system of justice.” Henderson v. Thompson, 200 Wn.2d 417, 421, 518 P.3d 1011

(2022). Accordingly, “[c]ourts must be vigilant of conduct that appears to appeal to racial

or ethnic bias even when [it does] not expressly referenc[e] race or ethnicity.” Zamora,

199 Wn.2d at 714.

As the majority correctly states, when presented with an allegation of race-based

prosecutorial misconduct, an appellate court must determine whether the prosecutor

“flagrantly or apparently intentionally appealed to jurors’ potential racial bias.” Bagby,

200 Wn.2d at 793 (emphasis added). “When a prosecutor flagrantly or apparently

intentionally appeals to a juror’s potential racial or ethnic prejudice, bias, or stereotypes,

the resulting prejudice is incurable and requires reversal.” Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 721.

In considering a race-based prosecutorial misconduct claim, we must “ask

whether an objective observer could view the prosecutor’s questions and comments as

an appeal to jurors’ potential prejudice, bias, or stereotypes in a manner that

undermined the defendant’s credibility or the presumption of innocence.” Bagby, 200

Wn.2d at 793 (emphasis added) (footnote omitted). We do not consider the prosecutor’s

subjective intent. Id. at 791. “An ‘objective observer’ is an individual who is aware of the

history of race and ethnic discrimination in the United States and that implicit,

institutional, and unconscious biases, in addition to purposeful discrimination, have

influenced jury verdicts in Washington State.” Id. at 793 n.7 (citing Berhe, 193 Wn.2d at 664-65).

To stand as an objective observer, a reviewing court must internalize hard truths

about the role of race in the United States. “[R]acism is part of the common cultural

heritage of all Americans.” A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., Racism in American and South

African Courts: Similarities and Differences, 65 N.Y.U. L. REV. 479, 546 (1990). “Mass

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media depiction of Blacks as thugs, criminals, or people otherwise bent on social

disruption has a 400-year history in America” that predates the birth of the United States

with “the possession and commodification of Black bodies” underway in the Americas

by 1619. Bryan Adamson, “Thugs,” “Crooks,” and “Rebellious Negroes”: Racist and

Racialized Media Coverage of Michael Brown and the Ferguson Demonstrations, 32

HARV. J. RACIAL & ETHNIC JUST. 189, 218 (2016). The group of assumptions that have

permeated our nation’s history “are based on notions, explicit or implicit, of African-

Americans as … in poor control of their ids, and otherwise less than fully human.”

Higginbotham, Jr., supra, at 546.

Despite historical strides made with the Civil Rights Movement, “the net result

appears to be that American culture has rejected outright racism while perpetuating a

‘hidden prejudice.’” Elizabeth L. Earle, Note, Banishing the Thirteenth Juror: An

Approach to the Identification of Prosecutorial Racism, 92 COLUM. L. REV. 1212, 1222-

23 (1992) (quoting Charles R. Lawrence III, The Id, the Ego, and Equal Protection:

Reckoning with Unconscious Racism, 39 STAN. L. REV. 317, 335 (1987)). 22 Perpetuated

in our society is the Black-as-criminal stereotype that links Blacks with violence,

dangerousness, and criminality. Cynthia Lee, Making Race Salient: Trayvon Martin and

Implicit Bias in A Not Yet Post-Racial Society, 91 N.C. L. REV. 1555, 1580-81 (2013);

see also Reyna Araibi, Note, “Every Rhyme I Write”: Rap Music As Evidence in Criminal

Trials, 62 ARIZ. L. REV. 805, 822 (2020) (discussing the acute effects of the Black-as-

criminal stereotype, such that “[t]he mere presence of a Black man … can trigger

22

Our state Supreme Court cites to A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. and Elizabeth L. Earle’s

writings in Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 678-79 (citing to Higginbotham, Jr., supra, at 545-51 and

Earle, supra, at 1222-23 & nn. 67, 71).

27

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thoughts that he is violent and criminal” and “[m]erely thinking about Blacks can lead

people to evaluate ambiguous behavior as aggressive”).

It follows that a court must also conduct its analysis with a close eye to the

unique danger of implicit bias. Berhe, 193 Wn.2d at 657. To harbor implicit biases is to

be human. Id. at 663. “‘[W]e all live our lives with stereotypes that are ingrained and

often unconscious, implicit biases that endure despite our best efforts to eliminate

them.’” Id. (quoting State v. Saintcalle, 178 Wn.2d 34, 47, 309 P.3d 326 (2013) (plurality

opinion), abrogated on other grounds by City of Seattle v. Erickson, 188 Wn.2d 721,

398 P.3d 1124 (2017)). Life simply cannot be navigated without the assistance of

categories, schemas, and cognitive shortcuts. Saintcalle, 178 Wn.2d at 47 (citing

Antony Page, Batson’s Blind–Spot: Unconscious Stereotyping and The Peremptory

Challenge, 85 B.U. L. REV. 155, 160-61 (2005)). It is these shortcuts that lead people to

unknowingly discriminate. Id.

On race, we are not “‘on average or generally, cognitively colorblind.’” Id. at 46

n.3 (quoting Task Force on Race & Crim. Just. Sys., Preliminary Report on Race and

Washington’s Criminal Justice System 1, 19 (2011),

http://www.law.washington.edu/About/RaceTaskForce/preliminary_report_race_criminal

_justice_ 030111.pdf [https://perma.cc/6BV4-RBB8]. “‘[P]eople are rarely aware of the

actual reasons for their discrimination and will genuinely believe the race-neutral reason

they create to mask it.’” Berhe, 193 Wn.2d at 663-64 (quoting Saintcalle, 178 Wn.2d at

49). This court has the responsibility not only to acknowledge the unique challenge

presented by implicit bias, but to “‘rise to meet it.’” Id. at 664 (quoting Saintcalle, 178

Wn.2d at 49).

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With this insight intact, we are to consider four factors identified by our state

Supreme Court to guide our analysis: (1) the content and subject of the questions and

statements, (2) the frequency of the remarks, (3) the apparent purpose of the remarks,

and (4) whether the questions and statements were based on evidence or reasonable

inferences in the record. Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 793-94. I differ from the majority in my

conclusions as to each of these factors. In applying the factors within the entire context

of Bellerouche’s trial, the prosecutor’s repeated use of “beef” was an apparently

intentional effort to appeal to jurors’ potential racial bias to fill in a missing motive with a

racialized image of a cold-blooded violent criminal, a thug, the type of person who would

“sin again” in the memory of his right-hand man by shooting Robinson in the face at

pointblank range for no reason and who continued to shoot as Robinson fled for his life.

To be clear, I do not suggest that using the term “beef” is always improper. Context

matters. My examination of the four factors follows.

A. Content and Subject of Prosecutor’s “Beef” Remarks

First, in considering the content and subject of the prosecutor’s remarks, I

observe that the exercise in semantics and etymology the majority relies on to discern

the “general meaning” of “beef” effectively disregards the objective observer lens that a

court must adopt to determine if a prosecutor’s language is racially-coded. See majority at 20-22.

The majority states a court should assess a prosecutor’s words “in the first

instance and when necessary” “by reference to the general meaning of the term found

in a standard dictionary.” Majority at 22. In doing so, 23 the majority distinguishes

23

W EBSTER’S THIRD INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 196 (2002). The majority also notes a

similar definition and “famous etymology” from the Oxford English Dictionary. See majority at 21

n.7 (citing OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY, https://www.oed.com/dictionary/beef_n2 (last visited

Feb. 21, 2025)).

29

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between the prosecutor’s “beef” remarks and “other similar cases,”24 wherein

prosecutors’ language “clearly invoked racial biases.” See majority at 20. None of the

cases the majority relies on hold that we must limit review of a prosecutor’s rhetoric

within the bounds of standard dictionaries. See majority at 22. In fact, the majority relies

on cases that address issues of statutory interpretation, not prosecutorial misconduct

claims. See majority at 20. 25 Notably, none of the majority’s otherwise proffered race-

based prosecutorial misconduct cases 26 relied on dictionary definitions to establish

whether the prosecutor’s challenged language was objectively racially-tinged. See

Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 793-96; Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 676-78; Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at

712-21; State v. Ibarra-Erives, 23 Wn. App. 2d 596, 605-08, 516 P.3d 1246 (2022);

State v. McKenzie, 21 Wn. App. 2d 722, 730-31, 508 P.3d 205 (2022). 27

The question is not whether a word or phrase “unmistakably or exclusively,” or

even likely, has a racial connotation, as the majority suggests. See majority at 23.

Rather, this court must determine if an objective observer aware of our nation’s history

24

The majority cites to Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 795-96; Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 678-79;

State v. Ibarra-Erives, 23 Wn. App. 2d 596, 606, 516 P.3d 1246 (2022); State v. McKenzie, 21

Wn. App. 2d 722, 723, 508 P.3d 205 (2022); Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 703; and State v.

Loughbom, 196 Wn.2d 64, 67, 470 P.3d 499 (2020).

25

See State v. Watson, 146 Wn.2d 947, 954, 51 P.3d 66 (2002); State v. Gonzalez, 168

Wn.2d 256, 263-64, 226 P.3d 131 (2010); State v. Hammock, 154 Wn. App. 630, 635, 226 P.3d

154 (2010); State v. Myles, 127 Wn.2d 807, 813, 903 P.2d 979 (1995).

26

Notably, in Loughbom, 196 Wn.2d at 67, the state Supreme Court addressed a

general prosecutorial misconduct allegation. The majority’s comparison of the instant matter

with a decision that was not analyzed according to a race-based framework is perhaps

indicative of the contextual considerations that are otherwise absent from the majority’s opinion.

See majority at 20.

27

In McKenzie, 21 Wn. App. 2d at 733-34, this court held that the prosecutor’s use of

“gorilla pimp” constituted race-based prosecutorial misconduct. We referred to dictionary

definitions of “gorilla” and “guerilla” in our determination that the State’s claim that the court

reporter mistakenly transcribed the prosecutor’s use of “guerilla pimp” as “gorilla pimp” was, in

the context of the relevant testimony, unconvincing. Id. at 731, 731 n.8.

30

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of racial discrimination and implicit, institutional, and unconscious biases could 28

recognize in the context of Bellerouche’s trial that the prosecutor’s use of “beef”

constituted an allusion to negative biases or stereotypes about the Black community.

See Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 802; Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 718. Accordingly, the state

Supreme Court has instructed courts not to presume that language capable of evoking

racist stereotypes has no effect on them or the jurors. Henderson, 200 Wn.2d at 439.

Monday, 171 Wn.2d 667, Zamora, 199 Wn.2d 698, and Bagby, 200 Wn.2d 777,

provide instructional examples of applications of the objective observer framework to

discern the content and subject of a prosecutor’s remarks.

In Monday, in a case where “[w]itness credibility was particularly at issue,” our

state Supreme Court held that, in an effort to discount the credibility of Monday’s

witnesses, the prosecutor’s reference to “police” as “po-leese” was a subtle and

impermissible appeal to jurors’ racial bias used to emphasize the prosecutor’s assertion

that “black folk don’t testify against black folk.” 171 Wn.2d at 671, 676, 678-79. In

reference to the prosecutor’s pronunciation of “po-leese,” 29 the court emphasized that

“[n]ot all appeals to racial prejudice are blatant.” Id. at 678. “Like wolves in sheep’s

clothing, a careful word here and there can trigger racial bias.” Id. (citing Earle, supra, at

28

This court has previously held that in assessing the impact of the injection of racial

appeals into a trial, “could” does not mean always. Simbulan v. Nw. Hosp. & Med. Ctr., 32 Wn.

App. 2d 164, 177, 183, 555 P.3d 455 (2024). We more recently clarified that “could” means a

“reasonable possibility.” Al Hayek v. Miles, No. 39989-3-III, slip op. at 9 (Wash. Ct. App. Jan. 30,

2025), https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/399893_pub.pdf.

29

The prosecutor’s “po-leese” pronunciation in Monday, nowhere to be found in the

dictionaries the majority cites, demonstrates how ill-fitting the majority’s generalized definitional

analysis is to a racial appeal inquiry. Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 679. This nation’s evolving culture

of racial prejudice and racial coding is not possibly captured in the pages of a dictionary. See

Praatika Prasad, Note, Implicit Racial Biases in Prosecutorial Summations: Proposing an

Integrated Response, 86 FORDHAM L. REV. 3091, 3097-99, 3104 (2018); see generally Deirdre

Pfeiffer & Xiaoqian Hu, Deconstructing Racial Code Words, 58 LAW & SOC’Y REV. 294 (2024).

31

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1222–23 & nn. 67, 71); see also Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 795 (stating that “[s]tudies have

shown that even the simplest racial cues can trigger implicit biases and affect the way

jurors evaluate evidence”). Remarks referring to race may be blatant slurs, gratuitous,

and ostensibly non-prejudicial references, or comments that serve a probative function.

Earle, supra, at 1233.

To this end, the Zamora court held that prosecutor’s references to immigration,

border security, and crime invoked prejudices about Latinxs “without ever saying

Latin[x].” 199 Wn.2d at 712-13. The court observed that the remarks were not remotely

related to the charges against Zamora. Id. at 719. Additionally, the court stressed our

nation’s historic and continued discrimination against Latinxs, including in national

media rhetoric. Id. at 719-20. The court held that the prosecutor’s remarks were

apparently intended to appeal to stereotypes about illegal Latinx immigrants engaged in

crime, thus reflecting poorly on Zamora based on his perceived ethnicity. Id. at 719.

Most recently, in Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 800-01, the lead opinion rebuked, in

addition to other instances of prosecutorial misconduct, see id. at 795-98, a prosecutor’s

questioning of Bagby regarding his dog. 30 The court observed, citing academic and

social commentary sources, that the prosecutor’s questioning could have evoked the

harmful stereotype of Black men as being too dangerous and violent to properly care for

dogs, thus potentially undermining Bagby’s credibility and presumption of innocence.

See id. at 800 (lead opinion of Montoya-Lewis, J.) (citing Kevin Blackistone, Opinion,

Black Men and Dogs: Don’t Believe Vick, NPR (Sept. 25, 2007),

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14698643; Ann Linder, The Black

30

See supra note 3.

32

84887-9-I/33

Man’s Dog: The Social Context of Breed Specific Legislation, 25 ANIMAL L. 51, 57-68 (2018)).

The majority mischaracterizes Justice Stephens’ concurrence in Bagby, joined by

four justices, when it states that the five justices “appeared to caution against

determining a word’s meaning through pop culture references.” See majority at 22. The

majority correctly states the five justices disagreed with the lead opinion’s holding that

the prosecutor’s references to Bagby’s dog constituted race-based prosecutorial

misconduct. Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 804 (Stephens, J., concurring). The differences,

however, were not based on the nature of the potential racial appeal, 31 but whether the

record supported that such an apparently intentional appeal was made in the context of

Bagby’s trial. Id. at 804-05, 808. Justice Stephens observed the lead opinion omitted the

fact that Bagby, not the prosecutor, first mentioned his dog when testifying to his

friendship with the victim. Id. at 805-06. The five justices thus concluded the

prosecutor’s apparent purpose was to establish the victim’s credibility by showing

Bagby trusted her to watch his beloved dog. Id. at 805, 808. The five justices called

attention to the need for a reviewing court to “look at the record as a whole and the

context in which an objective observer would view the statements” when examining an

allegation of a prosecutor’s race-based misconduct. Id. at 807; see also id. at 805 n. 12

(“As an appellate court, we consider the entire context of the statement.”).

Unlike the prosecutor in Bagby, the prosecutor in the instant case introduced the

term “beef” at trial and was the only person at trial to use it. The prosecutor’s particular

and repeated use of “beef” was consistent, each time juxtaposing “beef” with the

31

Justice Stephens stated, “While I can understand how a line of questioning about

dogs, breeds of dogs, or animal abuse might play on racial stereotypes, the conclusion that an

objective observer could find that occurred in this case is … unwarranted.” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at

808 (Stephens, J., concurring, with four justices joining) (emphasis added).

33

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alternative term of “argument” or “fighting.”

At opening the prosecutor used “beef” to lay out the State’s theory of the case,

stating that Bellerouche viciously shot Robinson “[p]ointblank” in the face and that

Robinson was unarmed and unsuspecting because “[t]here had been no argument” and

“[t]here was no beef.” The prosecutor proceeded to ask Robinson about any prior “beef”

or “fighting” with Egger and “any beef or any argument with Crucial.” Robinson denied

both. The prosecutor later asked Bellerouche on cross whether he had any “arguments”

or “beef” with Robinson, Egger, or Nguyen, which Bellerouche denied.

At closing the prosecutor again used the term “beef” during a recitation of

Robinson’s testimony, proffering that Robinson was correct that “there were no

arguments, no beefs between anybody at that parking lot that Mr. Bellerouche knew

about.” The prosecutor continued by asserting that the otherwise unexpected shooting

was explainable because Bellerouche “disdain[ed]” Robinson and “Robinson meant

nothing” to Bellerouche.

In the context of an allegation against a Black defendant for committing gun

violence against another Black man, the State’s theory implied the jury could disregard

the absence of an obvious motive because Bellerouche was simply a “cold-blooded”

violent criminal. Consistent with this theory was the prosecutor’s unsupported claim that

Robinson was shot at “pointblank” range. Similar to “beef,” prosecutor used the word

“pointblank” multiple times throughout the course of Bellerouche’s trial, including at

opening, closing, and rebuttal. However, other than the evidence of the shooting of

Robinson occurring in Nguyen’s Audi, and that he was shot in the face, the record is

34

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devoid of evidence that Robinson was shot at “pointblank” range. 32

It was in this context that the prosecutor repeatedly used “beef” in combination

with “argument” or “fighting.” The juxtaposition subtly suggests that “beef” means

something more, something different than just an argument, fight, or some other generic

disagreement. Unlike “fighting” or “argument,” “beef” is commonly associated with Black

hip hop and rap culture to refer to feuds between rappers, including rivalries that result

in gun violence with tragic endings. See Craig Epstein, Note, Where’s the Beef: The

Use of Mediation to Resolve Disputes Between Rappers, 21 CARDOZO J. OF CONFLICT

RESOLUTION 495, 495-506 (2020); Dorian Lynskey, Tupac and Biggie Die as a Result of

East/West Coast Beef, THE GUARDIAN (Jun. 12, 2011, 7:16 PM),

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/13/tupac-biggie-deaths. Common media

coverage of criminal matters involving rap artists and “disputes, or ‘beefs,’ between

prominent rap artists and their entourages” has contributed to the mainstream public’s

association of rap culture with “violent, deviant, and criminal behaviors.” Andrea L.

Dennis, Poetic (In)Justice? Rap Music Lyrics as Art, Life, and Criminal Evidence, 31

COLUMBIA J. L. & ARTS 1, 18 & n. 111 (2007). Originating “as an expression of uniquely

Black identity,” “the unconscious understanding of rap music remains underpinned by

notions of race and racial stereotypes about who criminals are, what they look like, and

where they come from.” Araibi, supra, at 810.

In pairing “beef” with sanitized terms for a disagreement or dispute, the

prosecutor’s particular and unnecessary use of “beef” could have primed jurors to pay

32

The State’s expert could not testify as to the type of projectile that caused the injury,

as to any trajectory or angles related to the wound, nor could the expert testify as to the

distance of the projectile to the wounds.

35

84887-9-I/36

more attention, even subconsciously, to Bellerouche’s race and activated jurors’ implicit

biases to cause them to associate Bellerouche with stereotypes that position Black

criminal defendants in worlds and lifestyles marked by crime and violence. See Bagby,

200 Wn.2d at 795-96; see also Ibarra-Erives, 23 Wn. App. 2d at 607-08 (holding that

prosecutor’s unnecessary use of street drug-dealing term “Mexican ounce” improperly

suggested defendant was more likely to have unlawfully possessed or packaged drugs

because of his apparent Latinx ethnicity).

In Bagby, 33 the justices agreed as to the understanding an appellate court must

have with regard to how implicit racial bias can be activated by coded rhetoric. See 200

Wn.2d at 794-95. The Bagby court observed that “even the simplest racial cues can

trigger implicit biases and affect the way jurors evaluate evidence.” Id. at 795. Indeed,

subtle cues or references to racial identity and stereotypes can affect juror decision-

making more than even explicit appeals. 34 Id.; Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 678-79. “Biases

are often activated through the use of coded language or racial code words such as

phrases or symbols that ‘play upon race … [and] white Americans’ negative views of

[B]lack Americans—without explicitly raising the race card.’” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 794

33

Notably, the trial court in the instant case did not have the benefit of our state

Supreme Court’s Bagby decision, which was decided in 2023 after Bellerouche’s trial.

Further, it is worth emphasizing the unique ability and responsibility an appellate court

has in analyzing a trial record when considering a prosecutorial misconduct claim. See Bagby,

200 Wn.2d at 791-93; Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 717. The trial court necessarily responds to

objections and issues as they arise in the course of trial. The context of the trial is thus unfolding

as the trial comes to life. On review, an appellate court has the retrospective ability to consider

the entire story of the trial cover to cover to determine whether a defendant’s right to a fair trial

has been compromised by misconduct. See Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 704. We must not take this

duty lightly. Berhe, 193 Wn.2d at 664.

34

This risk equally applies to judges. See Andrew S. Pollis, The Appellate Judge As the

Thirteenth Juror: Combating Implicit Bias in Criminal Convictions, 95 TEMP. L. REV. 1, 13 (2022);

see generally Jeffrey J. Rachlinski et. al., Does Unconscious Racial Bias Affect Trial Judges?,

84 NOTRE DAME L. REV. 1195 (2009).

36

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(alterations in original) (quoting andré douglas pond cummings, Racial Coding and the

Financial Market Crisis, 1 UTAH L. REV. 141, 217 (2011)). Coded language that evokes

racial stereotypes can assist prosecutors in indirectly hurting a witness’s credibility by

identifying the witness as the “other.” Mikah K. Thompson, Bias on Trial: Toward an

Open Discussion of Racial Stereotypes in the Courtroom, 2018 MICH. ST. L. REV. 1243,

1263 (2018); see Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 794-95 (discussing how racially-coded language

can distance defendants from jurors) (citing Thompson, supra, at 1257).

In the context of the instant case, the prosecutor’s use of “beef” could have

distanced Bellerouche from the jury by playing on “the perceived negative qualities and

dangerousness of Black … communities,”35 so as to evoke “a conception of ‘us’ versus

‘them.’” Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 794. Such “othering” 36 can interfere with jurors’ ability to

properly consider evidence by suggesting that Black defendants are “inherently

different,” “deserve less sympathy,” 37 and are “‘generally outliers in the moral, civilized,

and law-abiding society to which the jurors themselves belong.’” Thompson, supra, at

1257 (quoting Montré D. Carodine, ‘‘The Mis-Characterization of the Negro”: A Race

Critique of the Prior Conviction Impeachment Rule, 84 IND. L. J. 521, 570 (2009).

The majority reasons that because the prosecutor asked both Robinson and

Bellerouche whether any “beef” existed before the shooting, the prosecutor’s use of

35

Prasad, supra note 29, at 3107-09.

36

“Othering” is defined in an article cited by the Bagby court, 200 Wn.2d at 795, as “a

process by which individuals and society view and label people who are different in a way that

devalues them.” Thompson, supra, at 1263. “When individuals engage in ‘othering,’ they

‘determine that certain people are not us, and that determination functions to create ... a

devalued and dehumanized Other, and a distancing of the other from ourselves.’” Thompson,

supra, at 1263 (quoting Susan J. Stabile, Othering and the Law, 12 U. ST. THOMAS L. J. 381,

382 (2016)).

37

Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 794 (citing Prasad, supra note 29, at 3108; Thompson, supra, at 1257).

37

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“beef” could not objectively create the appearance of an “us-versus-them” narrative.

Majority at 24. The majority also states that because Robinson and the trial judge were

also Black, it is “incoherent” to conclude that “beef” “‘suggest[ed] Black defendants are

inherently different from white jurors and deserve less sympathy,’” because “[t]o do so

would have deprived the victim and the presiding judge of their humanity as well.”

Majority at 24 (quoting Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 794).

The majority’s rationale centers on a comparison of Bellerouche’s trial to the civil

trial at issue in Henderson v. Thompson, 200 Wn.2d at 435, wherein the Washington

Supreme Court applied a similar objective observer standard 38 to determine whether a

civil litigant established a prima facie case that race could have been a factor in a civil

verdict. See majority at 22-23. The court held that Henderson established Thompson’s

defense counsel impermissibly relied on racial stereotypes and, in considering the

totality of the circumstances of the trial, an objective observer could conclude that

racism affected the verdict. Henderson, 200 Wn.2d at 439. As the majority cites, see

majority at 23, the Henderson court observed that “the only Black people in the

courtroom” were Henderson herself, her lawyer, and her lay witnesses. 200 Wn.2d at 423.

The majority’s comparison is inapt. At issue in Henderson was whether

Henderson presented a prima facie case to require the trial court to grant Henderson an

evidentiary hearing on her motion for a new trial. Id. at 439-40; see GR 37. The

Henderson court explained that at such a hearing, “the trial court is to presume that

racial bias affected the verdict, and the party benefiting from the alleged racial bias has

38

The Henderson court held, “[U]pon a motion for a new civil trial, courts must ascertain

whether an objective observer who is aware that implicit, institutional, and unconscious biases,

in addition to purposeful discrimination, have influenced jury verdicts in Washington State could

view race as a factor in the verdict.” 200 Wn.2d at 435 (citing Berhe, 193 Wn.2d at 665).

38

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the burden to prove it did not.” Id. at 435. No such burden-shifting between the State

and a criminal defendant occurs in the context of a race-based prosecutorial misconduct

allegation. Rather, the appellate court should be concerned as to whether an objective

observer could conclude that a prosecutor’s appeals to racial bias could have

undermined the credibility or presumption of innocence of the criminal defendant so as

to categorically deprive the defendant of their fair trial right to an impartial jury. Bagby,

200 Wn.2d at 787-89.

In the instant case, although the prosecutor may have also drawn jurors’

attention to Robinson’s race by using the term “beef,” this does not negate the

reasonable possibility that the prosecutor’s racially-coded language could have also

impacted jurors’ decision-making processes as to Bellerouche’s guilt by “othering” him

to a stereotypically Black world of violence and criminality. See id. at 793; Al Hayek v.

Miles, No. 39989-3-III, slip op. at 8-9 (Wash. Ct. App. Jan. 30, 2025),

https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/399893_pub.pdf. The “othering” that occurs is

not necessarily between the accused and the victim, but between the accused and the

jury. See Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 794-95.

I also disagree with the majority’s statement that Bellerouche could not have

been feasibly “othered” from the jury because he was not the only Black person in the

courtroom. See majority at 24. This claim fatally ignores the reality of ingrained

prejudices against Black criminal defendants that has contributed to our nation’s mass

incarceration of people of color. 39 See Araibi, supra, at 822, 838; Paige M. Walker,

39

I note the majority’s indirect implication that otherwise injected racial appeals are

permissible as long as they are spread out beyond the defendant is profoundly troubling. We

must not veer towards allowing racism in moderation. “‘[T]heories and arguments based upon

racial, ethnic and most other stereotypes are antithetical to and impermissible in a fair and

39

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Comment, Restricting the Use of Rap Lyrics As Evidence in Courts: A Targeted Approach to

Tackling Discrimination in Criminal Procedure, 28 LEWIS & CLARK L. REV. 431, 446 (2024).

Additionally, the tone of the majority’s reasoning suggests that it would have

been nonsensical for the prosecutor to appeal to jurors’ potential racial bias when such

conduct would dehumanize the victim and trial judge as well. See majority at 23. This is

untenable. First, the prosecutor’s subjective intent is not considered in a race-based

prosecutorial misconduct analysis. 40 See Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 792-93. Second, the

objective observer is aware that the victim, Robinson, admitted to bringing a gun to the

business plaza parking lot, using cocaine, being high, and initially lying about how he

was shot. The objective observer is also aware that the only evidence that Bellerouche

was the shooter was Robinson’s testimony. Therefore, before the jury was a credibility

battle between Bellerouche, a Black defendant, and his alleged victim. It is in this

context that the objective observer could conclude that the prosecutor apparently

intentionally appealed to jurors’ potential racial bias to undermine Bellerouche’s

credibility to tip the jury’s favor towards Robinson or to weaken Bellerouche’s

presumption of innocence that he was due as the defendant. Lastly, whether conduct

impartial trial.’” Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 678 (quoting State v. Dhaliwal, 150 Wn.2d 559, 583, 79

P.3d 432 (2003) (Chambers, J., concurring)).

40

Additionally, the majority seems to suggest that a lack of objection to the prosecutor’s

remarks cuts against Bellerouche’s race-based misconduct. See majority at 24. This contention

flies in the face of the rule that “inaction by defense counsel cannot excuse a prosecutor’s

misconduct.” Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 717. “Unlike the rules for general prosecutorial misconduct,

the rule for race-based prosecutorial misconduct does not differentiate between a defendant

who objects and one who does not object.” Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 709 n.11. Indeed, the case

that the majority cites addressed a general (non-race-based) prosecutorial misconduct claim.

See majority at 24 (citing State v. Swan, 114 Wn.2d 613, 661, 790 P.2d 610 (1990)). The State

concedes that an objection is not required to preserve a race-based prosecutorial misconduct

claim for appeal. Wash. Court of Appeals oral argument, State v. Bellerouche, No. 84887-9-I

(Sept. 13, 2024), at 10 min., 26 sec. through 10 min., 32 sec., video recording by TVW,

Washington State’s Public Affairs Network,

https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2024091211.

40

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appeals to jurors’ racial bias is not determined by the racial make-up of the courtroom.

Implicit bias transcends race. 41 See id. at 791-92; see also Lindsay Perez Huber et al.,

Naming Racism: A Conceptual Look at Internalized Racism in U.S. Schools, 26 CHICANA/O-

LATINA/O L. REV. 183, 183-84, 186 (2006) (discussing the concept of internalized racism).

B. Frequency

In considering whether a prosecutor apparently intentionally appealed to jurors’

racial bias, a reviewing court should consider whether the prosecutor’s remarks or

questions were isolated incidents. See Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 796; Zamora, 199 Wn.2d

at 719; Monday, 171 Wn.2d at 678. In its analysis of the frequency factor, the majority

states the prosecutor’s use of “beef” did not play any significant role in the State’s

theory. Majority at 25. Again, I disagree and believe the majority’s conclusion is

erroneous for lack of contextual considerations. See majority at 25.

Here, the prosecutor used “beef” five times 42 throughout Bellerouche’s trial in an

objectively strategic manner. See Loughbom, 196 Wn.2d at 76. By introducing “beef”

41

The State argues in its briefing that the prosecutor’s use of “beef” necessarily cannot

appeal to racial bias because “it is common” and “in fact, it is the title of a popular Netflix series

that begins with a ‘road rage’ incident between two random people, neither of whom is Black.”

First, the multi-cultural adoption of a term does not negate the fact that it could appeal to a

juror’s specific implicit racial bias. See Berhe, 193 Wn.2d at 658 (“[A]llowing bias or prejudice by

even one juror to be a factor in the verdict violates a defendant’s constitutional rights and

undermines the public’s faith in the fairness of our judicial system.”). Second, as Bellerouche

points out in his reply brief, the State’s cultural example illustrates the association between

“beef” and violence. Indeed, the show, as noted by Bellerouche, features escalating violence,

including gun violence. See Alex Abad-Santos, Beef is the Best Show Netflix Has Had in Recent

Memory, VOX (Apr. 12, 2023, 7:00 AM),

https://www.vox.com/culture/2023/4/12/23680055/netflix-beef-review-ending-explained-season-

2-emmy-award-winning.

42

As the majority observes, the prosecutor used the term “beef” a sixth time, but to ask

Robinson if the Chinese restaurant at the business plaza had “Mongolian beef.” Neither party

cites to this use of “beef” in its argument, and the prosecutor’s question had no apparent

connection to the substantive questioning regarding the shooting. The prosecutor quickly

changed topics after Robinson’s response, “They do [have Mongolian beef].”

41

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early in opening and referring back to it in closing, the prosecutor presented a racially-

driven prism through which the jury should view the evidence. See id.; State v. Ramos,

164 Wn. App. 327, 340-41, 263 P.3d 1268 (2011). Likewise, the prosecutor punctuated

the trial at key points by reinforcing the racially-tied term when examining both

Bellerouche and Robinson. This is not a case where the prosecutor inadvertently

uttered the word “beef” or where the remarks were one-off or isolated occurrences. See

Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 793; Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 719.

C. Apparent Purpose

The majority correctly characterizes the third factor as requiring a reviewing court

to consider how an objective observer “could understand” the purpose of the

prosecutor’s “beef” remarks. See majority at 25 (citing Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 796); see

also Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 719-21 (applying the objective standard). The majority,

however, dismisses Bellerouche’s identification of problematic evidentiary arguments as

not connected to the prosecutor’s use of “beef” and, in doing so, critically fails to

consider the larger trial narrative in which the remarks were made. See majority at 22

n.9. The majority fails to apply the test as directed by our state Supreme Court that

requires this court to assess an allegation of race-based prosecutorial misconduct within

the entire context of the trial. Zamora, 199 Wn.2d at 718; Bagby, 200 Wn.2d at 807

(Stephens, J., concurring, with four justices joining). This “include[s] the evidence

presented, ‘the context of the total argument, the issues in the case, the evidence

addressed in the argument, and the instructions given to the jury.’” Monday, 171 Wn.2d

at 675 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. McKenzie, 157 Wn.2d 44, 52,

134 P.3d 221 (2006)).

42

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Here, the record shows that the apparent purpose of the prosecutor’s use of

“beef” was not simply to establish the circumstances of the crime as the majority holds.

See majority at 26. Rather, the objective observer could conclude that the “beef”

remarks were among the breadcrumbs dropped by the prosecutor to lead jurors down a

path to fill an obvious gap in the State’s evidence—why would Bellerouche shoot

Robinson? That path involved apparently intentionally appealing to jurors’ racial bias to

fill in a missing motive with an image of a cold-blooded violent criminal, a thug, the type

of person who would “sin again” in the memory of his right-hand man by shooting

Robinson in the face at pointblank range for no reason and who continued to shoot as

Robinson fled for his life.

At opening the prosecutor teed up the memorial video from Egger’s cell phone

that the State later introduced, played for the jury, and admitted into evidence. The

prosecutor told the jury they would “see somebody who looks an awful lot like Bernard

Bellerouche carrying an object that looks an awful lot like a firearm.” (Emphasis added.)

The prosecutor also told the jury about how Bellerouche was sad about the loss of his

best friend, Whitney, or “T.C.,” who had died the year before.

On direct Bellerouche expressed that he was not initially planning to go to

Whitney’s memorial “because it was a sad situation for me to relive.” The prosecutor

later circled back to Bellerouche’s emotional state and elicited from Bellerouche that he

was feeling sad on the birthday of his friend and “right-hand man” Whitney. When

Bellerouche described Whitney as his “best friend,” the prosecutor was apparently not

satisfied and followed up by saying, “And your right-hand man was the phrase I was

using.” The prosecutor then pointed out that Bellerouche’s tattoo of “TC” was located on

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his right hand and that Bellerouche referred to Whitney as his right-hand man in text

messages. Earlier at trial, the prosecutor admitted without objection a photo of

Bellerouche’s hand with the “TC” tattoo. See Ex. 68.2.

The prosecutor, over defense objection, played for the jury the audio of the

memorial video that included Lil Wayne’s entire rap song, “I Miss My Dawgs.” See Ex.

65 at 01:12-05:30. The reason the prosecutor gave for playing the song audio evolved.

The State first argued that the audio was needed to capture the sounds of “somebody

ask[ing] are you off to Aurora?” and liquid being poured out of what the prosecutor

believed was the Remy Martin cognac bottle later found at the scene of the shooting.

After the trial court pointed out that both those sounds occur outside the song’s playing

time, the prosecutor argued that the full audio was needed because it captured the

sound of a car door closing after the Black man in the blue shirt, suggested by the State

to be Bellerouche holding a firearm, walks in front of the BMW towards the driver’s side

and out of view. But the audio does not capture the sound of a car door closing near the

time the Black man in the blue shirt walks across the screen at two minutes and 15

seconds as argued by the prosecutor. During the song, at four minutes and 57 seconds,

the video first shows the Black man in the blue shirt walking a distance away from the

vehicle. Ex. 65. When the Black man in the blue shirt is shown again walking across the

screen, it is more than four minutes after the song ends. Ex. 65 at 08:43.

Although Bellerouche does not challenge the admission of the song audio on

appeal, 43 its playing at trial is nonetheless part of the context within which this court

43

With regard to defense’s pre-trial motion argument that the song artist Lil Wayne

publicly boasts about his own gang involvement, the trial court seemed to suggest that jurors

not affiliated with gangs who recognize Lil W

This text is long and has been trimmed here. Open the source document for the complete record.