Case ID: vi_8/html/0330-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS v. JOSE ENRIQUE RIVERA, DAVID FELIX CASTILLO JOSE ENRIQUE RIVERA, Appellant
    No. 18,818
    United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit
    Argued January 28, 1971
    Decided March 1, 1971
    
      See, also, 442 F.2d 407
    
    
      Russell B. Johnson, Esq., Christiansted, St. Croix, V.I., for appellant
    
    Robert M. Carney, Esq., U.S. Attorney, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, V.I., for appellee
    
    Before KALODNER, STALEY and ADAMS, Circuit Judges
    
   OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM:

This is an appeal from a conviction of second degree murder. Appellant contends, inter alia, that the use at trial of a statement made by his co-defendant was error under the rule of Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123 (1968). That case prohibited the use of a statement against a defendant which incriminated a co-defendant. The court recognized that an admonition by the judge will not erase from the minds of the jury those admissions of the declarant which implicate the non-declarant. In the instant case, however, the statement read to the jury contained nothing that implicated or incriminated appellant.

Bruton, supra, was grounded on the denial of a defendant’s right to confront witnesses against him. If his co-defendant does not testify, there can be no attack made on the incriminating statements. In the instant case, the co-defendant did testify and thus was subject to cross-examination by appellant as to his pretrial statement. Appellant cannot be heard to argue that he was denied the right of confrontation. Wade v. Yeager, 415 F.2d 570 (C.A.3), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 974 (1969).

We have carefully considered each of the other arguments made by appellant and find them to be without merit. The judgment of the district court will, therefore, be affirmed.