Document: 405 U.S. 427 92 S.Ct. 1056 31 L.Ed.2d 340 Donald Felix SCHNEBLE, Petitioner,v.State of FLORIDA. No. 68—5009. Argued Jan. 17 and 18, 1972. Decided March 21, Syllabus Petitioner was found guilty murder following a jury trial in which police officers testified as to the detailed confession that he had given them one officer related statement made him by petitioner's codefendant, who did not testify, tended undermine initial (but later abandoned) version corroborate certain details confession. The Supreme Court Florida affirmed. claims admission into evidence his codefendant's deprived right confrontation violation Bruton v. United States, 391 123, 88 1620, 20 476. Held: Any might have occurred harmless beyond reasonable doubt view overwhelming guilt manifested confession, completely comported with objective evidence, comparatively insignificant effect admission. Pp. 429—432. 215 So.2d 611, Clyde B. Wells, DeFuniak Springs, Fla., for petitioner. George R. Georgieff, Washington, D.C., respondent. Mr. Justice REHNQUIST delivered opinion Court. 1 Schneble codefendant Snell were tried jointly state court murder. At neither defendant took stand, but witnesses admissions each implicating both Both defendants convicted, This vacated remanded case further consideration light 476 (1968). Florida, 392 298, 2067, 1116 Upon remand, reversed Snell's conviction, finding it been obtained Bruton, affirmed conviction. We again granted certiorari, limited* question whether conviction rule. In circumstances this case, we find any may at doubt. therefore affirm. 2 State's showed threesome consisting petitioner, Snell, victim, Mrs. Maxine Collier, left New Orleans borrowed automobile en route Florida. While they traveling across Panhandle, Collier murdered, her body placed trunk automobile. then transported car environs Tampa, where behind some bushes trash dump. continued their odyssey southward Keys, thence north along east coast They apprehended unrelated offenses West Palm Beach, upon discovering blood there commenced investigation ultimately led charging petitioner Collier. 3 investigating initially, while admitting knowledge murder, claimed shot away from taking walk. conceded, however, earlier story false. He admitted strangled finally head she lay dying. held these be voluntary admissible. Since our grant certiorari here limited issue, treatment assumes properly before court. 4 One also Snell. challenges testimony violative Burton, since take stand thus available cross-examination. According officer, said occupied rear seat never alone during trip. fell far short type comprehensive tend claim time occurred. position victim could more easily strangled. Thus claims, introduction out-of-court statement, subject effective cross-examination, Bruton. 5 Burton rights under Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause, when implicated defendant. Even is instructed consider only against declarant, determined danger misuse too great constitutionally permissible. retroactive Roberts Russell, 293, 1921, 1100 (1968), applies instant even though than two years prior 6 mere rule course trial, does automatically require reversal ensuing criminal cases so overwhelming, prejudicial comparison, clear improper use error. 7 Harrington California, 395 250, 89 1726, 23 284 (1969), three others. As being scene crime, denied complicity. codefendants, confessed him, other whose statements corroborated defendant's presence stand. Noting Harrington's guilt, relatively impact codefendants' statements, 8 minutely consistent evidence. informed precise location located body, guided out-of-the-way spot. Although initially put sole blame on facts satisfactorily explain deep rope burns hands. When confronted fact burns, plotted kill order steal money 9 plastic cord, recounted commission crime minute grisly detail culminating shooting because still signs life after strangulation. These account offense internally consistent, contradicted case. consistently reiterated several occasions first exposition them. 10 Not independent Harrington, allegedly inadmissible most True, judge's charge, involuntary inadmissible. But argument proves much; without Schneble's resulting discovery virtually non-existent. remaining case—the disappearance sometime trip, sat back trip Collier—could itself convict or crime. Charged judge must 'satisfied doubt' 'to moral certainty' jurors no rational hypothesis reliance Judicious application harmless-error indulge assumptions irrational behavior perfectly explanation jury's verdict, instructions, stares us face. See Rogers Missouri Pacific Co., 352 500, 504—505, 77 443, 447, 493 (1957). 11 Having concluded considered jury, determine basis 'our own reading record what seems probable . minds an average jury,' supra, U.S., 254, S.Ct., 1728, sufficiently reversal. pointed out '(a) entitled fair perfect one.' 135, 1627, quoting Lutwak 344 604, 619, 73 481, 490, 97 L.Ed. 593 (1953). Thus, unless possibility improperly contributed required. Chapman 386 24, 87 824, 828, 705 (1967). conclude 'minds jury" would significantly less persuasive excluded. therefore, 12 Affirmed. 13 MARSHALL, whom DOUGLAS BRENNAN join, dissenting. 14 capital convicted last us, On reaffirmed holding 'inconsistent Bruton.' received extensive factual analysis State Court, little attention paid reasons proffered support violated. today's rejects Court's conclusion can squared concludes violated nontestifying charged introduced trial. Yet, permitted viewed 'harmless error' within meaning I dissent. 15 Determining constitutional infirmity error ordinarily difficult task. easier most, impossible read 'overwhelmingly' establishes difference outcome. 16 relies its conclusion, inapposite. codefendants demonstrate That decision setting admits scene, are merely cumulative urgently protest extension facts. It true murdering victim. But, arrested, full codefendant. present committed. Only subjected series bizarre acts designed frighten making incriminating 'confess.' spectrum events leading up set 201 881, 884—885 18 moved suppress ground direct result coercion. Recognizing acted attempting obtain Schneble, upheld court's attenuated coercive activities remove taint. Our permit review ruling. nature bar looking entire dispose issue presented. 19 Before hear regarding determination those required Jackson Denno, 378 368, 84 1774, 908 (1964). subsequently manner: 'Should you alleged freely voluntarily made, if regard, disregard same, well item discovered reason such (sic) confession.' (Tr. 561.) 21 way knowing judgment respect voluntariness statements. my opinion, clearly enough either cannot all inferences drawn favor defendant, very just inferences. assume involuntary. 22 followed instructions disregarded themselves, 'that statement(s). .' possible relied supra. means meticulously follow judge. Lego Twomey, 404 477, 30 618 (1972). assumption choose favorable insure harmless. Assuming, then, derived therefrom, remains verdict. places relevant time. Without believe anyone convinced 24 asserts, 'we (the codefendant's) reversal.' 'the jury' excluded.' 25 mistake makes assuming accepted turns assumption, demonstrated above, erroneous. duty admissibility fruits. activities, say minimal degree certainty almost base verdict primarily Malinski York, 324 401, 404, 65 781, 783, 1029 (1945); cf. Richmond, 365 534, 81 735, 760 (1961) (Frankfurter, J.). 26 admissible fruits, insufficient erroneous reasons. First, voluntary. 'voluntary' connected standing Second, remained free Whereas indicates involuntary, except suppressed matter law, general instruction suppression may, incorrectly unwittingly, narrowly circumscribed bolstered jury. Third, ignored says should ignored. circumstantial including statement. need ascribe malevolence here; recognize humans err. Indeed, notion constantly remind that.* things possibility, despite apparent affirms below, haunting 27 uncertainties perceive how significant Unless intends emasculate overrule Californai, sub silentio, submit wrong. * sentence death violates Eighth Fourteenth proscription 'cruel unusual punishment' here. currently Aikens 68—5027, companion cases. All executions stayed Governor's executive until July 1, 1973. Fla.Exec.Order 72—8 (Feb. 1972). U.S (1957), cited proposition do lightly infer nothing whatever generally particular. dealt proper function Federal Employers' Liability Act Constitution. was, short, involving sufficiency draw precisely opposite

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