Case Name: GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS v. JOSE ENRIQUE RIVERA, DAVID FELIX CASTILLO JOSE ENRIQUE RIVERA, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1971-03-01
Citations: 8 V.I. 330
Docket Number: No. 18,818
Parties: GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS v. JOSE ENRIQUE RIVERA, DAVID FELIX CASTILLO JOSE ENRIQUE RIVERA, Appellant
Judges: Before KALODNER, STALEY and ADAMS, Circuit Judges
Reporter: Virgin Islands Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 330–331

Head Matter:
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:
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.