Opinion ID: 2199758
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: The admission of the testimony of the witnesses Calavira, Suggs and Flores concerning statements made by the defendants prior to the actual holdup.

Text: The State's witness, Calavira, testified that on an automobile trip from Chicago to Camden with the defendants Rodriguez, Mayaree and Gabby certain conversations took place among them about a contemplated holdup, presently the basis of the indictment returned by the grand jury. It is argued the conversations were so far out of time as not to be admissible as part of the res gestae and that they should have been excluded because they did not show any agreement or combination and were irrelevant as they related to the charge of robbery. The testimony of two other State's witnesses, Suggs and Flores, is similarly classified. No authorities are furnished to sustain the defendants' point of view, nor do we see any merit to the argument advanced. The conversations in question took place among three of the defendants and were, in fact, the foundation of the conspiracy itself. They occurred in the presence of Calavira, who was solicited then, as well as on two other occasions, to join the enterprise, so that what was uttered can easily be construed as being in furtherance of the conspiracy formed by the defendants. The acts and declarations of any conspirators in furtherance of the common design may be given in evidence against any other conspirator. The rule is applicable where it is charged that a crime was committed in pursuance of a conspiracy, whether or not the indictment contains a count for such conspiracy. State v. Carbone, 10 N.J. 329, 338 (1952). Additionally, most of the testimony objected to within this class was clearly admissible as admissions against interest.