Opinion ID: 2218950
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Defendant's Motion to Sever.

Text: The next error assigned by defendant is the district court's refusal to sever his trial from that of his codefendant, Brandon Taylor. Defendant's motion to sever was made during the trial. It was prompted by the State offering evidence of an audiotape of a statement that Brandon Taylor had made to police. The trial court gave the jury a cautionary instruction that the contents of the tape should only be considered in the State's case against Taylor and not as to the case against defendant. Defendant argues that he was prejudiced from the admission of this tape of Taylor's statement because it placed him at the shooting scene, indicated that he knew Black had a gun, and supported the State's theory that Taylor was a member of the Black Gangster Disciples. In seeking reversal, defendant likens his situation to that which was presented in State v. Belieu, 288 N.W.2d 895 (Iowa 1980). The prejudice relied on for reversal in Belieu was testimony of the codefendant showing other crimes committed by the defendant seeking a severance. We found in that case that the evidence of other crimes would not have been admissible if defendant were being tried alone. We do not find the same level of prejudice to exist in the present case as was present in Belieu. Defendant does not seriously dispute that he was present when the shooting occurred. As to defendant's knowledge that Buddy Black had a gun and his intent to shoot Dewey Lamp, the information on the tape was cumulative of other evidence presented. Any evidence on the tape concerning membership in the Black Gangster Disciples had reference only to Taylor and did not implicate defendant in gang membership. Given the nature of the information on the tape, we think any prejudice to defendant was capable of being cured by the court's cautionary instruction to the jury. We find no abuse of discretion in denying the motion to sever.