Opinion ID: 347528
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Alleged Merger of Counts 1 and 2

Text: 275 In the course of its instructions on the charge of obstruction of justice as set forth in Count 2, 250 the court stated: 276 Count Two charges, in substance, that the Defendants Messrs. Mitchell, Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Parkinson, as well as other alleged conspirators, not Defendants here or conspirators, either one, corruptly endeavored to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice. . . . 277 Tr. 12379 (emphasis added). Haldeman contends that this single reference to conspirators in connection with Count 2 introduced elements of the law of conspiracy into the second count of the indictment, thereby commingling the elements of (the first and second) charges, broadening the scope of the Indictment, and allowing the jury to convict on both Counts One and Two on the basis of the same evidence. Haldeman br. at 117. We disagree. The italicized portion of the statement is nothing more than a permissible description of the actual status of Charles W. Colson and Gordon Strachan, who were both named as defendants in the conspiracy count and in the count charging obstruction of justice, but who were not on trial at that time. For the court to call attention to the existence of these two men who were not Defendants here was desirable and proper. The jury would not consider the statement to be anything more than a reference to the status of these men. 251 278