Opinion ID: 369698
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bird's Testimony

Text: 34 Donald Bird, an unindicted coconspirator, was a government witness. He was granted immunity in exchange for the testimony which he gave. During the course of the methaqualone operation, he was employed by the Houston Police Department. He testified about statements made to him by Appellant West and by Herbert Goodman which implicated both of the Appellants. 9 35 The admission of Bird's testimony did not violate the Appellants' right to confront witnesses. The reasoning and the authorities in support of this conclusion are the same as those for the admission of Ms. Carrier's testimony, Supra. The testimony was clearly admissible under the federal conspiracy evidentiary rule. 36 The purpose of Herbert Goodman's statements was, obviously, to induce Mr. Bird to join the mathaqualone operation. Appellant Goodman argues that the admission of Mr. Bird's testimony about statements made by Appellant West to him violated Appellant Goodman's constitutional right to confront witnesses, citing Bruton v. United States, Supra, and United States v. Holt, Supra. The Holt case involved the joint trial of James Holt and William Holt. Testimony from two witnesses was admitted regarding out-of-court statements made by James Holt which inculpated William Holt. Both Holts were represented by one lawyer who could not place James Holt on the stand to deny or explain the statements made without incriminating both defendants further, nor could he attack James Holt's veracity. The court held that the trial court erred in not granting the defendants' motion to sever, because the government's use of the out-of-court statements of James Holt, who did not take the stand and which tended to incriminate William Holt, constituted a violation of William Holt's right to confront witnesses. 37 Appellant Goodman contends that since he and Appellant West were represented by one lawyer at a joint trial in which Appellant West did not take the stand, the admission into evidence of the out-of-court statements made by Appellant West which incriminated Appellant Goodman denied Appellant Goodman of his right to confront witnesses under United States v. Holt, supra. Again, we find Appellant Goodman's contention unfounded. The primary issue in the Holt case was the denial of a motion to sever. There is no such issue before us in this case. Therefore, we hold that Mr. Bird's testimony concerning statements made to him by Appellant West were properly admitted under Rule 801(d)(2)(E), and that such admission did not violate Appellant Goodman's right to confront witnesses under United States v. Holt, supra, and, for the further reasons, and based on the authorities previously stated, did not violate Appellant Goodman's right to confront witnesses under Bruton v. United States, Supra.