Opinion ID: 2295861
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: issues warranting summary analysis

Text: Appellants have raised a number of other issues which warrant only summary analysis. A. The argument is made that the convictions of armed kidnapping should be reversed because (1) the common law definition of kidnapping, which requires asportation and secrecy, should be incorporated into the statute, D.C.Code 1973, § 22-2101, and there was no asportation or secrecy in this case; (2) the statute is unconstitutionally vague; (3) it is an ex post facto law; (4) it violates the Eighth Amendment by specifying only one punishment for all grades of kidnapping; and (5) the kidnapping convictions, in any event, should be merged with the other offenses. These arguments are without merit. Asportation is not an essential element of kidnapping under our statute. See Robinson v. United States, D.C.App., 388 A.2d 1210, 1211 (1978); Sinclair v. United States, D.C.App., 388 A.2d 1201, 1208 (1978) (Mack, J., dissenting). Secrecy was not an element of kidnapping at common law, 1F. Wharton's Criminal Law § 373, at 740 (1957), nor is it under our statute. Nor can § 22-2101 be held unconstitutionally vague, see Parker v. Levy, 417 U.S. 733, 752, 94 S.Ct. 2547, 41 L.Ed.2d 439 (1974); United States v. Harriss, 347 U.S. 612, 617, 74 S.Ct. 808, 98 L.Ed. 989 (1954); District of Columbia v. B. J. R., D.C.App., 332 A.2d 58, 61, cert. denied, 421 U.S. 1016, 95 S.Ct. 2425, 44 L.Ed.2d 685 (1975), or an ex post facto law (it has been in effect in its present form since 1933 with only minor revisions not relevant here). Furthermore, contrary to the Eighth Amendment claim that only one form of punishment is provided  and assuming such a claim could have merit  § 22-2101 expressly provides for imprisonment for life or for such term as the court in its discretion may determine. Finally, the kidnappings here do not merge with the other offenses. Compare Sinclair, supra, and Pynes v. United States, D.C. App., 385 A.2d 772, 773-74 (1978), with Robinson, supra . B. Appellants charge that the jury selection system was unconstitutional because it systematically excluded Hanafi Muslims, and that the trial court should have granted them a hearing to prove their allegations. We disagree. Appellants failed to proffer any statistics or other evidence supporting this contention, despite the trial court's invitation to do so. See Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 99 S.Ct. 664, 58 L.Ed.2d 579 (1979); Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522 (1975); Rosser v. United States, D.C.App., 381 A.2d 598, 601 n. 1 (1977). C. Appellants allege error in the use of mug shot photographs, with their implication of criminality, to aid Rabbi Fishman's identifications, citing Williams v. United States, D.C.App., 382 A.2d 1, 4-6 (1978). The reference to photographs, however, was first made by counsel for appellant Khaalis during cross-examination. Later, when counsel for appellant Razzaaq showed the photographs to the witness, care was taken to avoid their being seen by the jury. The photographs were never introduced into evidence or otherwise seen by the jury. There was no error. D. Appellant Adam claims reversible error in the trial court's refusal to sever Count VIII, assault with a deadly weapon. We cannot agree that the court abused its discretion. See Sousa v. United States, D.C.App., 400 A.2d 1036, 1041 (1979); Horton v. United States, D.C.App., 377 A.2d 390, 392 (1977); Arnold v. United States, D.C.App., 358 A.2d 335, 339 (1976) (en banc); Hurt v. United States, D.C.App., 314 A.2d 489, 491-92 (1974); Baker v. United States, 131 U.S.App.D.C. 7, 26, 401 F.2d 958, 977 (1968). E. Appellant Khaalis claims reversible error from the trial court's revocation of his conditional release, and commitment to jail without bond, prior to indictment. This issue, however, already has been resolved adversely to Khaalis by this court's affirmance of the trial court's order denying his motion for reconsideration, Khaalis v. United States, D.C.App., No. 12014, June 16, 1977 (unpublished), and by this court's dismissal of a separate pretrial bail appeal after the jury's verdict had been returned. Khaalis v. United States, D.C.App., No. 12253, August 5, 1977 (unpublished). F. Appellants Adam and Khaalis have raised three additional arguments for the first time in their reply briefs. We denied the government's motion to strike but, upon further review, we find no merit in these contentions. 1. Specifically, these appellants claim that the lengths of their sentences, and the manner in which they were imposed, amount to cruel and unusual punishment and a violation of due process. The sentences were well within the statutory limits, however, and are therefore not reviewable by this court. Allen v. United States, D.C.App., 383 A.2d 363, 368 (1978); Walden v. United States, D.C.App., 366 A.2d 1075, 1076 (1976); Foster v. United States, D.C.App., 290 A.2d 176, 179 (1972). See Gore v. United States, 357 U.S. 386, 393, 78 S.Ct. 1280, 2 L.Ed.2d 1405 (1958). Appellants also stress that their counsel was allowed only ten minutes for allocution. We agree that, given the magnitude of this case, the trial court might well have been willing to listen longer; but each appellant was afforded the opportunity to speak, and we perceive no legal basis for setting aside the verdicts or sentences simply because the period of allocution was kept at a minimum. [109] 2. Next, appellants have not made a case for the proposition that Super.Ct. Cr.R. 6(d), which precluded appellants and their counsel from appearing before the grand jury, is unconstitutional. See United States v. Mandujano, 425 U.S. 564, 581, 96 S.Ct. 1768, 48 L.Ed.2d 212 (1976); Watson v. Warden, Maryland Penitentiary, 2 Md.App. 134, 140, 233 A.2d 321, 325 (1967); see also United States v. Tallant, 407 F.Supp. 878, 883 (N.D.Ga.1975); Hammond v. Brown, 323 F.Supp. 326, 338 (N.D.Ohio), aff'd, 450 F.2d 480 (6th Cir. 1971). 3. Finally, appellants point out that only counsel, not appellants, were present when the jury was brought back into the courtroom, during deliberations, to hear certain tapes in evidence replayed at the jury's request. It is true that [o]ne of the basic rights guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment is the accused's right to be present in the courtroom at every stage of trial. Heiligh v. United States, D.C.App., 379 A.2d 689, 693 (1977). See Super.Ct. Cr.R. 43(a). However, we need not consider whether that right was violated in this instance, for any conceivable error was harmless. See Smith v. United States, D.C.App., 389 A.2d 1356, 1361, cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1048, 99 S.Ct. 726, 58 L.Ed.2d 707 (1978).