Opinion ID: 597808
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Alleged Change in the Theory of Prosecution

Text: 104 In connection with Count 17, which charged Concepcion with causing the death of Gines in violation of §§ 1959 and 2, the government, in both its opening statement and its summation, argued that Concepcion himself killed Gines. In its summation, the government added that the jury could also find Concepcion guilty on an aiding and abetting theory. Concepcion contends that the government was bound by its opening statement and that the summation changed the government's theory of count 17, and thereby denied him a fair trial and an opportunity to defend against the aiding and abetting theory. These contentions are meritless. 105 By citing § 2, the indictment gave Concepcion notice that the government could proceed on the premise that he had violated § 1959 by aiding and abetting. See generally United States v. Miller, 471 U.S. 130, 134, 105 S.Ct. 1811, 1814, 85 L.Ed.2d 99 (1985) (no prejudice where defendant received notice that [a particular] offense was charged and would need to be defended against). The government was not required to mention all possible theories in its opening. Concepcion's reliance on United States v. McKeon, 738 F.2d 26, 30 (2d Cir.1984), for the proposition that the government was bound by its opening statement is misplaced. A party's statements of fact in its opening statement may indeed be used against it as admissions. Thus, in McKeon, factual statements in defense counsel's opening statement from the first trial of the case were admissible against the defendant at his second trial. Here, however, the government's opening made no factual concessions. The mere mention of one of the theories alleged in the indictment does not foreclose the presentation of evidence to support other theories, so long as the defendant has received adequate notice of those other theories. 106 In any event, Concepcion undoubtedly was not prejudiced by mention of the aiding and abetting theory in the government's summation since (a) the trial court refused to instruct the jury that it could find Concepcion guilty on count 17 on an aiding and abetting theory, and (b) the evidence that Concepcion himself had shot and killed Gines was abundant. 107