Opinion ID: 365884
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: count viii bill of particulars

Text: 120 During hearings on pre-trial motions, Taylor requested a bill of particulars, specifying those portions of the grand jury testimony forming the basis for Count VIII. Denial of the bill of particulars, Taylor asserts, constituted a denial of due process. 121 The purpose of the bill of particulars is to sufficiently advise a defendant of the charges to enable him to prepare a defense and avoid surprise at trial, and to enable him to plead former jeopardy at a subsequent trial. United States v. Cantu, 557 F.2d 1173, 1178 (5th Cir. 1977), Cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1063, 98 S.Ct. 1236, 55 L.Ed.2d 763 (1978). The decision not to order a bill of particulars is within the discretion of the trial judge and will be overturned only upon a showing of clear abuse of discretion evidenced by actual surprise or other prejudice. Id. 122 Taylor was clearly informed of the charges by the detailed language of the indictment which set forth his grand jury testimony. When Taylor inquired as to which portions of that testimony were alleged to be false, the government responded orally that all of the testimony was false. Taylor makes no claim of surprise, but merely concludes the rambling nature of his testimony worked to deprive him of due process. There can be no doubt that the subject matter of the offense was sufficiently described to allow him to plead former jeopardy in the event of a later prosecution. Where, as here, the indictment sets forth the false testimony, all of which was alleged to be false, there is no error in denying a motion for a bill of particulars.