Opinion ID: 1089522
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Argument FourHandwritten Stipulation

Text: Defendant argues that a handwritten stipulation admits that defendant fired first at the victim, Deputy Robert Cochran. This is not entirely accurate. The handwritten stipulation was read to the jury by the trial judge, as follows: Alright, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I have before me a document which contains a stipulation to a set of facts agreed upon by the State and by the Defense Counsels. I'm going to read this to you and you're to accept these facts as having been proven, the same as if they had been proven to your satisfaction on the witness stand. You understand? O.K. `First, that the defendant,' that's the defendant, Berry, `went to the Metairie Bank on the morning of January 30th, 1978, with the intent of committing an armed robbery. Secondly, after entering the bank the defendant fired three shots, two of which struck and killed Deputy Robert Cochran. Thirdly, that Deputy Cochran did fire one shot with his service revolver which shot struck the defendant. And fourthly, a spent pellet was removed from the defendant and if Technician Ron Singer would testify, he would testify that the pellet recovered from the defendant was fired by Deputy Cochran's service revolver. And fifth and last, that the Detective recovered a spent 9 mm pellet from the defendant's home in Baton Rouge and Technician Singer would testify that pellet was fired by the same pistol which fired the pellet recovered from Deputy Cochran's body.' Now, you are to accept those five statements read by me just now as facts having been proven and established in the case. Do you all understand that?O.K. Would you file this of record please. Make that `Stipulation # 2' as title of the exhibit. Alright, who is your next witness? (Docket No. 66,060, Vol. II, proceedings Oct. 25, 1978, pp. 66-67). There is no indication of why defense counsel agreed to the stipulation. It is possible that the bank film was not introduced in evidence because of this stipulation. If the film was counsel's alternative, the stipulation was certainly the only competent choice. One technique of criminal defense is to stipulate the worst features of a case rather than let the jury hear the evidence from live witnesses and prejudicial exhibits. The stipulation is an accurate representation of the facts of the event and does not, as defendant now contends, admit that defendant fired first. By entering the stipulation, attorney Blanche did not violate any duty to defendant. Further, there is no showing of prejudice.