Opinion ID: 2402568
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Cases Against McChan

Text: It is the contention of this appellant that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a severance. And, although his motion to exclude witnesses was granted, he also contends that the denial of severance amounted to a denial of his motion to exclude witnesses in that the denial of severance prevented the exclusion of three of the codefendants who were his only witnesses. Other errors are claimed by the refusal of the court to exclude evidence relating to the searches and seizures, his arrest, and the statements and confessions made by himself and the co-defendants. The propriety of admitting his confession as evidence is also questioned. Except insofar as they may be indirectly answered elsewhere in this opinion, we need not answer any of the questions presented here other than those concerning severance and the exclusion of witnesses. As to these it is apparent that the motions for severance should have been granted. This is so because this appellant was put on trial with his codefendants in four cases in which he was charged jointly with at least two of the other defendants, and in three cases in which he was not charged at all, in violation of Maryland Rule 734. See Lewis v. State, 235 Md. 588, 202 A.2d 370 (1964), decided after the trial of these cases below. We must therefore reverse the judgments of conviction against McChan and remand the cases for new trials.