Opinion ID: 1657407
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: The Potential Prejudice to the Defendant

Text: The third factor is the key factor in Blanche's argument. Blanche asserts that he was prejudiced by Bernard's statements that were not admissible against him and the introduction of Robert Williams' letter implicating him in Phillips' murder. Because we have already held that the alleged Bruton statements were either not error or were harmless error, we conclude that Blanche suffered no prejudice based on Bernard's statements. Therefore, Blanche was not prejudiced by joinder based on the alleged Bruton statements. [6] Moreover, we note that, at the time the district court made its decision to join the two trials, Blanche had not specified which statements might be admitted that would potentially violate Bruton. A district court does not err because of the possibility, as Blanche alleged, of offending Bruton statements. Denying joinder on this possibility alone is simply an argument against joinder generally. See Minn. R.Crim. P. 17.03, subd. 2(1) (giving the court discretion in determining whether to try two or more defendants jointly). Blanche also contends that Bernard's introduction of Robert Williams' letter was unduly prejudicial because the letter was written to show that Blanche knew about and was involved in Phillips' murder. Because Detective Zimmer directed William to write the letter, its introduction did not prejudice or create antagonistic defenses between Blanche and Bernard. Rather, Blanche used the letter and Zimmer's involvement in its preparation to support Blanche's theory that the state was manipulating evidence to reach the result that it wanted. We therefore conclude that Bernard's introduction of the letter was not prejudicial to Blanche.