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

Heading: claim viconcession of guilt

Text: Defendant contends that he was deprived of due process, equal protection and effective counsel because of certain remarks in Blanche's opening argument to the jury, as follows: From the very beginning we will concede to you or I will concede to you on behalf of Ben Berry that he did intend to rob a branch of the Metairie Bank....       I'm not suggesting to you that he is innocent of a crime, but I'm asking you to presume, at least at this point, that he may be innocent of the crime of First Degree Murder. (Docket No. 66,060, Vol. II, proceedings Oct. 25, 1978, pp. 13, 17-18). It is argued that Blanche admitted his client's guilt. This is incorrect. The first remark is a comment on an obvious and inescapable fact; counsel may have been trying to establish his candor with the jury. The second remark forms part of the theme of the opening statement: Berry, although culpable, was not guilty of First Degree Murder. Narrowing the presumption of innocence claim to the charge of first degree murder was intended to direct the jury toward a lesser verdict. Read in context these statements are not violations of the attorney's duty. United States v. Decoster, supra. This claim lacks merit.