Opinion ID: 2277488
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Events After the Ruling

Text: The prospect that Lee might be prosecuted for the theft of the discs diminished after both Gelestino and Pelander testified unequivocally, after observing him, that he was not the thief. Thereafter, even if Lee had acknowledged being in possession of Wilson's car at the time of the second sighting, the difficulties in prosecuting him would arguably have been sufficiently formidable to remove any reasonable cause to apprehend prosecution. Hoffman, supra, 341 U.S. at 486, 71 S.Ct. at 818; Davis, supra, 482 A.2d at 785. In any event, we think it fair to say that after the courtroom show-ups, the Fifth Amendment issue became much closer with respect to those proposed questions which were not directed to the ultimate issue. Seizing on this post-ruling change in circumstances, Wilson asks us to reverse his conviction because, he contends, the threat that Lee would have been prosecuted had been substantially dissipated after the government witnesses had exculpated Lee. He suggests that it was error for the judge not to revisit her prior decision even though she was not requested to do so. [12] In the present case, however, Wilson's counsel in fact pressed for an early decision. Prior to the commencement of trial, she argued that it would be important for opening statements to know what either is or is not coming in. The judge deferred ruling overnight to enable Lee to consult with counsel, and eventually made her ruling at a time which was considerably later than counsel requested. After the judge sustained Lee's Fifth Amendment claim, the defense never raised the issue again. The record does not disclose whether this was an oversight in the heat of battle or a tactical decision. The latter is a distinct possibility, however, for after Gelestino and Pelander had dashed Wilson's hopes by ruling out Lee as the culprit, counsel may well have concluded that Lee, if compelled to testify, might rub more salt into Wilson's wounds, and that the risk of calling him was too great. In any event, the trial judge was not asked to modify, on the basis of supervening events, a decision which we have found to have been correct when made. That she did not do so on her own initiative is therefore reviewable only for plain error. Any error must be shown to be an egregious one, United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 15, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 1046, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985), which jeopardizes the fairness and integrity of Wilson's trial. Watts v. United States, 362 A.2d 706, 709 (D.C.1976) ( en banc ). On these facts, we discern neither error nor plain error. For the foregoing reasons, Wilson's conviction is hereby Affirmed.