Opinion ID: 1876750
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: appellant leoncio castillo

Text: Defendant-appellant Castillo reserved his Bill of Exceptions No. 1 to the admission into evidence of a photograph of himself. Objection to the introduction of the photograph was made on the ground that no foundation had been laid for its admission into evidence. We find that ample foundation had been laid for the admission of the photograph. Co-defendant Smith testified that he was acquainted with the photograph, was present when it was made, and that the photograph accurately depicted what it purported to represent. This bill of exceptions is without merit. Defendant Castillo's Bill of Exceptions No. 2 was reserved after the trial judge denied his motion for severance. The defendant sought to separate his trial from that of his Co-defendant Smith, allegedly because Smith had a lengthy criminal record. Article 704 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure provides: Jointly indicted defendants shall be tried jointly unless: (1) The state elects to try them separately; or (2) The court, on motion of the defendant, and after contradictory hearing with the district attorney, is satisfied that justice requires a severance. Under this article, the granting of a severance is within the discretion of the trial judge, whose ruling will be disturbed on appeal only when there is a clear abuse of discretion. State v. Shaffer, 260 La. 605, 257 So.2d 121 (1971); State v. Bonner, 252 La. 200, 210 So.2d 319 (1968). The trial judge, in our opinion, did not abuse his discretion in denying the severance. The defenses were not antagonistic. Actually, defendant Smith took the stand, testified that he alone committed the crime, and attempted to exonerate both co-defendants. We conclude that the bill of exceptions lacks merit.