Opinion ID: 1888949
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Assignments of Error Numbers One, Two and Three

Text: Through his first and second assignments of error defendant argues that the trial judge erred in denying his motion in arrest of judgment which was based on grounds that defendant was not advised of and did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to trial by jury. In his third assignment defendant argues that the trial court erred in cutting short the hearing on his motion in arrest of judgment. In our opinion, the statement by defendant's attorney during a pretrial hearing that he planned to waive trial by jury, the minute entry showing such a waiver in defendant's presence in open court on the day of trial, and the defense counsel's testimony at the motion in arrest of judgment hearing that the defendant had been advised of his right to a jury trial, collectively, constitute adequate proof that defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his right to a trial by jury. See, State v. Phillips, 365 So.2d 1304 (La.1978); State v. Muller, 351 So.2d 143 (La.1977); State v. McCarroll, 337 So.2d 475 (La.1976). The trial court fell into error, however, when it terminated the motion in arrest of judgment hearing without permitting the defendant to attempt rebuttal of the state's prima facie showing of a knowing and intelligent waiver of his right to jury trial. Accordingly, we will provisionally reject defendant's assignment of error and affirm his conviction, but we will remand the case for completion of the hearing, instruct the trial court to rule anew on the motion, and preserve the parties' rights to a further appeal from the ruling.