Opinion ID: 1378832
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The state's reference in the guilt phase to Marshall's voluntary police statement.

Text: After Marshall's arrest, he gave voluntary statements implicating Hill as the perpetrator of the sexual assault and murder of Altonia. At trial, the prosecutor questioned the police officer who took the statement. For foundational purposes, direct examination revealed to the jury that Marshall made a statement; however, the content of that statement, namely that Marshall blamed Hill for the sexual assault, was not disclosed. Further, at closing arguments in the guilt phase, the prosecutor again made clear that Marshall had made a statement, but that the content was not in evidence. Although prior to trial, Hill's counsel ensured that Marshall's statement would not be admitted, they did not object when the references to that statement were made. Hill now contends that his trial attorneys were ineffective by allowing their client to be tried and sentenced on the basis of inadmissible, patently prejudicial evidence, in violation of Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123, 88 S.Ct. 1620, 20 L.Ed.2d 476 (1968). Hill alleges that the jury inferred that Marshall implicated Hill and, therefore, used this as evidence of Hill's guilt. Further, citing Schrader v. State, 102 Nev. 64, 714 P.2d 1008 (1986), Hill contends that the prosecutor's reference to matters not in evidence was improper and his counsel was ineffective because no objection was lodged. We note again that the specific contents of Marshall's hearsay statements were never admitted into evidence. This was due to the successful efforts of Hill's counsel to exclude these potentially prejudicial accusations. Only the fact that Marshall made statements existed was known to the jury. Therefore, we conclude that no Bruton violation occurred. Moreover, a careful review of the record has failed to disclose any reference to Marshall's statement that would lead the jury to believe that Marshall blamed Hill for the sexual assault and murder. Accordingly, we conclude Hill's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel with respect to this claim has no merit.