Opinion ID: 536025
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Deleterious Effects of Trial.

Text: 70 Appellant also asserts that his health deteriorated under the strain of trial, creating a special sort of prejudice. The thesis runs along the following lines: in his opening statement, defense counsel, not knowing how the vagaries of trial would affect a sick man, told the jury that Zannino's testimony was crucial to an understanding of the case; due to failing health, however, Zannino proved unable to testify when it came time for the defense case; thus, the jury, expecting to hear Zannino's testimony, most probably held his failure to testify against him. In this way, appellant says that he was deprived of due process. 71 We find this logomachical frock gaping at several seams. Most critically, there is not a shred of evidence that Zannino's condition worsened to the point where he became medically unable to testify. There was excellent reason, tactically, for Zannino to avoid the witness stand. That he decided not to testify, and that his counsel intimated to the jury that his health precluded him from testifying, is a far cry from proving either the claimed deterioration or the etiology of the decision to stay off the witness stand. No further medical evidence was presented during the course of the trial and no change in circumstances was shown. On these facts, the assignment of error is infirm. 72 There is also a second reason why the initiative collapses. We have scoured the record without unearthing any indication that the defense made a motion for mistrial, or any other appropriate relief, at the point when Zannino believed that he could no longer testify. In our view, appellant's present claim is toppled by his neglect to ask for a further continuance, or a mistrial, to meet the supposed exigency of which he now complains. Cf., e.g., United States v. Diaz-Villafane, 874 F.2d 43, 47 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 177, 107 L.Ed.2d 133 (1989); United States v. Ingraldi, 793 F.2d 408, 413 (1st Cir.1986). If there was a legitimate problem, it was incumbent upon Zannino to bring it to the trial court's attention in a timely fashion and ask for concinnous relief. The failure to do so constitutes a waiver.