Opinion ID: 364210
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the absence of limiting instructions

Text: 37 Even though the argument about the absence of limiting instructions is to some extent merged with the Bruton argument, defendants contend that the failure of the trial court to give limiting instructions on the use of the hearsay evidence and the burden of proof in proving identity constitutes reversible error. At trial, no defendant at any time requested a limiting instruction as to any statements of co-defendants nor did any defendant ask for an identification instruction. Thus the failure to instruct must result in basic and highly prejudicial error to justify reversal of a conviction. United States v. Esquer, 459 F.2d 431 (7th Cir. 1972), Cert. denied, 414 U.S. 1006, 94 S.Ct. 366, 38 L.Ed.2d 243 (1973).A. The Failure to Give Limiting Instructions On the Use of the Hearsay Statements 38 We do not find the failure of the trial judge to give a limiting instruction at the time the statements were introduced to be sufficiently prejudicial to constitute plain error. Riley, et al. v. United States, 411 F.2d 1146 (9th Cir. 1969), Cert. denied, 397 U.S. 906, 90 S.Ct. 897, 25 L.Ed.2d 87 (1970). It is conceivable that the defense attorneys did not request such an instruction as a matter of strategy to avoid highlighting damaging statements to the jury. Moreover, the conspiracy instruction given by the judge at the end of the trial specifically informed the jurors that they could consider statements not in furtherance of the conspiracy only against the person making them. 39 Defendants rely on United States v. McClain, 142 U.S.App.D.C. 213, 440 F.2d 241 (1971), for the proposition that failure by the trial judge to give a limiting instruction at the time of the admission of evidence offered for a limited purpose constitutes plain error. McClain, however, is distinguishable from the case at bar. The issue in McClain was the evidentiary use of a prior violent act by the defendant in a later trial which resulted in a conviction for manslaughter. While the prior act was admissible against the defendant to show malice, no limiting instruction was requested or given. The court held that the failure of the trial judge to issue a limiting instruction was plain error requiring reversal. 40 McClain involved unique facts which are crucial to an understanding of the case. After defense counsel in McClain objected to the admission of the prior incident, the prosecutor stated at the bench that he only intended to use the incident to demonstrate malice. The trial court excluded the evidence as prejudicial. When defense counsel then questioned the witness about prior violent acts by defendant, the court on its own initiative interrogated the witness about the specific prior incident that the court had earlier excluded as too prejudicial. Under these circumstances, the absence of a limiting instruction was deemed to be plain and reversible error. 11 As the unusual facts of McClain are absent in this case, we adhere to the general rule that (T)he primary responsibility rests on counsel to make fair and proper requests to charge. United States v. Bessesen, 445 F.2d 463, 468 (7th Cir. 1971). We hold, therefore, that the failure of the trial court to give limiting instructions on the use of hearsay statements at the time of their admission does not constitute plain error mandating reversal. 41 B. The Failure to Give Limiting Instructions on the Burden of Proof in Proving Identity 42 Defendants also contend that where identification of a defendant is a key issue, failure to given an instruction on identity constitutes reversible error. We find no merit to this contention. Some cases cited by defendants do hold that refusal to give a proffered instruction on the issue of identity is reversible error. E. g., United States v. Hodges, 515 F.2d 650 (7th Cir. 1975). Cf., United States v. Barber, 442 F.2d 517 (3d Cir. 1971). These cases do not suggest, however, that a failure by the trial judge to give a cautionary instruction to the jury where none was requested can be grounds for reversal.