Opinion ID: 2612518
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Submission of indictment to jury

Text: The trial court submitted a copy of the indictment to the jury for use during deliberations without deleting statutory references, felony designations, the prosecutor's signature, the words true bill, or the signature of the grand jury foreman. Defendant argues that this violated rule 21.3(b), Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, which provides: The court shall not inform the jury which instructions, if any, are included at the request of a particular party. We do not believe that the rule was violated by submission of the indictment. The mere fact that the prosecuting attorney signed the indictment does not indicate that he requested it be given to the jury. Alternatively, defendant contends that the indictment contained prejudicial surplusage. Before reading the indictment, the trial court instructed the jury that the indictment is not evidence and does not create a presumption or permissible inference of guilt. The cautionary instructions adequately informed the jury that the words true bill and the signature of the grand jury foreman were not evidence against defendant. We find no error. See United States v. Ramirez, 710 F.2d 535, 545 (9th Cir.1983).