Opinion ID: 2379771
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: denial of motions for separate trial

Text: All of the appellants contend that the court erred in not sustaining their motions for separate trial. RCr 9.16 provides: If it appears that a defendant or the Commonwealth is or will be prejudiced by a joinder of offenses or of defendants in an indictment or information or by joinder for trial, the court shall order separate trials of counts, grant separate trials of defendants or provide whatever other relief justice requires.   . Whether a motion for separate trial should be granted is a matter which addresses itself to the discretion of the trial court. Hoskins v. Commonwealth, Ky., 374 S.W.2d 839 (1964) and Underwood v. Commonwealth, Ky., 390 S.W.2d 635 (1965). Appellants assert their defenses were antagonistic to each other which fact was prejudicial in a joint trial. Two of the appellants offered defenses. The other two did not. The defenses were not antagonistic or incompatible. All appellants pleaded not guilty and no appellant presented a defense which refuted a defense of any codefendant. Although the quantity of proof against some of the appellants was greater than against others we believe that the jury was able to separate the evidence which was competent as to each defendant and to render a verdict as to each based upon evidence which pertained to him. The fact that one of the appellants was impeached by proof of a past conviction of felony would not as a matter of law require a separation of trials. Alford v. Commonwealth, Ky., 432 S.W.2d 414 (1968). The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying appellants' motion for separate trials.