Court Opinion

ID: 9703288
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 23:50:31.533765+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:47.225010
License: Public Domain

SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, J.
(dissenting). The last two sentences of sec. 971.12(3), Stats., provide as follows:
*313“The district attorney shall advise the court prior to trial if he intends to use the statement of a codefendant which implicates another defendant in the crime charged. Thereupon, the judge shall grant a severance as to any such defendant.”
The last two sentences of sec. 971.12(3) are mandatory. The district attorney is required to advise the court prior to trial if he intends to use the statement of a codefendent which implicates another defendant in the crime charged. When advised by the district attorney, the judge is required to grant a severance as to any such defendant.
If before trial the trial court excises a portion of the codefendant’s statement to remove the matter which implicates the defendant in order to avoid falling within the last two sentences of sec. 971.12(3), Stats., the trial court must continue with the excision if it is to continue with the trial.