Court Opinion

ID: 9456198
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 19:45:18.074878+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:34:53.193098
License: Public Domain

ROBB, Circuit Judge
(dissenting):
At the argument before the court en banc it developed that following the issuance of our previous opinions on January 22, 1969, and before they were vacated, the District Judge furnished the defendant with a transcript of the grand jury testimony of the complaining witness. Examination of this transcript, consisting of three pages, disclosed only one minor and insignificant difference between the grand jury testimony and the testimony of the witness at trial.1 In my opinion, therefore, there is no need for any further hearing in the District Court.
The robbery and assault with a pistol charged in the indictment occurred in August 1966. The appellant was tried and convicted in September 1967. Now in March 1970 we send the case back for further proceedings in the District Court.2 Whether or not a new trial is granted, another appeal to this court may follow. Instead of thus protracting the case upon grounds which to me seem insubstantial and unrealistic I think we should bring the matter to a close by affirming the judgment.
If we are to use this case as a vehicle for rule making I would not invite any relaxation of the rule and procedures adopted by the Second Circuit in United States v. Youngblood, 379 F.2d 365 (2d Cir. 1967), and the Seventh Circuit in United States v. Amabile, 395 F.2d 47 (7th Cir. 1968) and suggested in Judge Bastian’s vacated opinion of January 22, 1969.
Senior Circuit Judge BASTIAN and Circuit Judge TAMM concur in this dissent.

. Both before the grand jury and at trial the complaining witness testified that he was held up and robbed by Harris and a co-defendant in a public rest room in Franklin Park, near 13th and K Streets, N. W., in Washington. After the holdup the witness chased the robbers north on 13th Street to K Street. A police officer who was patroling K Street on a motorcycle saw the appellant running with the complaining witness behind him, yelling. The officer joined in the pursuit, overtook the appellant and arrested him at 12th and K Streets, N. W.
The only difference between the grand jury testimony and the testimony of the complaining witness at trial — -if it is a difference at all — is this: before the grand jury the witness testified that before going to the rest room he parked his car at 13th and L Streets, N. W., near Franklin Park. At trial, he testified that he parked on the corner of 13th and K Streets between K and L, near Franklin Park.
The co-defendant, who was also apprehended near the scene of the robbery by. another passing police officer, and who was convicted with the appellant, has not appealed.

. In the interim, in February 1968, the appellant was convicted of armed robbery and assault with a sawed-off shotgun, committed in February 1967. This case is now pending on appeal in this court. (No. 21,757)