delivered the opinion of the Court.
Edward Stermer, president and majority stockholder of
1. Whether the trial court erred in granting the State’s motion to join the indictments against the appellants for trial;
2. Whether the trial court erred in denying appellants’ motions to sever;
3. Whether the trial court erred in refusing to require the production of prior statements and grand jury testimony of State’s witness Paul Katsus;
4. Whether the trial court erred in admitting evidence of Erman’s financial condition;
5. Whether the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of Paul Katsus;
(a) because he was a perjurer,
(b) because the conspiracy counts had been dismissed,
6. Sufficiency of the evidence.
Issues raised by Erman only are:
1. Whether Erman was denied his right to be present at every stage of the trial;
2. Whether the trial court erred in refusing to dismiss the indictments because of abuse of the Grand Jury process.
Issues applicable to Brent only are:
1. Whether the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress the statement of October 26, 1978;
2. Whether the trial court erred in admitting certain alleged rebuttal testimony;
3. Violation of the "other crimes” evidence rule;
4. Whether the trial court erred in failing to submit the question of the voluntariness of the October 26, 1978 statement as well as other statements;
5. Whether there was error in denying his motion for mistrial following allegedly improper jury argument;
6. Whether he was entitled to a private trial and a sequestered jury.
The Facts
Because of the nature of the issues raised a brief outline of the facts involved here will suffice, with additional facts supplied as necessary in our discussion of the issues.
Shortly after Edward Stermer stepped outside the company’s building on December 16, 1976, en route to the company’s annual Christmas party, he was confronted by a male who proceeded to shoot him five times, causing his death. Appellant Erman had accompanied Stermer from the
Issues common to both appellants
(1) and (2)
State’s Motion to Join Separate Indictments For Trial and Appellants’ Motion to Sever
(1)
The State, having separately indicted the аppellants and desiring to try them jointly, moved to join the indictments. This motion was opposed by the appellants, but was granted by Judge David Ross, Criminal Court of Baltimore. Brent focused his opposition to joinder on what he perceived as the more voluminous and protracted evidence to be presented against Erman. The basis for Erman’s objection was that there would be evidence presented against Brent which would not be admissible against him in a separate trial, and the likelihood of a
Bruton
2
problem. This problem did not arise because Brent chose to testify. The thrust of the State’s
"Joinder of defendants for trial is favored for reasons of economy, of time and other resources of the court and witnesses, Lewis v. State,235 Md. 588 (1963); Johnson v. State,38 Md. App. 307 [sic] (1977); Peterson v. State,15 Md. App. 478 (1972). Any risk of prejudice to the defendant Erman with respect to Brent’s statement can be avoided by deleting any reference to him. ABA Standards Relating to Joinder and Severance, § 2.3, Approved Draft, 1968. It is not at all clear that separate trials would result in a substantial saving of trial time for Brent. In any event, that reason standing alone is not sufficient to warrant separate trials. ABA Standards Relating to Joinder and Severance, § 2.3 (b) Commentary, Approved Draft, 1968. The public interest in economic use of judicial resources is paramount absent some other risk of prejudice. None of the other grounds for separate trials alleged by the defendants were substantiated at the hearing.
The State’s motion to join all charges for trial is granted and defendants’ motions to sever are denied on the condition that either (1) Brent’s statement not be introduced into evidence or (2) a version of the statement from which all mention of Erman hasbeen excised in a manner which conceals the fact of excision be introduced. The State’s motion for appropriate relief is moot.”
In
Stevenson v. State,
(2)
With respect to the second prong of the arguments of both appellants, that is the failure of the trial judge (Levin, J.) to have separated their trials when requested to do so many times during the trial itself (apparently some 25 to 35 times), we have more difficulty. First, we note that Brent argues in his brief that he had moved for a severance and mistrial during the course of the trial itself. The State contends that he did no such thing, neither did he join in Erman’s motions. Brent has not provided us with any reference to the record where it would be reflected that he did so, and our review does not so indicate. As to Brent, therefore, we conclude he has waived any right to raise this issue. Md. Rule 1085.
As to Erman, it is abundantly clear that he frequently moved for a mistrial and severance during the course of the trial, all of which were denied, but in several instances (not all), the trial judge did instruct the jury that what they had heard was to be considered as to Brent only and not Erman. Some of the instances involved testimony of alleged criminality or misconduct on the part of Brent which in no way involved Erman; for example, Brent’s threats on people’s lives, his plan to kill one Stearck, shooting a neighbor’s dog, and shooting at the house of an acquaintance of his with whom he had had some trouble and for which he was charged with assault with intent to murder (subsequently dropped by the State). This evidence clearly would not have been admissible in a separate trial of Erman alone. Further, in our view
Before discussing the merits of this issue we think it appropriate to consider the general question of severance. Md. Rule 712 governs the joinder of offenses and defendants in the same charging document. It is specifically provided in section b. of the rule that:
"Two or more defendants, whether principals or accessories, may be charged in the same charging document if they are alleged to have participated in the same act or transaction or in the same series of acts or transactions constituting an offense or offenses. The defendants may be charged in one or more counts together or separately and it is not necessary to charge all the defendants in each count.”
In order to avoid prejudice by the joinder for trial of counts, charging documents or defendants, Md. Rule 745 c prоvides that:
"... the court may, upon its own motion or the motion of any party, order separate trials of counts, charging documents or defendants, or grant any other relief justice requires.”
Under the terms of Md. Rule 736 a motion to sever defendants or offenses for trial is made a mandatory motion, required to be filed within 30 days after the earlier of the appearance of counsel or the first appearance of the defendant before the court pursuant to Rule 723 except when discovery is furnished on an issue which is the subject of the motion, then the motion may be filed within five days after
"The fragrance is not affected by what we call the flower. The distinction does not turn upon the label applied by the trial judge. The critical question is whether the order contemplates an end of all prosecution of the defendant for the offense charged. Lee v. United States,432 U.S. 23 , 30 (1977).”
In our view what is important is what standard must the trial judge use when confronted, in trial, with such a motion. We conclude that, as Rule 745 contemplates, there must be prejudice to a defendant when joined for trial with another defendant and that this prejudice must be such as to prevent him from receiving a fаir trial before he is entitled to a severance or a mistrial. The late Judge O’Donnell, in speaking for the Court of Appeals in
Wilhelm v. State,
"A request for a mistrial in a criminal case is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court and the exercise of its discretion, in a case involving a question of prejudice which might infringe upon the right of the defendant to a fair trial, is reviewable on appeal to determine whether or not there has been an abuse of that discretion by the trial court in denying the mistrial. Basiliko v. State.212 Md. 248 . 260-61,129 A.2d 375 , 381(1957). The decision by the trial court in the exercise of its discretion denying a mistrial will not be reversed on appeal unless it is clear that there has been prejudice to the defendant. ...
if:
The trial court, in the exercise of its discretion, should declare a mistrial only where there is 'manifest necessity for the act,’ Cornish v. State,272 Md. 312 ,322 A.2d 880 ; it should never be granted for light and transitory reasons which do not result in any real prejudice to the accused. (Citation omitted).”
It is basic that an accused is entitled to a fair trial although not to a perfect one.
Burkett v. State,
"The judge’s declination to sever the cases, he asserts, denied him a fair and impartial trial. We agree with Bechtel, and we add that at oral argument, the State submitted that 'there are no Maryland cases which would justify joinder in this case.’ The State did, however, urge us to adopt the view of fedеral courts and hold the joinder to be permissible. In order to follow that course, we would have to overrule our holding in Wilson v. State,8 Md. App. 653 ,262 A.2d 91 (1970), and ignore the decisions of the Court of Appeals in McKnight v. State,280 Md. 604 ,375 A.2d 551 (1977); rev’g 33Md. App. 280, 364 A.2d 116 (1976); McChan v. State,238 Md. 149 ,207 A.2d 632 (1965); and Lewis v. State,235 Md. 588 ,202 A.2d 370 (1964). We possess neither the inclination to overrule Wilson nor the power to ignore, thus implicitly overruling McKnight, McChan, and Lewis.” Id. at 544.
See also
Day v. State,
In the instant case, the type of evidence as to Brent only which caused the trial judge to instruct the jury repeatedly, seems to us to have been increasingly prejudicial to Erman, particularly as the number of incidents grew. In short, we view the cumulative effect of such evidence as denying Erman a fair trial. The argument for a joint trial —judicial economy — has merit. Nevertheless, this must always be balanced against the prejudice to a defendant,
State
v.
Jones,
In addition to the claim of prejudice, Erman contends that his defense was antagonistic to that of Brent and this alone was justification for severance. See Day v. State, supra, where the hostile positions of co-defendants were recognized as a valid reason requiring severance of their trials. Inasmuch as Erman did not testify at trial, we are not altogether certain that this argument has validity. Nevertheless, hostile positions appear to have existed, and this, coupled with what seems to us to be clearly prejudicial evidence being placed before the jury, prevented Erman from securing a fair trial. In short, it is our view that there was manifest necessity for separating the trials of the defendants as the incidences of prejudice to Erman grew.
Accordingly, as to Brent we perceive no error here, but as to Erman we must vacate his conviction and remand for a new trial as to him only.
(3)
Grand Jury Testimony of Katsus
Prior to trial both appellants moved to compel the disclo
Appellants argue that on the authority of Carr v.
State,
"Attorney disciplinary proceedings before an Inquiry Panel upon a complaint that an attorney has committed an act of misconduct are similar in purpose to the accusatory proceedings conducted by a grand jury. (Citation omitted). It is true, of course, that in a proper case an accused may, at trial, be afforded access to grand jury minutes for purposes of cross-examination or impeachment if he demonstrates a 'particularized need’ for disclosure.” (Citations omitted). Attorney Griev. Comm’n. v. Strathen,287 Md. 111 at 117 (1980).
We need not decide, under the facts and circumstances of this case, whether there was a "particularized need” shown, or indeed what would constitute such a need; nor need we decide whether, "particularized need” being shown, the trial judge here erred in denying the request for Katsus’s testimony on his second appearance before the grand jury. This is so because even assuming error was committed, in our view such error was harmless. The State’s proffer of consistency was confirmed by the trial judge and our own independent examination of the involved statement persuades us that any discrepancy was minor indeed. Furthermore, not to be overlooked was the fact that the jury was well aware that Katsus’s first grand jury testimony was truly inconsistent with that given by Katsus at trial. Accordingly, we find no reversible error in the trial judge’s ruling on this issue.
(4)
Admission of Evidence of Erman’s Financial Condition
(a)
Erman’s contention
Although, as seen above, we have vacated Erman’s con
"The prosecution is not ordinarily permitted to refer to financial matters where they are collateral to an issue in the case,”
we also pointed out that there were several exceptions to the rule. We also made clear that the issue was one left to the sound discretion of thе trial judge. In our view the evidence of financial need-gain was relevant to the issue of motive, and we find no error in its admission.
(b)
Brent’s contention
Brent complains that he suffered prejudice through the use of evidence against Erman of his financial condition. As explained above in our discussion of issues (1) and (2), we
(5)
Trial testimony of Katsus
On appeal both Erman and Brent contend that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the testimony of an accomplice, Paul Katsus. The appellants support their contention by arguing that:
(a) Katsus’s possible commission of perjury before the grand jury rendered him incompetent as a trial witness;
(b) The dismissal of conspiracy charges against the appellants barred the use of the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule as justification for admitting Katsus’s testimony; and
(c) Katsus’s violation of the sequestration order warranted the striking of his testimony.
(a)
Perjury Issue
During a pre-trial hearing on the appellants’ motion to compel disclosure of Katsus’s grand jury testimony, the State conceded that Katsus had twice testified before the grand jury, and that his second grand jury testimony materially contradicted his previous testimony. The trial court was informed that Katsus’s trial testimony would be consistent with his testimony at his second grand jury appearance.
The State called Katsus as a trial witness. After he was sworn, but before he testified, both appellants objected to his testimony on the grounds that he was not a competent witness. The appellants jointly moved that Katsus not be
Katsus had received immunity from prosecution for any peijury which he may have committed before the grand jury. Appellant Brent contends that this grant of immunity from prosecution "only magnifies the possibilities for further perjury and should not be condoned as a vehicle for exploitation of the untruthful testimony.”
The law concerning the competency of a peijurious witness is set forth in Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code Ann. § 9-104, which provides that a person convicted of peijury may not testify. Appellant Brent submits that Katsus’s "admission of peijury” should have the "same effect” as a peijury conviction. Similarly, appellant Erman suggests that we "extend the application” of § 9-104 to include persons "who indeed are guilty of peijury whether or not the State seeks to formally charge and convict them.”
In effect, what is here being suggested is that we judicially extend a legislative pronouncement,
i.e.,
extend § 9-104 beyond its clear language. This we may not do. As Judge Powers stated in
Dept. of Natural Resources v. Adams,
"A court may not add to a statute by judicial construction, nor lightly read into a statute by implication, a provision which the legislature did not see fit to include. Department v. Greyhound,247 Md. 662 ,234 A.2d 255 (1967); Amalgamated Ins. v. Helms,239 Md. 529 ,212 A.2d 311 (1965). Where a law is plain and unambiguous, free from all objection on constitutional grounds and enacted in an area clearly within the province of the legislature, courts have no power to set aside or evade its operation by forced or unreasonable construction.”
Thus before one is disqualified as a witness under the provision of § 9-104, he must be convicted of the crime of peijury.
Maryland case law firmly supports this holding. In
"A witness cannot be convicted of perjury by judicial fiat. Whatever a judge may think regarding the want of truth of a witness tеstifying in his court, he cannot deprive him of his right under the law to testify, unless that right has been destroyed by a conviction of perjury in accordance with due process of law. A conviction presupposes an indictment; a trial on the indictment, either before a court or jury, the right of the accused to summons witnesses — to be represented by counsel, and to testify on his own behalf. To impose punishment justified by a trial in due process of law resulting in a conviction, is one thing; to impose such punishment without such trial, is judicial tyranny.” Id. at 340.
Relying on
Florentine, supra,
the Courts have consistently restricted the application of the competency of witnesses statute, and held that testimony of a witness may be impaired but not rendered nugatory by proof of previous inconsistent statements.
See Crunkilton
v.
Hook,
In light of these Maryland authorities, the trial court properly ruled that Katsus was a competent witness.
(b)
Co-conspirator’s Testimony
Prior to the trial, the appellants moved to dismiss the conspiracy indictments against them. The trial court conducted a hearing, accepted memoranda, and dismissed the conspiracy indictments because they were filed beyond the time permitted under the applicable statute of limitations.
After Katsus’s direct examination, Erman’s counsel moved to strike the statements of Katsus. This motion was overruled, as was the renewal of the motion made by Erman’s counsel at the conclusion of the State’s case.
On appeal both appellants contend that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the statements of Kаtsus, as testimony of a co-conspirator, after the conspiracy charges were dismissed. The State indicates that appellant Brent has not properly preserved this issue for review because he did not object to or move to strike Katsus’s testimony at trial. The State also contends that Erman’s argument on collateral estoppel 3 is made here for the first time and thus not preserved for our review. We have reviewed the record and find that the State’s position is correct. Appellant Brent did not object to or move to strike Katsus’s testimony. As to Erman, the thrust of his objection in the trial court was that Katsus had not been shown to be a co-conspirator, not what is now argued for the first time. We decline to review the issue. Md. Rule 1085.
(0
Sequestration Order
Before the State’s first witness testified, Brent’s counsel moved to sequester the witnesses, pursuant to Md. Rule 755 (a). The court granted this motion. Several days later, during the cross-examination of Paul Katsus, it was learned that Katsus had followed the progress of the trial by reading certain newspaper articles. Counsel for both appellants moved for the exclusion of Katsus’s testimony, contending
The trial court determined that the issue raised by the appellants was "technically not in the area of sequestration” because no evidence was presented of any discussion between Katsus and the other witnesses. The court then ruled that no impermissible harmonization of testimony could be inferred from Katsus’s reading of the newspaper, in the absence of any evidence that this testimony was based on what he read.
On appeal Brent contends that the trial court erred in not conducting a "thorough investigation” of Katsus’s activities, and that this error deprived Brent of his right to a fair trial. Similarly, Erman argues that the court’s denial of the motion to strike Katsus’s testimony resulted in both "extreme prejudice” and "irreparable prejudice.”
We disagree with these contentions. Having reviewed the record and case law we find that the alleged violation of the sequestration order was adequately examined by the trial court. The appellants did not request an
in camera
proceeding concerning Katsus’s readings. In fact, the appellants never requested the court to admonish all witnesses to avoid reading accounts of the trial, neither did their counsel inquire of Katsus during his cross examination concerning the effect his rеading may have had on his testimony. In the absence of such requests, admonishment, or evidence of prejudice, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion to exclude Katsus’s testimony.
Brown v. State,
Sufficiency of the Evidence — Erman
This issue must be addressed because if the evidence was insufficient to support Erman’s conviction he may not be retried.
Burks v. United States,
"Not much in the way of evidence corroborative of the accomplice’s testimony has been required by our cases ... whilе the corroborative evidence need not be sufficient in itself to convict, it must relate to material facts tending either (1) to identify the accused with the perpetrators of the crime or (2) to show the participation of the accused in the crime itself ... if with some degree of cogency the corroborative evidence tends to establish either of these matters the trier of fact may credit the accomplice’s testimony even with respect to matters as to which no corroboration was adduced ... and indeed may even be circumstantial. . . .” (Citations omitted).
After carefully examining the record we are satisfied there was corroboration of Katsus’s testimony. Certainly there was independent evidence of "linkage” between Erman and Brent: of Erman’s position in Mudge where he would have been privy to the stock buy-back agreement and to the travel schedule of Shields in West Virginia; that Brent looked up to Erman and would do anything for him; of Erman’s presence with Stermer at the scene of the murder
Sufficiency of the Evidence — Brent
Brent also argues that his convictions may not stand because the testimony of Paul Katsus was not sufficiently corroborated and was "internally” contradictory. He concedes that "the evidence, be it direct or circumstantial, may be considered collectively, and it is not necessary that each circumstance, standing alone, be sufficient to establish guilt.”
Metz v. State,
We have no difficulty in concluding, after reviewing the record, that Katsus’s testimony was corroborated by the demonstration of material facts which identified Brent either with the perpetrator of the crime (Katsus) or as the perpetrator himself. What Brent really appears to be arguing is that because Katsus’s testimony had some inconsistencies the jury should not have believed it. We point out that Brent’s own testimony, in large respect, corroborates Katsus’s testimony. See
McDowell v. State,
Without reciting all of the testimony concerning this issue, suffice it to say that having read the record we are satisfied there was sufficient corroboration of Katsus’s testimony to support Brent’s conviction.
Issues Raised By Erman Only
In light of our conclusion on the severance issue above, normally it would not be necessary to discuss other issues raised by Erman. There is however, one issue that must be addressed, and one which will be addressed for the benefit of the trial court on retrial.
Erman’s Attendance at Bench Conferences
Because of our vacation of Erman’s conviction, and remand, we need not address this issue. For the trial court’s benefit, however, we rеfer it to
Hughes v. State,
(2)
Abuse of Grand Jury Process
Appellant Erman contends that the trial court erred in refusing to dismiss the indictment against him because he claimed the State used the grand jury process, after his indictment, to procure evidence against him pertaining to motive. The record shows that in answer to this motion the State denied it had misused the process of the grand jury, alleging that the subpoenas for the production of certain records and documents were issued for the "dominant purpose of investigating and obtaining evidence concerning the Defendant’s implication in other crimes, specifically, larceny after trust, embezzlement and income tax fraud.” The State also stated that during the initial preparation and investigation of the involved indictments for trial it had, without the use of grand jury subpoena, discovered evidence which it felt reasonably indicated that Erman was implicated in other uncharged criminal acts; examples of this other evidence was given. When the motion was argued before Judge Levin no further evidence was given to him by either Erman or the State; the motion was denied because Judge Levin stated:
"Inasmuch as I do not find that the State’s Attorney has used the process of the Grand Jury for any dominant purpose, vis-á-vis the instant charges....”
We cannot say the trial judge was clearly erroneous. Md. Rule 1086. Significantly, the trial judge did order the State to notify Erman of all grand jury subpoenas it had caused to
While use of the grand jury process to gather evidence as to those charges for which a defendant has been indicted cannot be condoned, the defendant has the burden of overcoming the presumption of regularity attending grand jury proceedings. In our view this presumption is not overcome by a bald conclusory allegation.
In
United States
v.
Woods,
"... accordingly, in United States v. George (citation omitted), we held that '[s]o long as it is not the sole or dominant purpose of the grand jury to discover facts relating to [a defendant’s] pending indictment, the Court may not interfere with the grand jury’s investigation.”
In reaching this conclusion the Court further observed that the defendants made no showing that certain witnesses called before the grand jury had not been so called for purposes other than a purpose related to the pending indictment.
The question appears to be one of first impression in Maryland as we have been unable to discover any case where either the Court of Appeals or this Court has addressed the issue, nor have we been referred to any. Nevertheless, there is authority in other jurisdictions for the general proposition.
See United States v. Woods,
supra;
Beverly v. United States,
In the instant case, we find no evidence to support Erman’s bald allegation that the grand jury proceedings were a sham income tax investigation and that the real purpose was for the discovery of evidence to be used at trial; he failed to sustain his burden, and the trial court was correct in denying his motion.
Finally we observe that, in any event, dismissal of the indictment would seem to us an inappropriate remedy under the circumstances. Other sanctions such as suppression of evidence put before the grand jury could be aрplied.
Brent’s Separate Issues
(1) and (4)
The Motion to Suppress Brent’s Statement of October 26, 1978
and
Failure to Submit Issue of Voluntariness of the Statement to the Jury
Since both of these questions concern Brent’s statement of October 26, 1978, we shall address them together.
(a)
The Motion to Suppress
The record is clear that on October 26, 1978 Brent voluntarily appeared at the Baltimore City Homicide Office after he had previously made arrangements to meet with certain homicide detectives to whom he had earlier talked about his knowledge of the Stermer murder. At this time he
Prior to trial Brent filed a motion to suppress this statement because he had not been given his
"Miranda”
4
warnings. Judge David Ross denied this motion after hearing; Brent now claims error on the ground that the statement was the prоduct of a custodial interrogation which, to be admissible in evidence, requires the giving of the
Miranda
warnings. We see no merit to this contention for both technical and substantive reasons. First, the issue has been waived in that, at trial, Brent specifically advised the trial judge that there was no objection to the admission of the statement. Furthermore, we believe the motions judge was correct in denying the motion. This is so since we believe the record demonstrates that the statement was not the product of a custodial interrogation. In
Cummings v. State,
"In addressing a Miranda problem, a court has before it four potential issues: the questions of 1) custody, 2) interrogation, 3) warnings and 4) waiver. The first two questions deal with the applicability of Miranda; the second two deal with compliance with Miranda. A court must ask:
1. Was there CUSTODY?
2. Was the statement under scrutiny made in response to INTERROGATION?
The answer to both of the foregoing questions must be in the affirmative before Miranda is even applicable. Only in the event that Custody and Interrogation are found to have been presеnt does a court move on to consider the two questions determining whether there has been compliance with Miranda:
3. Were there adequate WARNINGS?
4. Was there an adequate WAIVER?”
(b)
Failure to Instruct on Voluntariness
When the trial judge instructed the jury he did not, nor was he requested to, submit the issue of the voluntariness of the October 26,1978 statement to it; neither did Brent take any exception to this omission. Brent now contends that the issue of voluntariness was generated by the evidence and the trial court erred in not submitting the issue to the jury. We disagree. In the first place, we have serious doubts that the issue of the voluntariness of this particular issue was raised by the evidence. Even assuming that it was, however, whether to treat the matter as "plain error” and to thus consider the issue when not preserved in the trial court is a discretionary decision for an appellate court.
Dempsey v. State,
(2)
The Rebuttal Testimony
In rebuttal the State put on twelve witnesses. Brent contends that the evidence obtained through these witnesses was not rebuttal evidence in that it did not explain, directly reply to, or contradict any new evidence brought into the case by him. See
Dobson v. State,
Although not preserved for review, we add that we have read the record thoroughly and are satisfied that even if proper objection had been made by Brent in this area, we would have found no error.
(3)
Violation of the "Other Crimes” Evidence Rule
During the course of the trial there was testimony that tended to show Brent may have committed crimes other than those for which he was on trial, and thus he was depicted as a "bad man.” This was improper pursuant to
McKnight v. State,
Improper Jury Argument
Brent next complains that the trial judge erred in not,
sua sponte,
declaring a mistrial because of "the prosecutor’s reference in closing argument to autopsy photographs, and his statement that Stermer would never go home for Christmas.” Appellant Brent appears to concede in his brief that no objection was made, nor was any request made for relief. We deem the issue to have been waived. Md. Rule 1085. See also
Conner v. State,
(6)
Request for a Private Trial and a Sequestered Jury
Brent’s final assault on his convictions concerns his contention that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a private trial because of media publicity. In argument on the motion Brent’s counsel stated to the motions judge that sequestration of the jury was not a viable alternative because of the hardship this would entail in a lengthy trial. In our view Brent’s position that he was entitled, as a matter of right, to a private (closed) trial is now untenable in light of
Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia,
"They make it clear, however, that there is a heavy burden upon those who would abridge the First Amendment right to establish clearly upon the record a compelling need for such abridgement. They make it clear that before resorting to so drastic a measure, that all lesser and alternative sanctions be explored, such as sanitizing voir dire examination, sequestration of juries, the continuation of a case to allow the immediate impact of publicity to abate, and the removal of a cause to a more remote trial forum. These alternative sanctions may, indeed, work some inconvenience and dislocation upon the parties (including criminal defendants) but are nonetheless, on balance, to be preferred to curtailing the First Amendment freedom of the press. The combination of Gannett and Richmond News, furthermore makes it clear that this required balancing of interests be undertaken with respect to pre-trial hearings as well as with respect to trials themselves. They make it clear that only so much First Amendment abridgement will be tolerated as is compellingly required. They make it clear that every possible step must be taken to minimize the abridgement.” Id. at 692-693.
In the present case no removal was sought and Brent conceded that sequestration was not a viable alternative; what he sought was a closed trial. We observe that the trial judge applied a lesser alternative by engaging in sanitizing voir dire examinаtion in which prospective jurors indicated they could ignore media accounts during the trial. We further observe that the trial judge, in his opening remarks to the jury, stated to them:
"Now, then, at the risk of sounding imperious to you, and I don’t mean to sound that way, I do want to tell you that I don’t want you to read anything about this case in any publication, whether it’s newspaper, magazines or any other source, and I don’t want you to listen to any news broadcast at all dealing with this case, and I want you not to listen to any radio material dealing with this case, and I know that is somewhat onerous, but, nevertheless, as I have explained, I want to respect your rights and I want to respect the rights of the parties in this case too, and that’s the only way we’re going to be able to work it, if you totally stay away from any publicity in this case.”
In our view the trial judge, sensitive to the competing rights of Brent and the public, struck an even balance between those rights. We see no error.
Judgments as to Erman vacated; case remanded for new trial.
Judgments as to Brent affirmed.
Costs to be paid one-half by Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and one-half by appellant Brent.