Able shot both Ben and his brother Carl in a gang related dr…
Able shot both Ben and his brother Carl in a gang related drive-by shooting. Both men were severely wounded. In fact, Carl died. Able was prosecuted for the murder of Carl. Immediately after the shooting Officer Johnson approached Ben who whispered to the officer that Able shot my brother to death, and then he shot me twice in the stomach. I can’t believe I am going to die this way.” Ben then lapsed into a coma. In the investigation of the case Officer Johnson then interviewed Doug, about his brother Able. Doug told the officer that “I, not Able killed Carl.” However, at the trial, during the cross-examination by the prosecutor Doug made statements implicating Able in the killing of Carl. The trial court convicted Able for the murder of Carl. But on appeal the appellate court remanded the case to be retried because of a faulty jury instruction. At the time of the retrial, Ben remained in a coma and Doug had since died of a heroin overdose. In the meantime, Able was released on bail pending his retrial and hired a different attorney to handle his case. Able then consulted with his lawyer about his motive for shooting Ben and Carl. All three men had been members of the same gang and Able suspected that Ben and Carl were working with the police in an undercover operation. After meeting with the lawyer, Able reported back to the other gang members exactly what he had revealed to the attorney concerning his motive for the shooting. Ironically, one of the gang members present was in fact a police informant and reported Able’s recounting of his meeting with the lawyer to law enforcement officials. Discuss all legal issues concerning the following: (a) At the second trial the prosecutor asked Officer Johnson what Ben said to him before lapsing into a coma. The defense counsel objects.(b) At the second trial the defense counsel asked Officer Johnson what Doug told him about his own involvement in the killing of Carl. The prosecutor objects. (c) At the second trial the prosecution seeks to offer into evidence the transcript of his cross-examination of Doug from the first trial The defense objects on the specific grounds that she was not able to cross-examine Doug. (d) The prosecutor calls the police informant to testify about Able’s communication with the lawyer. The defense counsel objects. Assume that the California Evidence Code applies in this jurisdiction.
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