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424 F.2d 539

Docket No. 24131.

United States v. Gustave

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Decided April 9, 1970.

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals · decided 1970-04-09

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently July 1980

3 federal appellate ·

2 counsel of record

Relies on Aiuppa v. United States · Coleman v. United States · United States v. Jones

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Opinion by (per_curiam) · Decided 1970-04-09

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¶1Charles M. Berg, Beverly Hills, Cal., for defendant-appellant.

¶2Wm. Matthew Byrne, U. S. Atty., Los Angeles, Cal., for plaintiff-appellee.

¶3Before BARNES, CARTER and KIL-KENNY, Circuit Judges.

¶4PER CURIAM.

¶5On this appeal from appellant’s conviction of bank robbery, appellant was identified as the holder of the shotgun used therein by at least five persons in the bank at the time. Other witnesses in the bank were unable to identify him as one of the two participants in this armed robbery.

¶6Two errors are urged — one: that the evidence was insufficient to convict appellant. We disagree. The evidence, though conflicting, was abundantly sufficient to establish appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Two: that the court erred in giving an instruction that the appellant was not required to take the stand, in his own defense, and that his failure could create no inference against appellant. (R.T. 310). Appellant’s counsel first objected to the giving *540of such instruction (R.T. 231), then waived any objection, stating “we will accept that instruction.” (R.T. 233). Apart from the waiver, the instruction was proper. United States v. Jones, 406 F.2d 1297, 1298 (9th Cir. 1969). It was also beneficial to the appellant, rather than harmful, in a bank robbery case. Coleman v. United States, 367 F.2d 388 (9th Cir. 1966). Cf. also: Aiuppa v. United States, 393 F.2d 597, 602-603 (10th Cir. 1968).

¶7Affirmed.

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