UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
HUGO GARCIA-BONIFASCIO, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

5th Cir. | 1971-06-07
No. 30218
443 F.2d 914 Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1971) Positive Treatment
Cited by 10 cases

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Holding

The court held that a conviction must be reversed when the trial court reporter loses notes, preventing appellate review of objections.


Facts & Procedural History

The defendant was convicted of drug distribution offenses. During the government's closing argument, the defendant's objections were overruled, but th…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM:

PER CURIAM:

Garcia-Bonifascio was convicted for aiding and abetting in the distribution of a narcotic in a non-stamped package in violation of 26 U.S.C.A. § 4704(a), 18 U.S.C.A. § 2, and aiding and abetting in the sale of the same narcotic in violation of 26 U.S.C.A. § 4705(a), 18 U.S.C.A. § 2.

During the Government’s closing argument several objections made by Bonifascio’s counsel were overruled by the trial court. The official court reporter has lost his notes and cannot prepare a record of the argument and the objections interposed. Counsel appointed by this Court to represent Bonifascio on appeal, who was not counsel at the trial, is unable to determine, or argue, whether the District Court erred in its rulings on Bonifascio’s objections.

Under these circumstances we have no choice but to reverse the conviction. Hardy v. United States, 1963, 375 U.S. 277, 84 S.Ct. 424, 11 L.Ed.2d 331; United States v. Rosa, 5 Cir.1970, 434 F. 2d 964; United States v. Atilus, 5 Cir.1970, 425 F. 2d 816.

Reversed and remanded.


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