Eleazer v. Superior Court

Opinion

TOBRINER, J.

Defendant Joseph Eleazer seeks a writ of prohibition to restrain the Superior Court of Los Angeles County from proceeding to try him on a charge of unlawful sale of seconal in violation of Health and Safety Code section 11912. Evidence at the preliminary hearing showed that a paid police informer was a material witness to the alleged sale. The police disclosed the name of the witness, but denied any knowledge of his address or of any way in which he could be contacted. For the reasons hereinafter stated we hold that when an informer becomes a material witness to the crime,…