Taylor v. State

Bell, Chief Judge.

Defendant was convicted at a joint trial with two co-defendants of two counts of theft by taking. Held:

1. The trial court made a preliminary explanatory statement of procedural aspects of jury selection to the assembled jury panel which included the following sentence: "Let me introduce you to the people you will see and hear from and maybe ask about...” At which point the defendants were introduced as well as their counsel. No objection or motion for mistrial was made. Now it is urged that this remark placed a burden on defendant to testify by inferring that he would take…