United States v. Allinder

Opinion of the Court

ROBERT E. Quinn, Chief Judge:

This is an appeal from a conviction by a general court-martial sitting in Madrid, Spain, for assault with a dangerous weapon and attempted escape from custody. The point in issue is whether the accused was prejudiced by the law officer’s statement that defense counsel could establish a particular matter “by asking the accused questions.”

As a result of a fight in a nightclub, the accused was brought to the Central Police Station in Zaragoza. Spain. He was seated upon a bench in one of the rooms. In the same room was Catalan, a policeman who had…